Overview
The Preacher, presented as a son of David and king in Jerusalem, examines the meaning of wisdom, pleasure, labor, and wealth under the sun and concludes that all is vanity. The book closes with the conclusion that the whole duty of man is to fear God and keep His commandments.
Theme The vanity of life under the sun and the fear of God (Ecclesiastes 12:13)
Historical background
The Hebrew name Qohelet denotes one who assembles or addresses a congregation. In Jewish tradition Ecclesiastes is one of the five Megillot and is read at the Feast of Tabernacles (Sukkot). Because certain vocabulary and stylistic features resemble later Hebrew, scholars differ on the date of composition.