What does the word "Koheles" mean and why is Shlomo called that?
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1How do you know Koheles=Shlomo?– Double AA ♦Commented Jul 12, 2013 at 7:21
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2Maybe it's the other "son of David, King of Jerusalem"? (</sarcasm>)– Michael KopinskyCommented Jul 12, 2013 at 17:26
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@MichaelKopinsky Sarcasm like a joke? There were many sons of David who were Kings of Jerusalem. Unless you also think Mashiach be Yosef is either going to be Efraim or Menashe having miraculously survived for 3000 years...– Double AA ♦Commented Jun 7, 2015 at 17:23
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Shadal writes that Koheles was written by someone named Koheles, and attributed to a son of David. When this was discovered the name of the son of David was removed, and 'Koheles' was added in its place.– mevaqeshCommented Sep 2, 2015 at 16:46
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2 Answers
The first Rashi on koheles explains that Koheles means to gather like the word קהל. He also mentions that Koheles means that he gathered (אגר) all wisdom and threw it up (vomited it). Another explanation is that he spoke in a assembly format.
Rashi text:
"קוהלת" - על שם שקיהל חכמות הרבה וכן במקום אחר קוראו (משלי ל) "אגור בן יקא" - שאגר כל החכמה והקיאה. וי״א שהיה אומר כל דבריו בהקהל.
"Mashiach ben David" is far from David's son. It seems to mean "descendent". Every king in Jerusalem from Shelomo to Tzidqiyahu would qualify.
To develop Rashi's second answer -- Shelomo haMelekh was the only king to do the mitzvah of haqhel. David predates the Beis haMiqdash, and after he dies, the Northern Kingdom splits off and bans its inhabitants from attending.
Further, the medrash says that Qoheles's negative tone was written when Shelomo realized that his kingdom, everything he built, was about to split apart. In other words, calling himself Qoheles may be a reference to the book's thesis.
Even religious accomplishments don't matter, just (as the book concludes) develop yir'ah for Him and do His mitzvos, and stop worrying about whether He accepts the institutions you try to build.
