Chapter 35 Study Questions

Question 1

What does the word Ecclesiastes mean?

Answer 1

Preacher

Question 2

What is the purpose of Ecclesiastes?

Answer 2

To convince men the uselessness of any world view that does not rise above man himself

Question 3

What is the theme of Ecclesiastes?

Answer 3

Vanity of vanities, and man’s reasoning

Question 4

What does Ecclesiastes caution about the pursuit of happiness?

Answer 4

It cannot be attained because it involves the foolish pursuit of self-edification.

Question 5

What does Ecclesiastes teach about having a meaningful life?

Answer 5

The meaningful life is the one which is lived in God’s service.

Question 6

Based on internal evidence, who is the author of Ecclesiastes? What is particularly telling?

Answer 6

Solomon. He calls himself king and son of David in verse 1.

Question 7

Liberal critics who attribute the authorship of Ecclesiastes to someone after the exile see Solomon as what kind of figure?

Answer 7

An artistic device designed to present the message of the late author. Solomon was known for indulging in earthy pleasures over living entirely devoted to God.

Question 8

What argument from Scripture do critics raise against Solomon’s authorship? Refute it.

Answer 8

Verse 1:16 says Solomon was more wise than all before him in Jerusalem, but there was only one other king in Jerusalem - David. However, the text does not specify kings, but rather all wise men.

Question 9

What is the most significant evidence liberal scholars have found supporting late authorship of Ecclesiastes?

Answer 9

Ecclesiastes is linguistically different from all other books in the Old Testament.

Question 10

What other Biblical text gives evidence that Ecclesiastes was written by Solomon? Why?

Answer 10

Song of Solomon (Song of Songs). Both have the same stylistic peculiarity, indicating the same author.

Question 11

What is L. Wouge’s theory, in support of late composition, concerning the style peculiarity of Ecclesiastes?

Answer 11

Solomon’s original Hebrew text was too old and hard to understand for later generations of Jews, so it was updated.

Question 12

What is the weakness of L. Wouge’s theory that Ecclesiastes was published in more common Hebrew?

Answer 12

The Hebrew of Ecclesiastes cannot be clearly identified as post-exilic.

Question 13

What is the Qohelet?

Answer 13

The Hebrew name for Ecclesiastes, meaning “preacher” or “the preacher’s office”

Question 14

Apart from linguistic considerations, what is another issue critics raise as an objection to Solomonic authorship of Ecclesiastes?

Answer 14

The author seems to present as a third party observer, rather than the king himself.

Question 15

From what standpoint is Ecclesiastes written, refuting the argument of a third party writer?

Answer 15

Solomon was writing as a philosophical observer of political and social life rather than as a partisan of royalty.

Question 16

What is the Hebrew translation for the Song of Solomon?

Answer 16

“Song of Songs”, or the “Best of Songs”

Question 17

What is the Latin name for Song of Solomon?

Answer 17

Canticles

Question 18

When was Song of Solomon written?

Answer 18

965 B.C.

Question 19

What is the theme of Song of Solomon?

Answer 19

The love between Solomon and his Shulamite bride, typifying the personal relationship God desires with His spiritual bride (the church)

Question 20

What attributes authorship of Song of Songs to Solomon?

Answer 20

The first verse of the book

Question 21

Despite the textual evidence, what do liberal critics say about the authorship of Song of Solomon?

Answer 21

Based on linguistic grounds, they deny Solomonic authorship and assign composition to a period later than 10th century B.C.

Question 22

What are two positive evidences that Solomon wrote Song of Solomon?

Answer 22

1. The author shows interest in natural history, corresponding to the historical record of Solomon’s vast knowledge in this field (1 Kings 4:33).
2. The author mentions geographical locations in the Northern and Southern kingdoms as part of the same political realm, favoring a date prior to 930 B.C.

Question 23

Why was Song of Solomon considered one of the five Antilegomena?

Answer 23

It was erotic and seemed to lack religious value.

Question 24

What is the allegorical interpretation of Song of Solomon?

Answer 24

Solomon was identified with Jehovah or Christ, and the Shulamite was identified with Israel. A spiritual counterpart is required for every physical detail, which should be objectionable when you consider comparing Solomon’s lifestyle with Jesus Christ.

Question 25

What is the literal interpretation of Song of Solomon?

Answer 25

The book is nothing more than a secular love song, serving to demonstrate proper martial love versus polygamous perversions. Solomon’s lifestyle and his harem do not support this, but maybe for a short period he was faithful and learned true love.

Question 26

What is the typical interpretation of Song of Solomon?

Answer 26

The author intends the couple to typify Jehovah’s love for His people, and foreshadow Christ’s relationship with His Church. Unlike the allegorical view, each detail is not required to have a spiritual counterpart.

Question 27

Concerning Song of Solomon, what is the Shepherd Hypothesis?

Answer 27

A second male character (a country shepherd) is the true suitor of the Shulamite rather than Solomon who would be less faithful. Certain passages would be the shepherd speaking while others would be Solomon, but there is no obvious break in the text to indicate different characters.