This book is a response to the popular counter-reading of Ecclesiastes in the 1980s and 90s as a book of "joy" (rather than a pessimistic book). It examines the seven "joy statements" of Qoheleth in the light of analogies with scepticism and the literary form of irony. Irony, like scepticism, has the function to induce doubt and questions. The joy statements of Qoheleth are likely analogous to expressions of complex irony-whereby what is said is both meant and not meant. This examination highlights the complexity of the biblical book-while demonstrating how unlikely the "joy reading" may be.
- ISBN10 1463203721
- ISBN13 9781463203726
- Publish Date 18 June 2014 (first published 6 July 2010)
- Publish Status Active
- Publish Country US
- Imprint Gorgias Press
- Format Paperback
- Pages 211
- Language English