Ecclesiastes: An Introduction and Commentary

Tyndale Old Testament Commentary

by Michael A. Eaton

"If it needs a man who has suffered to write a commentary on Job . . . . Perhaps the only person entitled to comment on Ecclesiastes is a cynic who has revolted from the world in disillusionment and disgust." "If so," writes Michael Eaton, "I qualify."Scholars have long wrestled with the gloomy pessimism and striking omission of any mention of Yahweh in this portion of the Wisdom literature. After setting forth the issues related to the text, authorship, date and canonicity, Eaton assesses the purpose and structure of the book. He then provides a passage-by-passage analysis that attempts to account for the oddities of the text and to show its contemporary relevance.

Genres: Reference, Christian, Old Testament, Theology, Biblical Studies, Nonfiction

159 pages, Paperback

First published April 17, 2009

About the author

Michael A. Eaton is Pastor-at-large, Chrisco Fellowship of Churches, Nairobi, Kenya

Reviews

[Bill Forgeard · Rating 4 out of 5]

After Kidner (BST), the next most helpful commentary I used whilst preaching Ecclesiastes.

[Neil R. Coulter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ecclesiastes has long been my favorite book of the Bible--though people laugh whenever I say it, and assume that I'm joking or trying to get some kind of shock value. My love of Qoheleth began in high school, when I first heard the song "Sad Face," by The Choir, and wondered what in the world it meant. My youth pastor didn't have an answer, so it was up to me to slowly work my way deeper into what is really going on in the book.

I go back to Ecclesiastes quite often, and recently my interest was rekindled by Terry Gilliam's film The Zero Theorem, which spins a futuristic sci-fi narrative out of the big questions considered in Ecclesiastes. I'm still amazed that a major motion picture would start with Ecclesiastes as its foundation, and I find most of the film really fascinating. By the end, however, it's clear that the film is only able to show us the "under the sun" world; Qohen Leth will never receive his divine phone call, and when he pulls back the curtain, there is only confirmation of his fears that life is meaningless, if not deliberately vindictive toward him.

The book of Ecclesiastes, on the other hand, offers a view of the natural world as it is--which leads to a hopeless, negative perception of life--as well as the same world seen through the eyes of faith. The faithful human doesn't escape the impossible-to-understand seeming absurdity and illogic of the way the world works, but he or she sees the big picture from a truer vantage point. We pursue joy not because that's all there is, but because that's what God created us for. Our almost desperate attempt to grab hold of life and enjoy it for all it can offer is not because death terrifies us and meaning is absent, but because this is the time for us to love life. Death is inevitable for everyone, and what comes after...the Preacher doesn't give us much detail. But we know that it is good to see the sun right now and live life to the full.

That's one of the central points that Michael A. Eaton draws out of Ecclesiastes in his classic commentary, Ecclesiastes: An Introduction and Commentary. This is my second readthrough of Eaton's commentary and I find it very helpful as a guide through Ecclesiastes. The writing is a model of simple and direct prose, showing the varied ways that people have interpreted Qoheleth, but not dwelling on one or another viewpoint too long, and never being dogmatic about the correct way to translate a word or phrase. I read Eaton's text with Ecclesiastes (in the English Standard Version) open beside me, which is the only way to get into a book like this. A number of times I marked different translations into my Bible, as I (not knowing biblical Hebrew) either appreciate multiple ideas or am convinced that Eaton's preference is better than what the ESV team (mostly following the RSV) decided on. It will make my future readthroughs of Ecclesiastes richer and bring back to mind some of Eaton's comments on interpretation and meaning.

I haven't read many other books on Ecclesiastes (though I hope to change that very soon), but I do recommend Eaton's commentary as a level, concise, helpful guide.

Other books on Ecclesiastes that are high on my to-read list:

A Time To Mourn, And A Time To Dance: Ecclesiastes And The Way Of The World

Ecclesiastes

Ecclesiastes: Why Everything Matters

[Andrzej Stelmasiak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Surprisingly helpful. Didn't use it too often, but every time I did, there was something good.

[Kristopher Schaal · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good commentary on Ecclesiastes. I often found myself in wholehearted agreement with Eaton’s interpretations and appreciated the way he worded them. Didn’t completely agree with his approach to authorship, but at least he believes the whole book is normative (unlike Longman, for example). I was very much helped by this commentary.

[Edwin Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Positives: Great analysis of the Hebrew text.
Negatives: Dry (though there are some hidden gems there).

[Shanna · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is definitely a straight commentary, so reading it cover to cover was a little dry, probably because it's more intended for searching and finding as you want to understand a specific part of Ecclesiastes. That said, I enjoyed it and found a lot of overlap with other commentaries and discussions I've read this year. Ecclesiastes is indeed "strikingly relevant to this century," as Eaton writes (178).

Some highlights I marked down:

“..the main lesson of Ecclesiastes: the need to face life as it really is, and take our life day by day from the hand of a sovereign God” (157).

“‘Look!’ he says in effect. ‘This is what it is really like. Can you face life in this world as it really is? There is only one way to do so'" (105).

The Preacher “demands simply that the believer face life in this world as it really is” (130).

“The secret of it all is: it is God-given" (141).

“If viewed without reference to God (‘under the sun’), the world in which we find ourselves is a chaos without meaning or progress (1:2-11); neither wisdom (1:12-18) nor pleasure (2:1-11) will enable us to live contentedly” (65).

“Confine your viewpoint to this world and its resources, says the Preacher, and all the contentions of pessimism are true” (42).

[Parker · Rating 3 out of 5]

A clear and concise book on Ecclesiastes, with plenty of helpful notes. I'm not persuaded of Eaton's overall interpretation, according to which Qohelet takes up a "secular" mindset, for the sake of argument, to show that the life of faith is the only way to live. I think the Preacher is not nearly that sure of himself.

Macro-level disagreements aside, Eaton writes well, offers cogent arguments, and shows his work without getting overly technical.

[Philip Brown · Rating 3 out of 5]

My oh my i enjoyed this book yes boy.

[Nigel Ewan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent commentary with just the right balance of original-language analysis and practical explanation of ideas.

[Kara · Rating 4 out of 5]

This gave me a much better, in-depth, understanding and appreciation of Ecclesiastes.

[Todd Smith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Ecclesiastes resource. I liked the verse by verse notes in this volume. A little bit more academic than the devotional type of reading but a lot of good information.

[Cameron Barham]

“What then, is the purpose of Ecclesiastes? It is an essay in apologetics. It defends the life of faith in a generous God by pointing to the grimness of the alternative.”, p. 44

[Daniel C · Rating 4 out of 5]

I highly recommend Eaton's commentary. It is as about as good as a concise commentary on Ecclesiastes can be. His style is fact-filled and concise. He actually provides a useful treatment of Ecclesaistes--which is the exception these days, not the rule. Pound-for-pound, it is the most helpful commentary on Ecclesiastes I have examined, and I have examined dozens.
In particular, Eaton understands the fundamental dynamic of the book, which many commentators, sadly, miss. Namely: that life on earth, life "under the sun," does(!) seem grievous, unjust, and without any ultimate benefit. But Eaton points out that the writer of Ecclesaistes ("Qoheleth"), implicitly argues that there is more to life than can be found by merely observing life "under the sun." That is what sets up the apparent tension within the book: that Qoheleth often, in fact usually, describes life only in-so-far as it can be observed on earth; but then he shifts gears, and speaks of what he knows ("but I know") and then refers to God. It is when one reveres ("fears") God, and lives in relation to Him, Qoheleth points out, that life can be satisfying--as God intended it to be. Eaton rightly understands this, and it pervades his insightful exposition of Ecclesiastes.

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Bible commentary is like an advisor to help you read the Scriptures. Eaton does a great job with this on Ecclesiastes. He suggests that the entire book of Ecclesiastes is about secularism vs. orthodoxy, and about a horizontal outlook (looking at all creation) and a vertical outlook (looking up to God). The secularist only sees horizontally, while the Christian also sees up. The point of the Preacher in Ecclesiastes is that secularism is entirely empty, pointless, futile: nihilism actually makes sense in a secular outlook.

Thank you, Michael Eaton.

[Joe Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

A solid attempt at making sense from a book that can be a tough one to work out. The author divides the 'under the sun' sections about our dimension from the sections about the eternal world of God and this generally works well. I'm not really a Wisdom literature guy as my first choice of Scriptures, but it is important for a Christian to understand the whole of the inspired Word and this book certainly helps grant some understanding.

[Paul Lamey · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent work, very brief on commentary but often insightful and helpful on the key issues.

[Heath · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was a tremendous help as I preached through Ecclesiastes.

[Roy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very small but very valuable book.

[Douglas Wilson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good.

[Joe Haack · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't read all of it - but a few helpful insights here and there.