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"PRE-EMINENCE" (mothar), Eccles. 3: 19, "PROFIT", Prov. 14: 23,
"PLENTEOUSNESS", Prov. 21: 5.
"FOOL" (cesil).--The Hebrew word occurs 70 times; 49 times in Proverbs, 28 times
in Ecclesiastes, the remaining 3 passages being in the Psalms. Grotius would set aside
Solomon with three Aramaic words--here, Solomon is established by a greater and more
searching criticism.
There are several expressions concerning wisdom and wealth which are peculiar to the
writings or time of Solomon, e.g.:--
"The giving of wisdom" (Prov. 2: 6; Eccles. 2: 26; I Kings 5: 12).
"To know wisdom" (Prov. 1: 2; Eccles. 1: 17, 7: 25, 8: 16).
"To seek wisdom" (Prov. 2: 4, 14: 6; Eccles. 7: 25).
"The heart of a wise man" (Prov. 16: 23; Eccles. 8: 5; 10: 2; cf. I Kings 3: 12).
"The words of the wise" (Prov. 1: 6; Eccles. 9: 17, 12: 11).
"Wealth" (nekasin) (Eccles. 5: 19, 6: 2; II Chron. 1: 11, 12; Josh. 22: 8).
The three Aramaic words look small against this list of words peculiar to Solomon.
Beside the above there is also the witness of style to be considered. Notice, for
example, the way in which the word grace is used. The use of cheu absolutely, is a
feature of Proverbs. See 1: 9, 3: 22, 34, 4: 9, 5: 19, 11: 16, 13: 15, 17: 8, 22: 1,
28: 23. In Eccles. 9: 11, 10: 12 it is used in the same way.
Love occurs 18 times in Prov., Song of Sol. and Eccles., and is used absolutely in
every place, except Prov. 5: 19; Eccles. 9: 6. These three books occupy 42 pages. The
word occurs elsewhere 22 times in 568 pages, and is used absolutely at the most on three
occasions. If there is any argument in style, this is unanswerable.
My son is always an appellative in Prov., and Eccles. "The heart of the sons of men"
(Eccles. 8: 11, 9: 3; Prov. 15: 11; I Kings 8: 39; II Chron. 6: 30).
"The heart knoweth".--This expression is peculiar to Solomon (I Kings 2: 44;
Prov. 14: 10; Eccles. 7: 22, 8: 5).
"Assembler" (koheleth), which is the word translated "Preacher", is the language of
David's time. David and Solomon were the only kings who assembled the congregation
(I Kings 8: 1, 2). This signal honour is enshrined in the name adopted in Ecclesiastes.
So with "nails" and "bowls": both have to do with the Temple.
"Peculiar treasure" is used of God six times. Twice only is it used of man
(I Chron. 29: 3; Eccles. 2: 8). The peculiarities of Ecclesiastes are all in favour of its
Solomonic authorship.
The reader who is not yet satisfied with either the quantity of the quality of the
evidence here brought together is recommended to consult "A Treatise on the Authorship
of Ecclesiastes" by D. Johnston, the book which has supplied this article with most of the
data assembled. We are convinced that Solomon is the author, and shall take up this
position in the ensuing articles of the series. We also believe that Ecclesiastes is inspired