Questions about "Ecclesiastes"

1. Who is speaking? (cf. p. 1, "I the Preacher was king over Israel in Jerusalem"

2. Who is his audience?

3. Page 2: "For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow." What is the Preacher's attitude towards the examined life? Compare the statements on p. 3, "Then I saw that wisdom excelleth folly, as far as light excelleth darkness," and "And how dieth the wise man? as the fool."

4. P. 4. : In the famous section that begins, "To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven," is the Preacher extolling the richness of life, or lamenting our grim destiny? Why must there be a "time to hate"?

5. Page 4: "So I returned" , page 8: "I returned and saw under the sun" From where is the Preacher returning?

Some verses to discuss:

Page 3: "For God giveth to a man that is good in his slight wisdom, and knowledge, and joy: but to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God. This is also vanity and vexation of spirit."

Page 6: "The sleep of a labouring man is sweet, whether he eat little or much: but the abundance of the rich will not suffer him to sleep."

Page 6: "As he came forth from his mother's womb, naked shall he return to go as he came, and shall take nothing of his labor, which he may carry in his own hand."

Page 8: "For man also knoweth not his time: as the fishes that are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare; so are the sons of men snared in an evil time: when it falleth suddenly upon them."

Page 8: "He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap."

Page 9: "Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know thou, that for all these things God will bring thee into judgement. Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity." Does this exhortation contradict itself at the end?

Evaluative Question

Does Ecclesiastes present a coherant life philosophy, or is it really a collection of choice aphorisms?