Biblical Hebrew Forum

[Uri Hurwitz <uhurwitz AT yahoo.com>]

    Dear Bryant,

   As to the content: I do not know any other book in the HB which presents a 
point of view similar to that found in Qohelet, such as in  1:1-11, or 9:1-6 
to cite just two passages of many. Not only are they different, they 
contradict the spirit of  other books. I find similarities between such 
deeply pessimistic, or nihilistic attitude,and some Hellenistic philosophers.

  As for the style, the position that I support, simply states that Qohelet, 
as well as other HB books in the latter part of the canon, display clear 
evidence of linguistic use which would be seen later in the language of the 
Mishnah. Randal Buth has discussed this in  some detail in recent posts.

 Familiarity with MH makes the diachronic changes in the language clear.


  Regards,

  Uri Hurwitz