Ecclesiastes (21st Book of the Old Testament).
Author.
Solomon
Main point.
Life is meaningless apart from God, as Solomon learned by bitter experience and wanted to warn future generations.
Main people.
Because it is a book of observations and wisdom, there are no named characters.
Special features.
Includes the famous refrain “Nothing is new on earth.” Usually considered the most pessimistic book of the Bible. Inspired the song “Turn, Turn, Turn” that says there's a right time for everything (chapter 3). Concludes with a verse that countless students have tried to use as an excuse to get out of homework (12:12).
Date.
Late in Solomon's reign, probably about 935 B.C.
How many chapters?
12 chapters.
How the Book got its name?
The word Ecclesiastes comes from a Greek word meaning “a member of the assembly” and has come to refer to a preacher, since the book can be looked at as a sermon.
