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 a whole lot like Solomon. But did Solomon write the book?
Near the very end I saw this: in addition to being wise, the Preacher (X) also taught the people knowledge; and he pondered, searched out, and arranged many proverbs. In that sentence it’s pretty clear that somebody else is talking about X…not X talking about himself. Which makes it look like somebody else did actually write Ecclesiastes. The book is almost 100% about Solomon – what he thought and said. But maybe it wasn’t Solomon talking about himself.
Maybe it’s Solomon the subject. Not Solomon the author.
Note: quotes from Ecclesiastes 1:1 12 16-17 2:8-9 7:26 12:9 (NASB)