The Author of Ecclesiastes

2021-11-23

Solomon is the only candidate to have written Ecclesiastes. He was “the son of David, king in Jerusalem” (Ecclesiastes 1:1) and “was king over Israel in Jerusalem” (Ecclesiastes 1:12). The only one who was a descendant of David and ruled over the entire united kingdom of Israel from Jerusalem was Solomon. Everyone after Solomon was either a king of Judah only in Jerusalem or a king of the northern kingdom of Israel, which never had its capital in Jerusalem. So we know it was the great wise king Solomon who is the one speaking. The wisdom he learned showed him that much in life is futility: “For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow” (Ecclesiastes 1:18).