Υ. Υ Koh Royal Autobiography in the Book of Qoheleth

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2 Υ. Υ Koh Royal Autobiography in the Book of Qoheleth

3 Beihefte zur Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft Herausgegeben von John Barton Reinhard G. Kratz Choon-Leong Seow Markus Witte Band 369 W DE G Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York

4 Υ. V. Koh Royal Autobiography in the Book of Qoheleth w DE _G Walter de Gruyter Berlin New York

5 @ Printed on acid-free paper which falls within the guidelines of the ANSI to ensure permanence and durability. ISBN-13: ISBN-10: ISSN Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the J ibrary of Congress. Bibliographic information published by the Deutsche Nationalbibliothek Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed bibliographic data are available in the Internet at Copyright 2006 by Walter de Gruyter GmbH & Co. KG, D Berlin All rights reserved, including those of translation into foreign languages. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Printed in Germany Cover design: Christopher Schneidcr, Berlin

6 To Revd. Professor John A. Emerton In gratitude for his support and encouragement, and friendship.

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8 Table of Contents Abbreviations XI Sigla XVII Chapter 1: Introduction 1 I. Introduction 2 II. A Survey of the History of Interpretation of Qoheleth 2 A. Pre-Critical Interpretations 2 1. Early Jewish Interpretations 2. Early Church Interpretations The Reformation 9 B. Modern Critical Scholarship on Qoheleth 10 C. Current Sceptical Interpretations of Qoheleth 14 III. Purpose of This Study 17 IV. Outline of This Study 18 V. Scope of This Study 19 Chapter 2: The Royal Voice of Qoheleth 25 I. Examination of the Main Evidence of the Royal Voice in 1:12-2:26 25 A. Qoheleth's Self-Introduction (1:12) 28 B. A Solomonic Experiment (1:13-18) 29 C. A Test of Pleasure (2:1-11) 31 D. An Experiment with Wisdom and the Issue of Royal Legacy (2:12-23) 34 E. Qoheleth's Practical Advice for Living (2:24-26) 36 F. Summary 37 II. Does the Royal Voice Speak Beyond 2:26? 38 III. Arguments for the Pervasiveness of Qoheleth's Royal Voice 40 A. Perdue - the Royal Testament of Qoheleth 41

9 VIII Table of Contents Β. Christianson - Telling the Story of Qoheleth 41 C. Summary 48 IV. Examination of the Allegedly 'Anti-Royal' Passages 50 A. The Problem of Injustice : : :7-8 [ET vv.8-9] : B. The Nature of Kingship : : : :20 68 C. Summary 69 V. Concluding Remarks 70 Chapter 3: Qoheleth in the Context of Ancient Near Eastern Literature 72 Section 1: The Royal Language of Qoheleth: Qoheleth and Ancient Semitic Royal Inscriptions I. West Semitic Royal Inscriptions 73 A. The Formulaic Self-Introduction 74 B. The Royal Boasting of Deeds 78 C. Comparison with Predecessors and Contemporaries 82 D. Royal Wisdom 85 E. A Political and Military Background 87 F. Summary 89 II. Akkadian (Sargonid) Royal Inscriptions 90 A. The Formulaic Self-Introduction 91 B. The Royal Boasting Palaces, Canals, Gardens and Parks The Treasures of Kings 96 C. Comparison with Predecessors 99 D. Royal Wisdom 100 E. Warring Background 103 F. Summary 104 III. Concluding Remarks 104

10 Table of Contents IX Section 2: Qoheleth and the Fictional Royal Texts of Akkad and Ancient Egypt IV. Longman's 'Fictional Akkadian Autobiographies' 106 A. Fictional Akkadian Autobiographies with Didactic Endings 107 B. Longman's Analysis of Qoheleth Ill C. Summary 112 V. Pseudo-autobiographies of the Kings of Akkad 112 A. The Cuthean Legend of Naram Sin 114 B. A Text of the King of Isin 117 C. A Sargon Autobiography 118 D. The Sargon Legend 118 E. Key Characteristics of the Corpus 120 F. Summary 121 VI. Egyptian Instructions 123 A. Royal Testaments 123 B. Royal Instructions Fictional Authorship Title Framework Themes and Motifs 135 C. Summary 139 VII. Pessimistic Reflective Discourses 140 A. Royal Laments 140 B. Summary 143 VIII. Concluding Remarks 143 Chapter 4: Qoheleth as Royal Autobiography 146 I. Autobiography as a Wisdom Form 146 II. The Autobiographical Character of Qoheleth 152 III. The Pervasive Presence of Qoheleth 156 A. The Prevalent Τ 156 Β. The Presence of Second-Person Address and the Issue of Unity Qoheleth as Narrator and Teacher The Use of Sayings in Qoheleth 163

11 X Table of Contents IV. The Dynamics of Qoheleth's Narrative 173 A. Loader's Theory of Polar Tensions 174 B. Qoheleth's Zwar-Aber Dialectic Style of Narration :13-16: Wisdom's Subservience to Time and Chance :11-12: Fate, Time and Chance :4-6: Competitiveness Versus Contentment 182 V. Qoheleth As Royal Autobiography 184 A. The Story of the Life of A King 184 B. Qoheleth's Quest for the Meaning of Life 187 C. Qoheleth's Conclusions and Advice 192 VI. Qoheleth's Thoughts on Wisdom and Folly 195 VII. Concluding Remarks 198 Chapter 5: Conclusion 201 Bibliography 209 Index of Biblical and Apocryphal References 227

12 Abbreviations General col. ET l.,ll. LXX MT PN RN v., vv. column English translation line, lines Septuagint Masoretic text personal name royal name verse, verses Publications cited by initials and short titles of works forming part of a series AB ABD ACP AEL AfO ANET ANETS Annals AnSt Anchor Bible Anchor Bible Dictionary. Edited by D. N. Freedman. 6 vols. New York: Doubleday, Archaeological Center Publication Ancient Egyptian Literature. M. Lichtheim. 3 vols. Berkeley: University of California Press, Archiv für Orientforschung Ancient Near Eastern Texts Relating to the Old Testament. J. B. Pritchard. 3rd edn. Princeton: Princeton University Press, Ancient Near Eastern Texts and Studies The Annals of Sennacherib. D. D. Luckenbill. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, Anatolian Studies

13 XII Abbreviations APEANES Athlone Publications in Egyptology and Ancient Near Eastern Studies ARAB Ancient Records of Assyria and Babylonia. D. D. Luckenbill. 2 vols. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, ARI Assyrian Royal Inscriptions. A. K. Grayson. 2 vols. RANE. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, AS Assyriological Studies ASOR American Schools of Oriental Research ASOR DS American Schools of Oriental Research Dissertation Series ATAT Arbeiten zu Text und Sprache im Alten Testament ATD Das Alte Testament Deutsch ATM Altes Testament und Moderne AUK Arbeiten und Untersuchungen zur Keilschriftkunde BASOR Bulletin of the American Schools of Oriental Research BBB Bonner biblische Beiträge BDB F. Brown, S. R. Driver and C. A. Briggs. A Hebrew and English Lexicon of the Old Testament. Oxford: Clarendon, BETL Bibliotheca Ephemeridum theologicarum Lovaniensium BHS Biblia Hebraica Stuttgartensia. K. Elliger and W. Rudolph. Stuttgart: Deutsche Bibelgesellschaft, BHT Beiträge zur historischen Theologie Bib Biblica Biblnt Biblical Interpretation: A Journal of Contemporary Approaches BiOr Bibliotheca Orientalis BKAT Biblischer Kommentar, Altes Testament BLS Bible and Literature Series BR Biblische Reihe Β TB Biblical Theology Bulletin BZAW Beihefte zur ZAW CANE Civilizations of the Ancient Near East. Edited by J. Sasson. 4 vols. New York: Simon & Schuster Macmillan, CBQ Catholic Biblical Quarterly CBQMS Catholic Biblical Quarterly Monograph Series

14 Abbreviations XIII CBSC CGFTD ConBOT COS CRRAI EB EF EI EQ EvT FC FOTL FSCS GKC HAHL HAL HALOT HAT HBS HKAT HOE HUCA IBC ICC ILSSR Int Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges Cahiers du Groupe Frangois-Thureau-Dangin Coniectanea biblica: Old Testament Series The Context of Scripture. 3 vols. Edited by W. W. Hallo and K. L. Younger, Jr. Leiden: Brill, Compte rendu de la Rencontre Assyriologique Internationale Etudes bibliques Erträge der Forschung Eretz Israel Evangelical Quarterly Evangelische Theologie Fathers of the Church The Forms of the Old Testament Literature Faith and Scholarship Colloquies Series Gesenius' Hebrew Grammar. Edited by E. Kautzsch. Translated by A. E. Cowley. 2nd edn. [=28 th German edn.] Oxford: Clarendon, Handbook of Ancient Hebrew Letters. D. Pardee, S. D. Sperling, J. D. Whitehead, and P. E. Dion. SBLSBS 15. California: Scholars Press, L. Koehler, W. Baumgartner, and J. J. Stamm. Hebräisches und aramäisches Lexikon zum Alten Testament. 2 vols. 3rd edn. Leiden: Brill, [ET: HALOT] L. Koehler, W. Baumgartner, and J. J. Stamm. The Hebrew and Aramaic Lexicon of the Old Testament. Translated and edited under the supervision of M. E. J. Richardson. 4 vols. Leiden: Brill, [=3rd German edn. HAL] Handbuch zum Alten Testament Herders biblische Studien Handkommentar zum Alten Testament Handbuch der Orientalistik Ergänzungsband Hebrew Union College Annual Interpretation: A Bible Commentary for Teaching and Preaching International Critical Commentary International Library of Sociology and Social Reconstruction Interpretation

15 XIV Abbreviations ISBL Indiana Studies in Biblical Literature IT Issues in Theology ITC International Theological Commentary JAAR Journal of the American Academy of Religion JBL Journal of Biblical Literature JDS Judean Desert Studies JNES Journal of Near Eastern Studies Joüon Joüon, P. A Grammar of Biblical Hebrew. Translated and revised by T. Muraoka. 2 vols. Subsidia biblica 14/1-2. Rome: Editrice Pontifio Istituto Biblico, JSOT Journal for the Study of the Old Testament JSOTSup Journal for the Study of the Old Testament Supplement Series JSS Journal of Semitic Studies JTS Journal of Theological Studies KA Kunst und Altertum KAHl Keilschrifttexte aus Assur, historischen Inhalts. L. Messerschmidt. Vol. 1. WVDOG 16. Leipzig: J. C. Hinrichs, KAH2 Keilschrifttexte aus Assur, historischen Inhalts. O. Schroeder. Vol. 2. WVDOG 37. Leipzig: J. C. Hinrichs, KAI Kanaanäische und aramäische Inschriften. H. Donner and W. Röllig. 2d ed. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz, ΚΑΤ Kommentar zum Alten Testament KHC Kurzer Handkommentar zum Alten Testament LBS Library of Biblical Studies MBPS Mellen Biblical Press Series MC Mesopotamian Civilizations MCSA Mesopotamia.Copenhagen Studies in Assyriology. NAC New American Commentary NCBC New Century Bible Commentary NEB Neue Echter Bibel NICOT New International Commentary on the Old Testament NIV New International Version NJPS Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures: The New JPS Translation according to the Traditional Hebrew Text. NRSV New Revised Standard Version OBO Orbis biblicus et orientalis

16 Abbreviations XV OLA OLP Or OTE OTL RA RANE RdSO RGG 1 RGG 3 RIMA SAAS SBLDS SBLSBS SBLSCS SBTh SGV SJT SQAW SSI SSU SVT TB TCESSHRS TJ TSJTSA TV TZ UF Orientalia lovaniensia analecta Orientalia lovaniensia periodica Orientalia Old Testament Essays Old Testament Library Revue l'assyriologie et d'archeologie Orientale Records of the Ancient Near East Rivista degli Studi Orientali Die Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart. Edited by Ο. Scheel, L. Zscharnack and Η. Gunkel. 5 vols. Tübingen: Mohr, Die Religion in Geschichte und Gegenwart. Edited by Κ. Galling and H. F. Campenhausen. 7 vols. 3rd edn. Tübingen: Mohr, The Royal Inscriptions of Mesopotamia, Assyrian Periods. 3 vols. A. K. Grayson. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, State Archives of Assyria Studies Society of Biblical Literature Dissertation Series Society of Biblical Literature Sources for Biblical Studies Society of Biblical Literature: Septuagint and Cognate Studies Studia Biblica et Theologica Sammlung gemeinverständlicher Vorträge und Schriften Scottish Journal of Theology Schriften und Quellen der Alten Welt Textbook of Syrian Semitic Inscriptions. 3 vols. J. C. L. Gibson. Oxford: Clarendon, Studia Semitica Upsaliensia Supplements to Vetus Testamentum Tyndale Bulletin Travaux du Centre d'etudes Superieures Specialise d'histoire des Religions de Strasbourg Trinity Journal Texts and studies of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America Theologische Versuche Theologische Zeitschrift Ugarit-Forschungen

17 XVI UMS.SS VAB VF VT WBC WO WUNT WVDOG ZA ΖAW Abbreviations University of Missouri Studies: Social Science Series Vorderasiatische Bibliothek Verkündigung und Forschung Vetus Testamentum Word Biblical Commentary Welt des Orients Wissenschaftliche Untersuchungen zum Neuen Testament Wissenschaftliche Veröffentlichungen der deutschen Orientgesellschaft Zeitschrift für Assyriologie Zeitschrift für die alttestamentliche Wissenschaft

18 Sigla Sigla used in transcribing and transliterating the ancient Semitic inscriptions [ ] in Semitic text denotes restored element(s) < > in Semitic text denotes element(s) omitted in error by the stone mason or scribe [ ] in English text denotes translation of restored element(s) ( ) in English text denotes additions to improve the sense - denotes the presence of an undecipherable letter denotes the omission of a few words

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20 Chapter 1 Introduction From being described as the "black sheep" 1 and the "strangest" 2 book of the Old Testament to having its author depicted as a neurotic bureaucrat with homosexual tendencies 3, the book of Qoheleth 4 continues to mesmerize its readers and attract a myriad of eclectic interpretations of its enigmatic text. In fact, up until today, there is still no majority consensus on many of its literary details, including the more basic aspects such as its provenance, authorship, literary structure, and integrity. As Newsome aptly describes the situation, "every scholarly conversation with the book of Qoheleth is characterized by a set of perennial problems of a basic nature that are never completely resolved or transcended by a shift of paradigm". 5 Taking up Qoheleth's call for assertive achievement and joining in the interpretative fray, this present study seeks to offer a fresh approach to the interpretation of Qoheleth which focuses on the royal voice. Specifically, this study seeks to argue that the royal voice plays a more positive and integral role in the composition than is generally thought by the majority of commentators today. This approach also comes in response to growing sceptical views of Qoheleth which see the book as satirical, subversive, and antiwisdom. I shall begin with a brief survey of the history behind the arguments about authorship and the perceived contradictions in the work as a means to introducing key issues which I shall later 1 Wright 1946,18. 2 Scott 1965, Zimmerman (1973). 4 In this monograph I shall use italics to indicate the book of Qoheleth and Roman script when I am referring to Qoheleth the character. 5 Newsome 1995, 183.