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NICOT: The Book of Ecclesiastes

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$37.00

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"An outstanding contribution to studies on Ecclesiastes."

—Bibliotheca Sacra

"On the whole, Longman has provided an up-to-date, conversant and provocative commentary on the ever-difficult words of Qohelet."

—Hebrew Studies

"Scholars and serious students of the Bible will find this an important resource."

—The Bible Today

"An indispensable resource for those wishing to understand the intricacies of the original text of Ecclesiastes."

—Vox Reformata

"Tremper Longman’s commentary on Ecclesiastes is a welcome addition to the NICOT series and a solid contribution to the elusive field of wisdom in ancient Israel. Longman exhibits his literary and theological sensitivities in a very accessible style."

—Journal of Biblical Literature

"This commentary goes a long way in solving the riddle that is the book of Ecclesiastes. . . . Will be highly treasured by those who have opportunity to teach and preach the message of Ecclesiastes."

—Daniel I. Block

"Longman offers a provocative genre- and structure-based explanation for the divergent perspectives expressed within the book of Ecclesiastes. His thorough exposition of Qohelet’s "meaningless" search for meaning and of the canonical book’s final critique of skepticism ultimately points readers toward Jesus Christ, whose death and resurrection have restored meaning to life 'under the sun.'"

—Richard Schultz

Ecclesiastes is one of the most fascinating - and hauntingly familiar - books of the Old Testament. The sentiments of the main speaker of the book, a person given the name Qohelet, sound incredibly modern. Expressing the uncertainty and anxieties of our own age, he is driven by the question, “Where can we find meaning in the world?”

But while Qohelet’s question resonates with readers today, his answer is shocking. “Meaningless,” says Qohelet, “everything is meaningless.” How does this pessimistic perspective fit into the rest of biblical revelation? In this commentary Tremper Longman III addresses this question by taking a canonical-Christocentric approach to the meaning of Ecclesiastes.

Longman first provides an extensive introduction to Ecclesiastes, exploring such background matters as authorship, language, genre, structure, literary style, and the book’s theological message. He argues that the author of Ecclesiastes is not Solomon, as has been traditionally thought, but a writer who adopts a Solomonic persona. In the verse-by-verse commentary that follows, Longman helps clarify the confusing, sometimes contradictory message of Ecclesiastes by showing that the book should be divided into three sections - a prologue (1:1-11), Qohelet’s autobiographical speech (1:12–12:7), and an epilogue (12:8-14) - and that the frame narrative provided by prologue and epilogue is the key to understanding the message of the book as a whole.

About the New International Commentary Old Testament Series
“In the Old Testament we read God’s word as it was spoken to his people Israel. Today, thousands of years later, we hear in these thirty-nine books his inspired and authoritative message for us.”

These twin convictions, shared by all of the contributors to The New International Commentary on the Old Testament, define the goal of this ambitious series of commentaries. For those many modern readers who find the Old Testament to be strange and foreign soil, the NICOT series serves as an authoritative guide bridging the cultural gap between today’s world and the world of ancient Israel. Each NICOT volume aims to help us hear God’s word as clearly as possible.

Scholars, pastors, and serious Bible students will welcome the fresh light that this commentary series casts on ancient yet familiar biblical texts. The contributors apply their proven scholarly expertise and wide experience as teachers to illumine our understanding of the Old Testament. As gifted writers, they present the results of the best recent research in an interesting manner.

Each commentary opens with an introduction to the biblical book, looking especially at questions concerning its background, authorship, date, purpose, structure, and theology. A select bibliography also points readers to resources for their own study. The author’s own translation from the original Hebrew forms the basis of the commentary proper. Verse-by-verse comments nicely balance in-depth discussions of technical matters - textual criticism, critical problems, and so on - with exposition of the biblical writer’s theology and its implications for the life of faith today.

About the Author
Tremper Longman III is Robert H. Gundry Professor of Biblical Studies and Chair of the Religious Studies Department at Westmont College, Santa Barbara, California. His other books include Introduction to the Old Testament, How to Read the Psalms, Reading the Bible with Heart and Mind, and Literary Approaches to Biblical Interpretation.

This book is available in the following money-saving bundles:
New International Commentary on the Old and New Testaments WITH Four Former NIC Volumes	New International Commentary on the Old Testament	New International Commentary on the Old and New Testaments