Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Raymond de Hoop <rdehoop AT keyaccess.nl>]

At 22-05-2001 11:29 Dave Humpal <ebedyah AT elite.net> wrote:

> It seems to me it can be explained as
> unusual Hebrew written by someone with strong economic and philosophical
> interests beyond the borders of Israel.  Solomon was the only King of Israel
> with this kind of broad background.  At least that's a possible explanation!

What is wrong with the supposition that we are dealing with pseudepigraphy
in the book of Qoheleth? This was a common phenomenon in the ancient Near
East, why should it not have been used in the bible?
The philosophy of Qohelet does not fit the era of (David and) Solomon. The
kingdom was a state in its formative stage or a so-called early state. The
possible literary activity of that era was more concerned with ideological
and legitimating aspects of that state than with the philosophy with which
Qoheleth is troubling his mind.

Regards,

Raymond