PSALMS AND WISDOM LITERATURE

Review for Quiz 6: over pp. 145-173

Be able to answer the following questions:
1. Reflecting on your assigned reading and utilizing it in your answer, who do you
think Qoheleth was and why? The person whose teaching is preserved in the book.
Designate the person whose words are recorded in the book. Feminine in gender,
but always used in the book with a masculine form of verb. Preceded by definite
article so reference is the Goheleth. Suggest that it is a title rather than name.
derived from aqhal, meaning to assemble, gather. By its form, it belongs to small
group of words that denote particular functions or professions. Some used as titles
of such functionaries. Based on this it means assembler. When Hebrew translated
into Greek, Qoheleth translated as ekklesiastes, a word meaning someone who
was a member of a public assembly When ekklesia used to denote church
Goheleth came to be understood as preacher. Also opening verse descrbies
Qoheleth as the son of david, king in Jerusalem. Thus you can identify Qoheleth
with Solomon. But simply a persona to explore major possible sources of meaning.
Solomonic role in order to explore different possible avenuse as sources of
meaning in life in opening chapters of book.
2. Based on your assigned reading and utilizing it in your answer, when would you
date Ecclesiastes and why? Not much later than 200 BC. Because Ben Sirach
shows acquaintance with Ecclesiastes and his work is dated no later than 180 BC.
Also fragments of Ecclesiastes have been found at Qumran and dated 150 BC,
suggesting it was farily well known. Also Ecclesiastes whos no knowledge of
turbulence of the 160s BC in Palestine when persecution of Jews by Antiochus 4
Epiphanes led to Maccabean Revolt.
3. What are two meanings for hevel in Ecclesiastes? Vanity (meaningless),
absurdity (irrational), absurdity (incomprehensible and mysterious), ephemerality
(that which passes quickly).
4. Know the main theological themes in Ecclesiastes and be able to describe
briefly how they are developed in the book. God-inability of humans to change
what God has decreed 6:10. God is also one who controls what happens and thus
we have a personal fate depended of God. (9:11). Fear of God related to avoiding
self-destructive behavior. 7:15-18.
Gods Relationship to Humans God is a giver of gifts which emphasize his
sovereignty and human dependence on God.
Wisdom book contain admonitions which imply that it is possible for hjumans to
change the course of events by the way they behave. Leans towards determinism.
One of Gods gift 2:26. Despite limitations, wisdom is more preferable to folly and
has some practical value.

Death After death, every worldly possessions are made meaningless. Value life
while it lasts. 9:4-6 the dead have no hope they know nothing.