The temptation is overwhelming for commentaries on Ecclesiastes to begin brazenly, by citing Eccl. 12:12b: “Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.” The commentators acknowledge the obvious irony of writing still another book on Ecclesiastes, yet, after appearing to be appropriately sheepish, they proceed anyway. Lately there is no end to the making of methodological prefaces either. Accordingly, it was this author’s
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