ECCLESIASTES (Heb. 'o-heh'feth, preacher.) (1) The Hebrew Name. This book has ob tained its Hebrew name from the designation of the principal person mentioned in it, who is thus self-styled in several passages. The feminine ter mination of the name has given rise to the opinion that Kohcleth means a body or academy of sages, whose dicta are contained in this book ; but this opinion is contradicted by the reading of the book itself, which thus commences: :fiords of Kohcleth, the son of David, the king in Jerusalem. Hence it appears that Koheleth is intended for an epithet of Solomon. Compare also chapter i :12, 'I, Kohe leth, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.' With one exception, in chapter vii :27, the word Kohe leth is always construed as a masculine noun.
The various interpreters who consider Kohcleth as expressive of a person, differ in their transla tion of it in different manners. Some follow the Septuagint in which this word is translated a klaysiastace, assembler. Others interpret it by collector, which implies, they state, that the author not merely intended to communicate his own wisdom, but that he had compiled the experi ence of former sages. The verb Kohel, however, does not mean to compile, but always to assemble or to convene a meeting. It hence appears that the Septuagint translation. assembler, preacher, or leacher, is correct. Still there remains to be explained the feminine form of the word. The only correct explanation of this is, that Solomon was called Koheleth because he was personified Wisdom, and that Wisdom spoke through him.
According to this interpretation, the construc tion of Koheleth, both with the masculine and with the feminine, may be well explained. If with the masculine, the bearer of the name is considered; but if with the feminine, the 'wisdom, which animates him, is to be considered in view.
(2) The Author. The circumstance that Solo mon is introduced as the speaker in this book has induced most of the ancient interpreters to con sider hint as its author.
But the greatest obstacle in the way of con sidering Solomon to be the author, is the char acter of the language. Many opponents of the
Solomonic authorship certainly went much too far in their assertions. The Grecisms which Zirkle thought that he had found have now generally been given up. The Rabbinisms likewise could not stand the proof. The words. significations, and forms which seem to appertain to a later period of Hebrew literature. and the Chaldaisms, an abundance of which Knobel gathered, require, as Herzfeld has shown, to be much sifted. Never theicss, it is certain that the book does not belong to the productions of the first, but rather to the second period of the Hebrew language. This alone would not quite disprove the authorship of Solo mon, if we could produce any weighty argument in its favor.
Among the other arguments which have been produced against Solomon's authorship, the only one which seems to have some importance, is that the author now and then forgets his fiction ; for instance, in chapter i :t2, where he says 'I was king over Israel in Jerusalem.' Supposing it now proved that Solomon is only introduced as the speaker, the question arises why the author adopted this form. The usual reply is. that Solomon among the Israelites had, as it were, the prerogative of wisdom; and hence the author was induced to put into Solomon's mouth that wisdom which he intended to proclaim, without the slightest intention of forging a supposititious volume. This reply contains some truth; but it does not exhaust the matter.
The chief object of the author was to com municate wisdom in general ; but next to this, as appears from chapter i :12, sq., he intended to In culcate the vanity of human pursuits. Now, from the mouth of no one could more aptly proceed the proclamation of the nothingness of all earthly things than from the mouth of Solomon, who had possessed them in all their fullness; at whose command were wisdom, riches, and pleasures in abundance; and who had therefore full oppor tunity to experience the nothingness of all that is earthly.