ecclesiastes

[Gr. ekklesiastes =one who sits or speaks in an a embly of the citizens, from ekklēsia.] [ECCLESIA.] Scripture Canon : The name given by the Septuagint translators to the Old Testament book called in Hebrew Qoheleth , pronounced Koheleth . This seems to come from qahal a congregation, an a embly, a word occurring in Gen. xxxv. 11, Numb. xvi. 3, ., from the root qahal =to call together. The designation "preacher," given in the authorized English version, has e entially the same meaning. In the Hebrew Bible it figures as one of the Kethubim or Hagiographa , its place being between Lamentations and Esther. It was almost universally received by the members of the Jewish Church and by the Christian fathers; nor has its title to a place in the Canon been seriously disputed in modern times. Its authorship and date have been matters of controversy. At first sight the matter seems decided to all who accept the inspiration of Scripture by the preacher's own statement (i. 1, 12), which can apply only to Solomon. Some, however, are of the opinion that a later writer might without any intention of fraud have thrown his narrative into the form of an imagined autobiography of Solomon. The Hebrew is mixed with Aramean, and there seem other indications of a late date. What that date is has been variously stated, the extremes differing by about 300 years. Intellectually considered, the "Koheleth" was a man han of powerfully philosophical mind, keen in observing nature and society, and reasoning upon what he saw (i. 9, 10). Morally and spiritually viewed, he was suffering the penalty of having early and too deeply drained the cup of pleasure, and was now satiated with the world and weary of it. The book records his experience and the phases of his faith, the conclusion of the whole matter being that to fear God and keep His commandments is the whole duty of man.