ECCLESIASTES. The Book of Ecclesiastes belongs to the wisdom writings of the Hebrew Bible, along with Proverbs and Job. The Hebrew title of the book is Qohelet, a term related to the verb qāhal, "to gather, assemble." Most likely the noun qōhelet designates the function "gatherer," although it remains unclear whether the term refers to the author as a gatherer of wise sayings or as a gatherer of persons for instruction. Greek translators interpreted the word to mean ekklēsiastēs, "member of a citizen's assembly." Although the book identifies Qohelet as "king over Israel in Jerusalem, " that is, Solomon (1:12; cf. 1:1), scholars recognize this persona as a literary fiction, one that is maintained only for the section 1:12–2:26. In the epilogue Qohelet is referred to as a ḥākām, a "sage" who taught the people.

Date, Provenance, and Reception

The lack of specific historical references within the...