Ecclesiastes, Volume 23A (23) (Word Biblical Commentary)

The Word Biblical Commentary delivers the best in biblical scholarship, from the leading scholars of our day who share a commitment to Scripture as divine revelation. This series emphasizes a thorough analysis of textual, linguistic, structural, and theological evidence. The result is judicious and balanced insight into the meanings of the text in the framework of biblical theology. These widely acclaimed commentaries serve as exceptional resources for the professional theologian and instructor, the seminary or university student, the working minister, and everyone concerned with building theological understanding from a solid base of biblical scholarship. Overview of Commentary Organization Introduction—covers issues pertaining to the whole book, including context, date, authorship, composition, interpretive issues, purpose, and theology. Each section of the commentary includes: Pericope Bibliography—a helpful resource containing the most important works that pertain to each particular pericope. Translation—the author’s own translation of the biblical text, reflecting the end result of exegesis and attending to Hebrew and Greek idiomatic usage of words, phrases, and tenses, yet in reasonably good English. Notes—the author’s notes to the translation that address any textual variants, grammatical forms, syntactical constructions, basic meanings of words, and problems of translation. Form/Structure/Setting—a discussion of redaction, genre, sources, and tradition as they concern the origin of the pericope, its canonical form, and its relation to the biblical and extra-biblical contexts in order to illuminate the structure and character of the pericope. Rhetorical or compositional features important to understanding the passage are also introduced here. Comment—verse-by-verse interpretation of the text and dialogue with other interpreters, engaging with current opinion and scholarly research. Explanation—brings together all the results of the discussion in previous sections to expose the meaning and intention of the text at several levels: (1) within the context of the book itself; (2) its meaning in the OT or NT; (3) its place in the entire canon; (4) theological relevance to broader OT or NT issues. General Bibliography—occurring at the end of each volume, this extensive bibliographycontains all sources used anywhere in the commentary. Cover Page Title Page Copyright Page Dedication Contents Author’s Preface Editorial Preface Abbreviations Main Bibliography Introduction Introductory Questions Language, Style, and Form Integrity and Structure Ancient Near Eastern Background History of Interpretation The Message of Ecclesiastes Translation of Ecclesiastes 1:1–12:14 Text and Commentary Superscription (1:1) A Motto (1:2) A Poem About Human Toil (1:3–11) Introduction (1:12–18) A Reflection Upon Pleasure (2:1–11) A Reflection Upon the Merits of Wisdom and Folly (2:12–17) A Reflection Upon Human Toil (2:18–26) A Reflection Upon Time and Toil (3:1–4:6) A Reflection Concerning “Two” (4:7–16) Varia: Worship, Officials, Wealth and Its Uncertainties (4:17[5:1]–6:9) A Reflection Upon Divine Knowledge and Human Impotence (6:10–12) Past and Present Wisdom (7:1–14) Wisdom Relative to Justice and Wickedness (7:15–24) A Reflection Upon Humankind (7:25–29) Varia: Instruction and Reflections (8:1–17) Reflections (9:1–12) Various Applications of Wisdom (9:13–10:15) A Collection of Sayings (10:16–11:2) Living In Uncertainty and Ignorance (11:3–6) Instruction Concerning Youth and Old Age (11:7–12:8) Epilogue (12:9–14) Epilogue Indexes Index of Authors Cited Index of Biblical Texts Index of Principle Subjects Index of Hebrew Terms WBC series delivers the best in biblical scholarship, from the leading scholars who share a commitment to Scripture as divine revelation. It emphasizes a thorough analysis of textual, linguistic, structural, and theological evidence. The result is judicious and balanced insight into the meanings of the text in the framework of biblical theology.