Week 22 Ecclesiastes
I’ve always thought that Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes. But I know that some people think he didn’t. So this year I was looking for evidence. I found half-a-dozen verses where the person (I’ll call him X) sounded an awful lot like Solomon:
X is called the son of David and twice he’s called king of Jerusalem.
X said I have magnified and increased wisdom more than all who were over Jerusalem before me; and my mind has observed a wealth of wisdom and knowledge.
X also said I amassed for myself silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and provided for myself male and female singers, and many concubines. Then I became great and increased. My wisdom also stood by me.
And X discovered firsthand something more bitter than death. The woman whose heart is snares and nets.
This all sounds like Solomon and I’m tempted to say Solomon did write Ecclesiastes. But for sure? I don’t think so.
Near the very end it says: in addition to being wise, the Preacher (X) also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs. It’s pretty clear that there at the end somebody else is talking about X…not X talking about himself. Did that somebody-else write Ecclesiastes? Was somebody-else making a final editorial comment?
It’s hard to say for sure. I like the idea of Solomon being the mysterious X. But even if he isn’t Ecclesiastes has bigger-fish-to-fry.
Note: quotes from Ecclesiastes 1:1 12 16-17 2:8-9 7:26 12:9 (NASB)