ECCLESIASTES

or the ‘Preacher,’ one of the books of the Wisdom lit. of the Old Testament. Its leading idea is expre ed in the words, ‘Vanity of vanities—all is vanity.’ The authorship is quite and the date somewhat uncertain, though undoubtedly late—probably B. C. 250-200. Some place it as late as Herod the Great. It cannot be earlier than the late Persian period. Its composite nature has been a erted by some critics—though on_ insufficient grounds. The style is uncla ical, and words and constructions appear which are frequent in Aramaic and the Mishnah