The meaning of ל בֶ הֶ is a crux interpretum for the book of Ecclesiastes. Notwithstanding some variation, Jerome's vanitas reading of ל בֶ הֶ in Ecclesiastes dominated scholarship for several centuries. Since the rise of modern biblical scholarship, ל בֶ הֶ as 'vanity' has been largely rejected; however, little consensus has been reached regarding the word's meaning. The result has been a rich history of interpretation as scholars develop various suggestions for how ל בֶ הֶ should be understood in Ecclesiastes. This essay briefly sketches the history of interpretation of ל בֶ ,הֶ then surveys proposals for the meaning of ל בֶ הֶ in Ecclesiastes during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries.
This article discusses the concept of suffering in the Old Testament. It first looks at passages in the Pentateuch that describe life before the fall, which paints a picture of human existence before suffering. It then examines what the Pentateuch and Proverbs teach about avoiding suffering through living a life of faithful obedience. Next, it examines suffering in the books of Job and Ecclesiastes, which tackle head-on the issue of the suffering of the righteous. It then moves to the New Testament to examine how suffering differs on this side of the cross and how modern-day Christians must live in light of the reality of suffering. The article concludes with few proposals for how to apply the biblical theology of suffering.
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