The Woman Who Is A Snare: The Identity And Nature Of The Female Figure In Ecclesiastes 7:25–29 -- By: Kyle C. Dunham
Journal: Detroit Baptist Seminary Journal
Volume: DBSJ 27:1 (NA 2022)
Article: The Woman Who Is A Snare: The Identity And Nature Of The Female Figure In Ecclesiastes 7:25–29
Author: Kyle C. Dunham
DBSJ 27 (2022) p. 31
The Woman Who Is A Snare: The Identity And Nature Of The Female Figure In Ecclesiastes 7:25–29
In what may be the most highly contested passage of Ecclesiastes, the writer Qohelet2 has been judged a misogynist3 who finds women irrational,4 condemns them indiscriminately as seductresses,5 and lashes out at them with vitriol.6 Despite these protestations, the discourse of the passage suggests a different understanding: through intertextual links to the warnings about the strange woman in Proverbs and to Solomon’s demise through intermarriage with foreign women in 1 Kings 11, Qohelet advises self-discipline in the efforts to apply wisdom lest the reader fall prey to the allurement of illicit sexual relations—a danger
DBSJ 27 (2022) p. 32
that the text hints Qohelet himself has experienced.
The Literary Boundaries Of Ecclesiastes 7:25–29
The passage of Ecclesiastes 7:25–29 carries several literary markers suggesting the boundaries of the literary unit. Discourse features signal a new section in 7:25, and a number of these features tie back to the royal quest for wisdom outlined in 1:12–2:26 to mark an analogous and new phase of exploration. Whereas in the royal quest for wisdom Qohelet sought clues from achievement, knowledge, and pleasure as to how best to navigate life in a fallen world, here he turns his gaze upon wisdom itself to explore the potential pitfalls thwarting its application.
The literary features marking a new phase of exploration include the following: (1) Unique syntax ties 7:25 to the royal autobiography section (1:12–2:26) to suggest a fresh phase of exploration, this time navigating potential pitfalls to the application of wisdom.7 (2) Reintroduction of the lexemes “heart” and “I” hints that Qohelet has given himself to a new pursuit.8 (3) A concentration of search terms in the unit points to Qohelet’s renewed quest.You must have a subscription and be logged in to read the entire article.
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