Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes (often abbreviated in the bible as Ecc) (Hebrew: Qohelet) is a book of the Hebrew Bible. The title derives from the Greek translation of the Hebrew title: קֹהֶלֶת (variously transliterated as Qoheleth, Qohelethh, Kohelet, Koheles, Koheleth, or Coheleth).

The author represents himself as the son of David, and king over Israel in Jerusalem (1:1, 12, 16; 2:7, 9). The work consists of personal or autobiographic matter, largely expressed in aphorisms and maxims illuminated in terse paragraphs with reflections on the meaning of life and the best way of life. The work emphatically proclaims all the actions of man to be inherently "vain", "futile", "empty", or "meaningless," depending on translation, as the lives of both wise and foolish men end in death. While the teacher clearly promotes wisdom for the enjoyment of an earthly life, he is unable to ascribe eternal meaning to it. In light of this perceived senselessness, the preacher suggests that one should enjoy the simple pleasures of daily life, such as eating, drinking, and taking enjoyment in one's wife and work, which are gifts from the hand of God. The book ends with postscripts, perhaps as many as three.

According to Orthodox Judaism however, the point of Kohelet is to state that all is futile under the sun. One should therefore ignore physical pleasures and put all ones efforts towards that which is above the Sun. This is summed up in the second to last verse "The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone."

In Jewish society, Ecclesiastes is read on the Shabbat of the Intermediate Days of Sukkot, a harvest holiday. If there is no Intermediate Sabbath of Sukkot it is read on Shemini Atzeret (in Israel, it is read on the first Shabbat of Sukkot). It is read on Sukkot as a reminder to not get too caught up in the festivities of the holiday.