Ecclesiastes 1:1 - Exposition

THE TITLE .

The words of the Preacher, the son of David, King in Jerusalem ; Septuagint, "King of Israel in Jerusalem" (comp. Ecclesiastes 1:12 ). The word rendered "Preacher" is Koheleth , a feminine noun formed from a verb kalal , "to call" (see Introduction, § 1), and perhaps better rendered" Convener" or "Debater." It is found nowhere else but in this book, where it occurs three times in this chapter ( Ecclesiastes 1:1 , Ecclesiastes 1:2 , Ecclesiastes 1:12 ), three times in Ecclesiastes 12:8 , Ecclesiastes 12:9 , Ecclesiastes 12:10 , and once in Ecclesiastes 7:27 . In all but one instance (viz. Ecclesiastes 12:8 ) it is used without the article, as a proper name. Jerome, in his commentary, translates it, 'Continuator,' in his version 'Ecclesiastes.' It would seem to denote one who gathered around him a congregation in order to instruct them in Divine lore. The feminine form is explained in various ways. Either it is used abstractedly, as the designation of an office, which it seems not to be; or it is formed as some other words which are found with a feminine termination, though denoting the names of men, indicating, as Gesenius notes, a high degree of activity in the possessor of the particular quality signified by the stem; e.g. Alemeth, Azmaveth ( 1 Chronicles 8:36 ; 1 Chronicles 9:42 ), Pochereth ( Ezra 2:57 ), Sophereth ( Nehemiah 7:57 ); or, as is most probable, the writer desired to identify Koheleth with Wisdom, though it must be observed that the personality of the author often appears, as in Ecclesiastes 1:16-18 ; Ecclesiastes 7:23 , etc.; the role of Wisdom being for the nonce forgotten. The word "king" in the title is shown by the accentuation to be in apposition to "Koheleth" not to "David;" and there can be no doubt that the description is intended to denote Solomon, though his name is nowhere actually given, as it is in the two other works ascribed to him ( Proverbs 1:1 ; So Proverbs 1:1 ). Other intimations of the assumption of Solomon's personality are found in Ecclesiastes 1:12 , "I Koheleth was king," etc.; so in describing his consummate wisdom, and in his being the author of many proverbs—accomplishments which are not noted in the case of any other of David's descendants. Also the picture of luxury and magnificence presented in Ecclesiastes 2:1-26 . suits no Jewish monarch but Solomon. The origin of the name applied to him may probably be traced to the historical fact mentioned in 1 Kings 8:55 , etc; where Solomon gathers all Israel together to the dedication of the temple, and utters the remarkable prayer which contained blessing and teaching and exhortation. As we have shown in the Introduction (§ 2), the assumption of the name is a mere literary device to give weight and importance to the treatise to which it appertains. The term, "King in Jerusalem," or, as in 1 Kings 8:12 , "King over Israel in Jerusalem," is unique, and occurs nowhere else in Scripture. David is said to have reigned in Jerusalem, when this seat of government is spoken of in contrast with that at Hebron ( 2 Samuel 5:5 ), and the same expression is used of Solomon, Rehoboam, and others ( 1 Kings 11:42 ; 1 Kings 14:21 ; 1 Kings 15:2 , 1 Kings 15:10 ); and the phrase probably denotes a time when the government had become divided, and Israel had a different capital from Judah.