The Strand Study Bible

ECCLESIASTES

Author : King Solomon (SOS 1:1) Theme : Learning to Live Before It’s Time to Die Book’s Main Character : King Solomon

About the Author : Solomon, whose name means “peaceable,” was the son of King David by Bathsheba. He succeeded his father David to the throne and ruled for forty years (from c. 1010-970 BC). His power, wealth, wisdom, and glory are unparalleled throughout history. He wrote three books: Proverbs , Ecclesiastes , and The Song of Solomon . About the Book : Ecclesiastes is an autobiography of King Solomon’s life. It is a look at a life after it’s already been lived. Solomon begins the book of Ecclesiastes with a review of his experiences (his earthly pursuits). As a young man he studied the world about him (Eccl 1:13-18 and I Kings 4:33), gaining knowledge, but never enough knowledge to answer all the questions life asks. In the end, Solomon shows us the vanity of what it is like to serve self instead of God. Although King Solomon became the wisest and wealthiest man to ever live (I Ki 3:10-13), because he sought every pleasure and the knowledge of all things, his wisdom and his wealth ruined him. Solomon’s life is a testimony to the fact that wealth and human wisdom can never truly satisfy (Eccl 1:17-18 & 2:1). King Solomon’s purpose in writing Ecclesiastes was to expose the emptiness and utter meaninglessness of one’s life apart from knowing and serving God. Helpful Background : Ecclesiastes was written c. 970 BC during the latter years of King Solomon’s reign (I Ki 11:25). After years of experiencing the pleasures of fleshly appetites, King Solomon came to the place in his life where he realized and concluded that life without “ fearing God and keeping His commandments ” was vanity, i.e., meaningless (Eccl 12:13). Notes of Interest : 1. Ecclesiastes is not quoted in the NT. 2. Prophecies are referred to 5 times in Ecclesiastes .

3. Prophecies concerning CHRIST are refered to all 5 times. 4. There are no inset maps used in the book of Ecclesiastes . 1. The vanity of laboring for earthly things (Eccl 1-4) 2. The vanity of life itself (Eccl 5-10) 3. The need to serve God while you’re still young (Eccl 11-12) Ecclesiastes 1 “Laboring to live” instead of “living to labor” is vanity Date Written - c. 970 BC/AM 3030 1. or, “the pursuit of the wind; meaningless” - Psa 39:5-6 & 144:4 2. Prov 27:20 & Eccl 4:8 3. that is, “everything that can be

Outline of Ecclesiastes :

9 The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and 3 there is no new thing under the sun. 10 Is there any thing whereof it may be said, See, this is new? it hath been already of old time, which was before us. 11 There is no remembrance of former things; neither shall there be any remembrance of things that are to come with those that shall come after. “Living to learn” instead of “learning to live” is vanity 12 I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem. 13 And 4 I gave my heart to seek and search out by wisdom concerning all things that are done 5 under heaven: this sore travail hath God given to the sons of man to be exercised therewith. 14 I have seen all the works that are done under the sun; and, behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit.

1 The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem. 2 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, vanity of vanities; all is 1 vanity. 3 What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun? 4 One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth abideth for ever. 5 The sun also ariseth, and the sun goeth down, and hasteth to his place where he arose. 6 The wind goeth toward the south, and turneth about unto the north; it whirleth about continually, and the wind returneth again according to his circuits. 7 All the rivers run into the sea; yet the sea is not full; unto the place from whence the rivers come, thither they return again. 8 All things are full of labour; man cannot utter it: 2 the eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing.

observed by man bears the stamp of monotonous monotony, i.e., been there - done that.” 4. Prov 23:7 & Eccl 2:12-16,21 & 7:23-25 Note – Solomon went about to discover whether life was indeed as meaningless as his own experience suggested. 5. James 3:15,17

15 That which is crooked cannot be made straight: and that which is wanting cannot be numbered. Ecclesiastes 1:1 Subject Head There is a stark contrast between “laboring to live” and “living to labor.” Whereas God created us 1004