a canonical book of the Old Testament, the design of which is to show the vanity of all sublunary things.

It was composed by Solomon; who enumerates the several objects on which men place their happiness, and then shows the insufficiency of all worldly enjoyments.

The Talmudists made king Hezekiah to be the author of it; Grotius attributes it to Zorobabel, and others to Isaiah; but the generality of commentators believe this book to be the produce of Solomon's repentance, after having experienced all the follies and pleasures of life.