In our eleventh episode on Wisdom in the Old Testament, we continue our journey in Ecclesiastes and take a look at Qoheleth’s argument against trying to gain happiness by our own power. The result, at least at the end of chapter 2, is a disappointed resignation to the fact that we need to somehow receive happiness from God rather than trying to grasp it for ourselves. This alternate approach will be explored in episodes to come.

00:00 - Introduction

00:50 - Poetic introduction to hevel (1:2–11)

06:01 - Prosaic introduction to hevel (1:12–18)

15:55 - The hevel found when following your heart (2:1–11)

28:06 - The hevel found in pursuing wisdom (2:12–17)

34:36 - The hevel found in pursuing the fruit of wisdom (2:18–23)

37:52 - The pursuit of happiness will fail (2:24–26)

42:26 - Closing

Works mentioned:

- Stuart Weeks, Ecclesiastes 1–5: A Critical and Exegetical Commentary, ICC

- Jennie Barbour, The Story of Israel in the Book of Qohelet: Ecclesiastes as Cultural Memory

- Knut Heim, Ecclesiastes: An Introduction, TOTC

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