Ecclesiastes (blackwell Bible Commentaries)

Ecclesiastes Through the Centuries Blackwell Bible Commentaries Series Editors: John Sawyer, Christopher Rowland, Judith Kovacs, David M. Gunn John Through the Centuries Mark Edwards Revelation Through the Centuries Judith Kovacs & Christopher Rowland Judges Through the Centuries David Gunn Exodus Through the Centuries Scott M. Langston Ecclesiastes Through the Centuries Eric S. Christianson Forthcoming: Genesis 1–11 Through the Centuries Ezekiel Through the Centuries Danna Nolan Fewell & Gary A. Phillips Andrew Mein Leviticus Through the Centuries Jonah Through the Centuries Mark Elliott Yvonne Sherwood 1 & 2 Samuel Through the Centuries Mark Through the Centuries David Gunn Christine Joynes 1 & 2 Kings Through the Centuries Luke Through the Centuries Martin O’Kane Larry Kreitzer Esther Through the Centuries Romans Through the Centuries Jo Carruthers Paul Fiddes Psalms Through the Centuries 1 Corinthians Through the Centuries Susan Gillingham Jorunn Okland Song of Songs Through the 2 Corinthians Through the Centuries Centuries Paula Gooder Francis Landy and Fiona Black Galatians Through the Centuries Isaiah Through the Centuries John Riches John F. A. Sawyer Hebrews Through the Centuries Jeremiah Through the Centuries John Lyons Mary Chilton Callaway James Through the Centuries Lamentations Through the Centuries David Gowler Paul Joyce Pastoral Epistles Through the Centuries Jay Twomey Ecclesiastes Through the Centuries Eric S. Christianson © 2007 by Eric S. Christianson BLACKWELL PUBLISHING 350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148-5020, USA 9600 Garsington Road, Oxford OX4 2DQ, UK 550 Swanston Street, Carlton, Victoria 3053, Australia The right of Eric S. Christianson to be identified as the Author of this Work has been asserted in accordance with the UK Copyright, Designs, and Patents Act 1988. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, except as permitted by the UK Copyright, Designs, and Patents Act 1988, without the prior permission of the publisher. First published 2007 by Blackwell Publishing Ltd 1 2007 Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Christianson, Eric S. Ecclesiastes through the centuries / Eric S. Christianson. p. cm.—(Blackwell Bible commentaries) Includes bibliographical references and indexes. ISBN-13: 978-0-631-22529-4 (hardcover: alk. paper) ISBN-10: 0-631-22530-7 (hardcover: alk. paper) 1. Bible. O.T. Ecclesiastes— Commentaries. I. Title. II. Series. BS1475.53.C47 2007 223′.807—dc22 2006012585 A catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library. Set in 10 on 12.5 pt Minion by SNP Best-set Typesetter Ltd, Hong Kong Printed and bound in Singapore by Fabulous Printers Pte Ltd The publisher’s policy is to use permanent paper from mills that operate a sustainable forestry policy, and which has been manufactured from pulp processed using acid-free and elementary chlorine-free practices. Furthermore, the publisher ensures