Names of the Book
English: | Ecclesiastes |
Hebrew: | קהלת |
Transliterated: | Qohelet |
Other names: |
Who
Wrote the book: | Solomon |
Are the key people: | Solomon |
Is it written to: | The people of Israel |
What
The Creation and the story of Adam (Genesis 1:1-5:32) |
The Flood and the story of Noach (Genesis 6:1-11:32) |
The Promise and the story of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov (Genesis 12:1-36:43) |
The Salvation and the story of Yosef (Genesis 37:1-50:26) |
When
Was it written: | c 970-961 BCE |
Did the events occur: | c 1000-961 BCE |
Was it canonized: | c 499-100 BCE |
(see the Timeline of the Tanakh) |
Where
Was it written: | In Jerusalem |
Did the events occur: | The Land of Israel |
Why
Ecclesiastes was written to inform us that: |
Life is meaningless apart from G-d. |
We should fear G-d and keep His commandments (Ecc 12:13). |
Introduction
Ecclesiastes is the third book of what is generally categorized as wisdom literature. Traditionally attributed to Solomon, this book contains reflections of an old man, called "the Preacher". As he ponders the meaning of life, he looks back and is reminded of the futility of seeking even the good things that this life can offer such as wisdom, work, pleasure, and wealth. The satisfaction that even those good things can bring is certain to end at each person's death. The Preacher exhorts his readers to live in the fear of the Lord so they can enjoy G-d's good gifts. The writer ends the book succinctly with this: The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person. (Eccl 12:13)
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