Читать книгу The Great Reduction - Jay Trott - Страница 17

Here he identifies himself as Solomon. Some wags would say “with” Solomon. Either way, the meaning is the same. The unhappiness this man is experiencing is all the more remarkable because he is the king, and everyone expects kings to be happy.

Or at the very least, they expect them to hide any unhappiness they might have. Ecclesiastes is like David going up into his chambers to weep after Absalom was slain. Sorrow and unhappiness are signs of weakness in a king. The nation and its captains would prefer they not be seen.

Solomon’s name is ironic. It means peace, which in one sense is appropriate since he reigned over Israel in a time of peace; but he himself is not at peace. Far from it. He who brought peace to Israel is troubled in his soul, almost beyond his ability to express it.

So then there are two kinds of peace. There is exterior peace where all is outwardly placid, calm; and then there is inner peace, shalom, the “peace that passes all understanding.” Solomon had the first but not the second. But of what value is the first without the second?

Solomon is the king, and his name means peace, but he is not the king of peace. The purpose of Ecclesiastes is to make this abundantly clear.