Biblical Hebrew Forum

[George Athas <George.Athas AT moore.edu.au>]

Hi Chavoux!

Your wrote: "I just find it interesting that except for Nehemia, the only two 
places in the Tanach where the word "pardes" occurs, is in two poetic books 
ascribed to Solomon. Normally, the use of the same unusual words would at 
least be considered as evidence (not proof) for them having the same author."

I can see a few things to point out here.

Firstly, Qohelet is not ascribed to Solomon. It is the combined work of 
Qohelet and his epilogist.

Secondly, Song of Songs 1.1 does not necessarily mean it was written by 
Solomon. And, in fact, when you consider where Solomon is actually mentioned 
in the book, he is actually portrayed as a distant figure. And when you 
consider the rhetoric of the poetry carefully, it is actually quite critical 
of him. I don't think we can say Solomon wrote it.

Thirdly, there is an assumption in your reasoning that an unusual word is 
most likely used by just one author, and that this is more likely than two 
authors. I don't see how this logically follows. In any case, this is 
confusing lexical statistics with idiolect (the particular way a person 
speaks or writes). Idiolect is usually gleaned by a number of factors, 
usually having to do with syntax and idiom. If you can show how the use of 
פרדס in Qohelet and Song of Songs contributes in that way, I'll be willing to 
concede the possibility of one author for both of them.

Nevertheless, this still does not get around the probability that the works 
in question are from a period much later than Solomon. In other words, even 
if you could demonstrate the likelihood, or even just the possibility of a 
common author, you still haven't linked this to Solomon.


Cheers!

GEORGE ATHAS
Moore Theological College (Sydney, Australia)
www.moore.edu.au