Biblical Hebrew Forum

[K Randolph <kwrandolph AT gmail.com>]

Kimmo:

On Sat, Sep 19, 2009 at 1:17 PM, Kimmo Huovila 
<kimmo.huovila AT kolumbus.fi>wrote:

> Does the book of Qohelet claim to be written by Qohelet or to merely record
> his words (even if not a verbatim record in the same dialect that Qohelet
> spoke)?
>
> Kimmo Huovila
>
> The book presents the words of Qohelet as if they are his exact words in
the first person. This is by far the largest collection of informal spoken
language written down. Most people assume that it was written down by
Solomon himself, as he is clearly described as the author of the sentiments.

Was it written down by Solomon himself? Most people assume it was. However
some verses, such as 8:2, seem to indicate that another person actually
wrote it. Other verses indicating that another person wrote it are 1:1–2.
These verses present Solomon’s words in the same manner as the prophets
presented Gods words: as an exact quote but that the speaker did not wield
the pen. If another wielded the pen, it is unclear whether or not Solomon
collaborated in the writing of Qohelet. If another wrote it down, the
implications are that he was present in Solomon’s court, taking down what
Solomon said.

What is not implied is that this was written far later by someone assuming
the role of Solomon as a literary device. From the way it is written, either
it was genuinely from the time of Solomon, or it is a fraud posing as
Solomon.

Karl W. Randolph.