Woman as the Object of Qohelet's Search

Qohelet 7:23-29 has elicited numerous approaches to explain why there is a negative estimation of womanhood found on the lips of the wise. Below it will be argued that the text picks up the narrative of the first two chapters of Ecclesiastes and briefly continues the characterization of the life of Solomon. Part and parcel of that life was the pursuit of women. This pursuit had a negative effect on the reputation of Solomon. Some part of what it means to be wise seemed to have eluded him; therefore, the relation between "woman" and "wisdom" becomes an important hermeneutical approach to the understanding of the text. Before turning to this approach, however, a brief review of recent scholarship will be presented.