Kohelet

The reader of Ecclesiastes (Koheleth, in Hebrew) might wonder how this beautiful yet enigmatic book found its place in the Bible’s canon. Our sages, too, were unsettled by its distinctiveness and even considered removing it from the biblical collection: “The sages sought to shelve the book of Ecclesiastes” (Babylonian Talmud, Shabbat 30, 12), citing contradictions within its text. Yet, to our delight, the book found a way to remain among the sacred writings of the people of Israel.
Indeed, it is a strange book. Its recurring theme, “Vanity of vanities, says Koheleth; vanity of vanities, all is vanity” (Ecclesiastes 1:2), starkly contrasts with the books of the Torah and the prophets, which focus on the relationship between the God of Israel, its people, and its land. These are books of law and morality that guide the people of Israel on the path that they should follow. Ecclesiastes, however, is a book of wisdom, akin to Proverbs and Job, but its uniqueness is evident even in relation to them. It is a composition tinged with nihilism that acknowledges the futility of human efforts to change the world: “That which has been is that which shall be, And that which has been done is that which shall be done; And there is nothing new under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9), and “That which is crooked cannot be made straight; And that which is wanting cannot be numbered” (Ecclesiastes 1:15).