Introducing the Structure of Ecclesiastes:
The book of Ecclesiastes evinces an elegant symmetrical structure as demonstrated in the tables available on this website:
As I mention in the introduction to symmetrical structures uploaded on this website, for a work to evince a symmetrical structure, the two parallel sections need to share a number of features not found in other sections of the work in question:
This is indeed the case when it comes to the book of Ecclesiastes:
The parallel units were first placed in a table side by side. The shared features were highlighted, using a different color for each shared feature, below you will find a summary of the shared features of each of the pairings. I then will endeavour to explain the reason Ecclesiastes employs this structure.
One may legitimately ask why I divided the book the way I did. Most of the divisions come at natural fracture points in the book. Other ways in which Ecclesiastes demarcated units was through verbs indicating observation most often “seeing” (13/19 of the units begin this way) and ending with a remark that “this too is vanity”, the future is unknowable, or that the only worthwhile thing is joy.
H: Ecclesiastes 1:1-11 versus Ecclesiastes 11:1-12:8
1. The beginning and end of the book are virtually identical, and state Ecclesiastes central thesis: “Vanity of Vanities all is vanity”
2. Both deal with the inevitable cyclicality of nature (not really found elsewhere in the book), according to 1:4 The sun rise and sets and then rises again, and according to 11:3, if the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.
G: Ecclesiastes 1:12-2:11 versus Ecclesiastes 10:4-20
1. Both sections deal with kingship and its vagaries, in Chapter 1 and 2, Ecclesiastes pretends that he is king, and in Chapter 10:4-20 he gives one recommendations for how to comport themselves when confronted by rulers.
2. Both sections exclaim that “that which is crooked cannot be made straight”, Chapter 10 brings specific examples of corruption of the natural order.
F: Ecclesiastes 2:12-23 versus Ecclesiastes 9:13-10:3
1. Both sections give the most intensive examination of the worthiness of wisdom versus folly found in the book, as can be seen from the repetition of key words such as “wisdom”, and “folly” which I’ve highlighted.
E: Ecclesiastes 2:24 – 3:12 versus Ecclesiastes 9:11-12
1. Both sections emphasize the key words time (season), and chance in a different way. Chapter 3, emphasizes that there is a time for every human action, and Chapter 9 emphasizes that time and chance will inevitably catch up to one, and that no matter how you comport yourself you will never escape death.
D: Ecclesiastes 3:16-3:22 versus Ecclesiastes 8:16 – 9-10
1. Both sections emphasize using similar terminology (not found in other parts of Ecclesiastes) that all humans no matter how they behave, have the same fate as animals, they all go return dust to dust, as in 3:19-20: “For that which befalleth the sons of men befalleth beasts…all go unto one place; all are of the dust and all turn to dust again.
C: Eccelesiastes 4:1-6 versus Ecclesiastes 8:8-15
1. Ecclesiastes praises only two things in the entire book – the dead in 4:2, and joy in 8:15.
2. The two sections also speak of the powerful oppressing the weak, and that the weak have no recourse to justice. This is connected to the arbitrariness of fate which Ecclesiastes frequently mentions
B: Ecclesiastes 4:7- 5:12 versus Ecclesiastes 7:1-8:7
1. Both these sections are full of pithy adages frequently recommending one thing over another, thus the Hebrew root for “good” abounds. A nice parallel example is Ecclesiastes suggestion in 5:2 not to be rash when uttering things before god, and in 7:9, not to be rash to anger.
2. A prominent theme in both sections is the question whether two are better than one. In 4:9-12, Ecclesiastes suggests that this is indeed the case, using suggestive sexual language. Whereas in 7:26-28, Ecclesiastes warns one to be wary from any connection with women.
3. Ecclesiastes also emphasize here the arbitrariness of human judges/rulers in 8:3-4 and in 4:8, basically implying that these officials do what they want when they want.
A. Ecclesiastes 5:13-17 versus Ecclesiastes 6:1-12
1. The terminology at the beginning of the unit is very similar (and these phrases are found only here), in both case he sees an evil under the sun. Similar images occur throughout the unit
2. Both sections deal with remarkably similar themes i.e. the great evil which occurs when men do not enjoy their riches.
Center of the Book:
18 Behold that which I have seen: it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, for it is his portion.
Why is the book of Ecclesiastes structured in this way:
Throughout the book of Ecclesiastes, the author remarks on the circularity of existence: the sun rises and sets and then rises in the same place; life begins in darkness and ends in darkness; what once was will once again be. Every event has a time and place so does the opposite event. It makes sense that the book would be structured in this way as well, thus reiterating this understanding by aesthetic means as well. And thus the book starts and ends at the same point: Vanity of vanities.
Many scholars have plumbed the depths of Ecclesiastes in search of his message. Most regard it as a depressing work. It is thus quite ironical that Jewish communities read this book on The Holiday of Joy – Sukkot (or the feast of tabarnacles). It’s ironical that is, until one reads about the rabbinic reasoning for this assignment. The rabbis saw the book of Ecclesiastes as the book which most wholeheartedly recommends joy. N. Lohfink noticed that Ecclesiastes seven exhortations on the subject build up until the series of commands at the end of the book:
9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth; and let thy heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: 10 Therefore remove sorrow from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity.
The central exhortation for joy (the fourth of seven) is also the center of the book, and perhaps the central message as well: Life begins in darkness (or vanity as the KJV idiosyncratically translates) and ends in darkness, in the center is life which one should enjoy, since there is no divine reward or retribution.