Books of the Bible

Old Testament · Poetry & Wisdom

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes looks straight at how brief and puzzling life is under the sun, refusing easy comfort. It ends by returning to fear God and keep his commandments.

Authorship
Written by the Preacher, identified as a son of David in Jerusalem.
Historical setting
Reflection from within Israel's monarchy.
Key themes
Vanity and brevity · Work and pleasure · Death · Fear God
Where it sits in the story
Scripture's honest voice about limits, which keeps wisdom from becoming a formula.

Ecclesiastes belongs to Poetry & Wisdom. Job to Song of Songs. Scripture in poetry and prayer.

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