By Rabbi Dr. Israel Drazin
BOCA RATON, Florida — There are many widely different interpretations of the biblical book Ecclesiastes, Kohelet in Hebrew. Here is another one. A non-traditional one. It sees the book telling readers how they should behave.
The root kahal in Hebrew means “assembly.” The Latin Ecclesiastes has the same meaning. Tradition claims that King Solomon wrote the book. There is no proof of this. We do not know who wrote it. Whoever wrote it may have assumed the fictitious name Kohelet to inform readers that despite the book’s claim that the author is brilliant, wealthy, and buys whatever he or she desires, the author is just like everyone else in the world, rich and poor, religious and non-religious, good or bad, as the author makes clear in the volume’s 12 chapters.
“That which happens to men happens to animals; as one dies so does the other…. Man has no preeminence over the beast, all is vanity. All go to one place, all are dust and all return to dust” (3:19-20).
Kohelet tried to understand what he saw and heard, “but it was far from me” (7: 23-29). Trying to find value or the truth is futile. “In much wisdom is much vexation” (1:18). He saw that all was “vanity of vanities” (1:2), no visible substance, just like air.
Greek legend states that the famed philosopher Socrates was the wisest man because he, like Kohelet, realized that he understood nothing. This bothered the Athenians, who could not deal with the idea that they knew nothing. They forced Socrates to commit suicide in 399 BCE.
Kohelet offers two possible solutions to the realization that humans cannot fully understand the world, how it acts and why it does so. We can select either one. Or one he does not mention.
The ancients recognized that it was impossible to tell uneducated people the truth. They could not understand it. Therefore the Greek Plato, Socrates’ pupil, and many others suggested telling them “noble lies.” Maimonides agreed but called it “essential truths.” An example is that God, who, of course, has no emotions, gets angry if we do not obey divine commands. The idea is “essential” because it helps control people from destructive behaviors.
Kohelet offers two solutions to the wise and the general population.
(1) “Behold what I saw: it is good, yes, it is proper for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy pleasures from all his work under the sun, all the days that God gives him; for this is his portion…. This is the gift of God” (6:17-19).
(2) “Fear God, and keep His commands; this is man’s duty. God will judge all work.”
Rationale
The first is based on the idea that God created everything for people to enjoy as long as they enjoy it properly. This is obvious to the wise person because it explains why God created all these things. People who refuse to enjoy the divine gifts reject what God wants.
The second is designed for people who cannot imagine God is so generous, and we must treat God as a self-centered despot who demands that we obey as we obey a king and our parents and restrain our behaviors.