Editing Ecclesiastes (section)

==Themes==
Scholars disagree about the themes of Ecclesiastes: whether it is [[optimism|positive]] and life-affirming, or deeply [[Pessimism|pessimistic]];{{sfn|Bartholomew|2009|p=17}} whether it is coherent or incoherent, insightful or confused, orthodox or heterodox; whether the ultimate message of the book is to copy Kohelet, "the wise man," or to avoid his errors.{{sfn|Enns|2011|p=21}} At times, Kohelet raises deep questions; he "doubted every aspect of religion, from the very ideal of righteousness, to the by now traditional idea of divine justice for individuals".{{sfn|Hecht|2003|p=[https://archive.org/details/doubthistory00jenn/page/75 75]}} Some passages of Ecclesiastes seem to contradict other portions of the Hebrew Bible, and even itself.{{sfn|Bartholomew|2009|p=17}} The [[Talmud]] even suggests that the rabbis considered [[censorship|censoring]] Ecclesiastes due to its seeming contradictions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Shabbat 30b |url=https://www.sefaria.org/Shabbat.30b |website=www.sefaria.org}}</ref> One suggestion for resolving the contradictions is to read the book as the record of Kohelet's quest for knowledge: opposing judgments (e.g., "the dead are better off than the living" (4:2) vs. "a living dog is better off than a dead lion" (9:4)) are therefore provisional, and it is only at the conclusion that the verdict is delivered (11–12:7). On this reading, Kohelet's sayings are [[goad]]s, designed to provoke dialogue and reflection in his readers, rather than to reach premature and self-assured conclusions.{{sfn|Brown|2011|pp=17–18}}

The subjects of Ecclesiastes are the pain and frustration engendered by observing and meditating on the distortions and inequities pervading the world, the uselessness of human ambition, and the limitations of worldly wisdom and righteousness. The phrase "under the sun" appears twenty-nine times in connection with these observations; all this coexists with a firm belief in God, whose power, justice, and unpredictability are sovereign.{{sfn|Fox|2004|p=ix}} History and nature move in cycles so that all events are predictable and unchangeable, and life, without the Sun, has no meaning or purpose: the wise man and the man who does not study wisdom will both die and be forgotten: man should be reverent (i.e., fear God), but in this life it is best to enjoy God's gifts simply.{{sfn|Gilbert|2009|p=125}}