XIII. Theology of the Book as a Whole Qohelet’s pessimistic theology is not the concluding voice in the book. A second voice is heard at the beginning of the book (1:1–11) and at the end (12:8–15), placing a frame around Qohelet’s speech and providing the perspective through which we should read his opinions. Many interpreters have acknowledged this function of the epilogue, though different explanations have been provided.132 When the structure of the book is taken into account, then we can understand
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