Ecclesiastes Chapter 2 Analysis

Ecclesiastes 1:1 states that this book contains “the words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem.” For this reason, it is traditionally believed to have been written by King Solomon around the year 935 B.C.E. King Solomon was the son of David, who was known for his wisdom and his writings, as well as his wealth. In chapter 2, verses 4-9 mention great works he built as well as treasures he owned, also leading to the belief that Solomon is the author. Not all Biblical scholars attribute authorship of Ecclesiastes to Solomon however. Some believe the book was written about Solomon instead of by him and that it was written after the Babylonian exile. Martin Luther suggested that the book of Ecclesiastes was a collection of …show more content…
Solomon pursued everything that he thought would make him happy. Even after amassing such a vast amount of material possessions and wealth, he wasn’t truly happy. He still felt empty inside and believed that it was all meaningless. For him, material wealth and success in life didn’t lead to true contentment. Only a relationship with God fulfilled what was missing in his life. That is the message that Ecclesiastes is trying to convey. What truly satisfies a person is a relationship with God. This relationship with God is the whole purpose of a person’s life, not how much wealth you accumulate or how successful you …show more content…
A goad was a long pointed stick that was used by farmers to make their animals move in the direction that the farmer desired. It was usually used on oxen that were plowing or pulling a cart. When they would go in wrong direction, the farmer would use the goad to get them to go in the right direction. Words of wisdom are to be used like a goad, to make people go in the right direction and guide them. The nails referred to here are most likely like tent pegs used to hold a tent firmly in the ground. Words of wisdom should be used to anchor a person and have a deep effect on their life. The shepherd referred to here is God. A shepherd cares for and looks after his flock. God gives us words of wisdom to guide our lives. “My son, beware of anything beyond these. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh” (Ecclesiastes 12:12). During the time Ecclesiastes was written, books were translated orally and written down. This could be a time-consuming process. Wasting time writing down anything that wasn’t wise should be