Home Religion, Bible & Theology “All Is Vanity, Saith the Preacher”
Chapter
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

“All Is Vanity, Saith the Preacher”

A Psalm-like Poetical Abstract of Qohelet in Lord Byron’s Hebrew Melodies
  • Karin Schöpflin
Become an author with De Gruyter Brill
Explore this Subject How to publish with us
Understanding Texts in Early Judaism
This chapter is in the book Understanding Texts in Early Judaism

Abstract

Lord Byron’s poem is inspired by the Book of Qohelet. He transfers Qohelet’s feeling of life into a psalm, thereby condensing the Biblical material in his own way. He makes Qohelet, whom he conventionally identifies with King Solomon, look back at the happy times in his life. He interprets the Preacher’s resignation and depression by introducing the serpent from Genesis 3; this aspect helps to generalize Qohelet‘s pessimistic outlook on human life.

Abstract

Lord Byron’s poem is inspired by the Book of Qohelet. He transfers Qohelet’s feeling of life into a psalm, thereby condensing the Biblical material in his own way. He makes Qohelet, whom he conventionally identifies with King Solomon, look back at the happy times in his life. He interprets the Preacher’s resignation and depression by introducing the serpent from Genesis 3; this aspect helps to generalize Qohelet‘s pessimistic outlook on human life.

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Preface: In memoriam Géza G. Xeravits (1971–2019) VII
  3. Contents IX
  4. Part 1: Old Testament and Early Judaism
  5. “From the Heavens, From the Earth” 1
  6. Different Texts and Different Interpretations of “Exile” 29
  7. Effaced and Naturalized Modes of Jewish Reading: The Judah and Tamar Story (Genesis 38), the Book of Jubilees, and Robert Alter 45
  8. Part 2: Qumran
  9. The Two Spirits and the Origin of Evil 63
  10. Reading Instruction as a Sectarian Composition 75
  11. Thoughts on the Way towards “Prolegomena” to an Introduction to the Writings of the Dead Sea Scrolls 93
  12. Levi, Levites and Worship in Qumran 107
  13. Children Confined in the House of Darkness 119
  14. Part 3: Deuterocanonica
  15. “Narrate omnia mirabilia eius” (Tob 12:20 Vg) 153
  16. The Rhetorical Function of Burying the Dead in the Book of Tobit 161
  17. Das Wortfeld „Sterben“ im 2. Makkabäerbuch 177
  18. The Topic of Intercession in Second Temple Judaism 189
  19. What’s in a Name? 207
  20. Des Menschen Wohltat und Gottes Wohlwollen 223
  21. “Better”–Proverbs in the Book of Ben Sira 241
  22. “When the Lord created his works from the beginning” (Sir 16:26a) 255
  23. “Pillars of Gold on Plinths of Silver. . .” (Sir 26:18) 265
  24. Ben Sira 36:18–37:15: the Art of Choosing 283
  25. The Enigma of the Judges in Ben Sira 46: 11–12 315
  26. Bethesda in Sirach 50 revised 335
  27. Is Wisdom in Baruch 3:9–4:4 Combined with Torah? 351
  28. Part 4: Cognate Literature
  29. Good and Bad Angels in the Vitae Prophetarum 371
  30. “All Is Vanity, Saith the Preacher” 389
  31. Part 5: Antique Synagogue
  32. An Evolutionary Perspective on Temple, Synagogue, and Ekklēsia with Special Focus on Paul 401
  33. Bibliography of Géza G. Xeravits 433
  34. List of Contributors 441
  35. Index of Modern Authors 443
  36. Index of Sources 451
  37. Index of Subjects 477
https://doi.org/10.1515/9783110768534-023

Chapters in this book

  1. Frontmatter I
  2. Preface: In memoriam Géza G. Xeravits (1971–2019) VII
  3. Contents IX
  4. Part 1: Old Testament and Early Judaism
  5. “From the Heavens, From the Earth” 1
  6. Different Texts and Different Interpretations of “Exile” 29
  7. Effaced and Naturalized Modes of Jewish Reading: The Judah and Tamar Story (Genesis 38), the Book of Jubilees, and Robert Alter 45
  8. Part 2: Qumran
  9. The Two Spirits and the Origin of Evil 63
  10. Reading Instruction as a Sectarian Composition 75
  11. Thoughts on the Way towards “Prolegomena” to an Introduction to the Writings of the Dead Sea Scrolls 93
  12. Levi, Levites and Worship in Qumran 107
  13. Children Confined in the House of Darkness 119
  14. Part 3: Deuterocanonica
  15. “Narrate omnia mirabilia eius” (Tob 12:20 Vg) 153
  16. The Rhetorical Function of Burying the Dead in the Book of Tobit 161
  17. Das Wortfeld „Sterben“ im 2. Makkabäerbuch 177
  18. The Topic of Intercession in Second Temple Judaism 189
  19. What’s in a Name? 207
  20. Des Menschen Wohltat und Gottes Wohlwollen 223
  21. “Better”–Proverbs in the Book of Ben Sira 241
  22. “When the Lord created his works from the beginning” (Sir 16:26a) 255
  23. “Pillars of Gold on Plinths of Silver. . .” (Sir 26:18) 265
  24. Ben Sira 36:18–37:15: the Art of Choosing 283
  25. The Enigma of the Judges in Ben Sira 46: 11–12 315
  26. Bethesda in Sirach 50 revised 335
  27. Is Wisdom in Baruch 3:9–4:4 Combined with Torah? 351
  28. Part 4: Cognate Literature
  29. Good and Bad Angels in the Vitae Prophetarum 371
  30. “All Is Vanity, Saith the Preacher” 389
  31. Part 5: Antique Synagogue
  32. An Evolutionary Perspective on Temple, Synagogue, and Ekklēsia with Special Focus on Paul 401
  33. Bibliography of Géza G. Xeravits 433
  34. List of Contributors 441
  35. Index of Modern Authors 443
  36. Index of Sources 451
  37. Index of Subjects 477
Sign up now to receive a 20% welcome discount
Institutional Access
How does access work?
Have an idea on how to improve our website?
Please write us.
© 2025 De Gruyter Brill
Downloaded on 25.12.2025 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1515/9783110768534-023/html
Scroll to top button