About This Book
Ecclesiastes explores life's meaning, concluding that without God, all human endeavor is ultimately meaningless. The book's author, called 'the Teacher' or 'the Preacher' (Koheleth in Hebrew), identifies as a son of David, traditionally understood as Solomon. He approaches life's big questions through philosophical inquiry and extensive personal experience. The famous refrain 'vanity of vanities, all is vanity' or 'meaningless, everything is meaningless' establishes the book's theme.
The Teacher investigates life 'under the sun'—from a purely earthly, human perspective—finding that wisdom, pleasure, work, and achievement ultimately satisfy nothing because death awaits everyone, apparently erasing all distinctions between wise and foolish, righteous and wicked. He observes that despite working hard to gain wisdom, wealth, and accomplishments, he must leave everything to successors who may squander it foolishly. Time moves in cycles, nothing is truly new, and people quickly forget the past. The Teacher examines various philosophies: hedonism offers temporary pleasure but not lasting satisfaction; wisdom is better than folly but cannot overcome death; wealth and possessions prove disappointing.
He observes injustice, oppression, and the apparent randomness of circumstances. Yet amid this seemingly pessimistic assessment, wisdom emerges. While acknowledging life's harsh realities, the Teacher counsels enjoying simple pleasures as God's gifts, fearing God, keeping His commandments, and recognizing that though life's meaning eludes human understanding, God will judge all deeds. The book concludes that life's purpose is found in reverencing God and obeying His commands, for this applies to all people.