Reading for March 12th

Read Ecclesiastes 1.1-11. In verse 1: Superscription. Like many Psalms, the book begins with an editiorial comment; it alludes to Solomon. Teacher: Hebrew Qoheleth; a form of "qhl" ("assembly"), its meaning is not clear. In verse 2: The book's theme. Vanity: In Hebrew "hevel," meaning "vapor, wind," things transient and impermanent. vanity of vanities is Hebrew superlative: "the most insubstantial thing." In verse 3: The dominant question. Is there any benefit from life? The reader is introduced to vocabulary that will be repeated throughtout the book: Under the sun refers to wearisome earthly existence, and toil bears a negative connotation. In verses 4-11: Nothing ever changes. The Teacher laments the inability of human activity to alter the flow of the existence. The sun, wind, and streams repeat their predicatable, "no sum" circuts, just as humans are never satisfied with what they see or hear. In verses 10-11 Throughout the book, the Teacher grieves that even righteous ones are not remembered after death. Comments or Questions..