that Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes <\/a> ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.assoc-amazon.com\/e\/ir?t=leithartcom-20&l=ur2&o=1\")
. One of the \u201cstriking\u201d bits of evidence is \u201cthat many of the later passages in Ecclesiastes appear to be written from a non-Solomonic point of view (i.e., from the perspective of the subject rather than the ruler, e.g., 5:8-9; 8:1-9).\u201d It\u2019s a good observation about those texts, but as an argument concerning authorship absolutely vaporous. <\/p>\n Could Solomon not have spent a bit of time wondering what the simple folk do? (Lerner and Loewe\u2019s Arthur did!) Could Solomon not have attempted to step imaginatively down from his throne to see things from the viewpoint of his subjects? Oh no, not the wisest man in the world. <\/p>\n
The arbitrariness of the argument becomes evident a page later, when Provan suggests that the real <\/em> author \u201cis evidently capable of taking on personae other than his own in reflecting on the nature of the universe and the moral life. He explores reality \u2018as if\u2019 he were Solomon . . . imaginatively reenacting Solomon\u2019s reign . . . in order to facilitate those aspects of the exploration of \u2018life under the sun\u2019 that require the experience of great wealth and wisdom. He \u2018becomes\u2019 a king within the world of the text . . . in order to persuade his readers of truths about the world as it is confronted by the wealthy, the powerful, and the wise \u2013 among whose ranks certainly number kings like Solomon.\u201d But if an anonymous exilic or postexilic author could take on various personae, why not Solomon? <\/p>\n Provan\u2019s criticism of other commentators can perhaps be turned on him: \u201cThe imagination of the commentator has not come near to reckoning with the imagination of the speaker.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Iain Provan doubts that Solomon wrote Ecclesiastes . One of the \u201cstriking\u201d bits of evidence is \u201cthat many of the later passages in Ecclesiastes appear to be written from a non-Solomonic point of view (i.e., from the perspective of the subject rather than the ruler, e.g., 5:8-9; 8:1-9).\u201d It\u2019s a good observation about those texts, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3021,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[54],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1711","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-bible-ot-ecclesiastes"],"yoast_head":"\n
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