A Time to Tear Down and a Time to Build Up: A Rereading of Ecclesiastes

by Michael V. Fox

Pervaded as it is with pessimism, paradox, and a multitude of contradictions, Ecclesiastes has long been one of the most difficult books of the Bible to understand. As this study demonstrates, however, it is precisely these contradictions that make Ecclesiastes so meaningful and so powerfully relevant to life in the world. By looking carefully at the language and thought of Ecclesiastes, as well as at its uses of contradictions in probing the meaning of life, Fox confronts the problems that have confounded interpretation of this biblical book. He shows that by using contradiction to tear down holistic claims of meaning and purpose in the world and rebuilding meaning in a local, restricted sense instead, the author of Ecclesiastes shapes a bold, honest-and ultimately uplifting-vision of life. Based on solid scholarly insight yet readable by all, Fox's work provides some of the best commentary available on this challenging section of Scripture.

Genres: Theology, Religion, Judaism

440 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1999

Reviews

[Jess Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very dense, textbook read. This book would have served me better if I had a degree in philosophy and/or could read ancient Hebrew, but i definitely gleaned a lot of good nuggets. I didn’t always agree with his points (especially his take on Qohelet’s overarching view of God— bleak!!) but I appreciated his lucidity when summarizing Qohelet’s thoughts and themes. I really loved going through Ecclesiastes as a church body and this book elaborated on the meaning behind this mysterious book and articulated very eloquently some of my thoughts and questions about it.

[Devin Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

After reading some of the more big name commentaries on Ecclesiastes, Fox's commentary is the best. Yes, he is thorough, he implements great sources and interacts with other scholars, but what makes his commentary so great is his ability to see overarching themes and piece things together in a meaningful way. He has become one of my favorite Old Testament scholars.

[Christina Bohn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent resource on this mysterious and complicated book. Fox’s proposal that the contractions are intentional and purposeful made me love Qoheleth all the more. Highly recommend.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A thoughtful, scholarly examination of the Book of Ecclesiastes. I had a very profound experience reading Ecclesiastes of feeling a deep resonance with its existential and questioning character. Unlike many other books of the Bible, it felt like a book for our times. But much of the Christian commentary I read seemed to be going through strange exegetical contortions to interpret the text away from its obvious meanings. Even so called "Biblical" readings seemed to completely throw out the text and begin with the assumption it couldn't really be saying what it was saying.

Fox's book is refreshing. He seems prepared to acknowledge the meaning of the text, and engage in some lively analytical reading. Although I was initially dubious about the use of modern philosophy in his reading of the text, I concluded feeling quite convinced of Fox's reading and I think identifying what was so resonant for me in this text. Highly recommended for scholars. For non-scholars trying to probe the mysteries of Ecclesiastes, it will be a tough slog but rewarding, I think.

[Alexander · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent commentary on the Book of Ecclesiastes. I do think that there is an overemphasis upon the author's hobby horse -- the similarities between Qoheleth and Camus -- and an underemphasis upon another of the author's important ideas, namely, the literary distance that the text maintains between itself and the reader on the one hand and Qoheleth on the other, through its literary frame and the treatment of Qoheleth as a character distinct from the author. But I learned a lot from this book and recommend it to others who wish to learn something about how to read and interpret the book of Ecclesiastes and understand its philosophical point of view.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fox has uncovered the key to Qohelet in this commentary. His basic premise is that Qohelet's thought is existential.

This is not a commentary for those who accept the inerrancy of the Bible. Fox does not write an apologetics for a particular confession. He approaches the text as any other piece of literature, which will put off some readers.