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Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Job: Wisdom

  1. Lesson One
    Proverbs: Sayings of Sages (Proverbs 5–9, 22–30)
    25 Activities
  2. Lesson Two
    Proverbs: Wisdom, Our World and YHWH (Proverbs 10–21, 31)
    29 Activities
    |
    2 Assessments
  3. Lesson Three
    Ecclesiastes
    23 Activities
    |
    1 Assessment
  4. Lesson Four
    The Lament of Job (Job 1–3, 32–42)
    30 Activities
  5. Lesson Five
    The Wisdom of Job (Job 4–31)
    20 Activities
  6. Course Wrap-Up
    Course Completion
    1 Activity
    |
    1 Assessment

Participants 30

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Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and Job: Wisdom Ecclesiastes Behind | Epic of Gilgamesh, Part 1
Lesson 3, Activity 12

Behind | Epic of Gilgamesh, Part 1

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The Mesopotamian Epic of Gilgamesh provides a meaningful ancient Near Eastern parallel to the book of Ecclesiastes. The tavern owner Šiduri addresses Gilgamesh with a speech that recalls the tenor of the biblical book as she discusses fulfillment and death: 

Gilgamesh, whither thou rovest thou?
The life thou pursuest thou shalt not find.
When the gods created mankind,
Death for mankind they set aside,
Life in their own hands retaining.

The advice that follows from Šiduri in the tavern has a close correspondence to advice from the Teacher in Ecclesiastes 9. It is placed alongside a parallel passage from Ecclesiastes 9:7-9 in the table below. 

Source: William P. Brown, Ecclesiastes, 1989, p. 94.

Epic of GilgameshEcclesiastes (NIV)
Thou, Gilgamesh, let full be thy belly,
Make thou merry by day and by night.
Of each day make thou a feast of rejoicing, Day and night dance thou and play!		Go, eat your food with gladness, and drink your wine with a joyful heart, for God has already approved what you do. (9:7)
Let thy garments be sparkling fresh,
Thy head be washed; bathe thou in water.		Always be clothed in white, and always anoint your head with oil. (9:8)
Pay heed to the little one that holds on to thy hand,
Let thy spouse delight in thy bosom!
For this is the task of [mankind]!		Enjoy life with your wife, whom you love, all the days of this meaningless life that God has given you under the sun—all your meaningless days. For this is your lot in life and in your toilsome labor under the sun. (9:9)