A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Ecclesiastes (ICC)

by George Aaron Barton

Publisher:

T&T Clark

, 1908

Overview

For over one hundred years, the International Critical Commentary series has held a special place among works on the Bible. It has sought to bring together all the relevant aids to exegesis—linguistic and textual no less than archaeological, historical, literary and theological—with a level of comprehension and quality of scholarship unmatched by any other series.

No attempt has been made to secure a uniform theological or critical approach to the biblical text: contributors have been invited for their scholarly distinction, not for their adherence to any one school of thought.

Editors at the Time of Publication: Samuel Rolles Driver, Alfred Plummer, Charles Augustus Briggs

The depth of analysis found in the International Critical Commentary (ICC) Series has yet to be surpassed in any commentary collection. One of the best features of this series is the extensive amount of background information given in each volume's introduction, where all of the analysis is provided before the actual commentary begins. Each volume packs more information into the introduction than you will often find in the body of most commentaries! Also consider that with the electronic versions of each volume, you will never need to leaf through the hundreds of pages in each volume searching for the passage you are studying.

Contents

Top Highlights

“His point is that there is a proper or divinely ordered time for all human activities, and that these go on over and over again.” (Page 98)

“It has been shown above (§5) that the Solomonic authorship of Ecclesiastes, denied by Luther in the sixteenth century, and by Grotius in the seventeenth, was in the nineteenth century demonstrated by scholarly interpreters to be impossible. The fact that Solomon is not the author, but is introduced in a literary figure, has become such an axiom of the present-day interpretation of the book, that no extended argument is necessary to prove it. No one at all familiar with the course of religious thought in Israel, as scientific historical study has accurately portrayed it, could for a moment ascribe the work to Solomon.” (Page 58)

“It belongs to the latest stage of linguistic development represented in the Old Testament. As shown above (§10) not only are older Hebrew forms and constructions changed or confused, but late developments kindred to those of the Mishna are present, Aramaic words and constructions are found, at least two Persian words are employed, while in one instance the influence of Greek usage can be traced. If we compare the language of Qoheleth with that of the earliest prophetic document of the Pentateuch (J.), we shall find that they stand at the two extremes of Hebrew linguistic development, the former representing the latest, and the latter the earliest. Under such circumstances the Solomonic authorship of Ecclesiastes is unthinkable.” (Pages 58–59)

“Ben Sira and influenced him to such a degree that the book of Ecclesiasticus clearly betrays its dependence upon Qoheleth’s work.” (Page 53)

Product Details

• Title: A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Ecclesiastes
• Author: G. A. Barton
• Publisher: T&T Clark
• Publication Date: 1908
• Pages: 212

About George Aaron Barton

George A. Barton taught at Haverford College, Bryn Mawr and the University of Pennsylvania where he was Professor of Semitic Languages from 1922-1931 and Professor Emeritus from 1932-1942. His many articles and books cover a wide range of topics in areas such as biblical studies, religion, and linguistics. He was also involved in archaeological projects throughout the Middle East and was the director of the American School of Oriental Research in Baghdad from 1921-1934. While Archaeology and the Bible represents his efforts to make Ancient Near East studies accessible to the pastor and Sunday school teacher, Barton's research and academic work continues to be recognized for its importance to this day, particularly his works The Religion of Israel and A Critical and Exegetical Commentary on the Book of Ecclesiastes.