Burning Beneath the Pot: Simile Syntax and Semantic Force in Ecclesiastes 7:6
כִּ֣י כְקֹ֤ול הַסִּירִים֙ תַּ֣חַת הַסִּ֔יר כֵּ֖ן שְׂחֹ֣ק הַכְּסִ֑יל וְגַם־זֶ֖ה הָֽבֶל׃ (Ecclesiastes 7:6) For like the crackling of thorns under the pot so is the laughter of the fool and this too is vanity Sound and Meaning Collide Ecclesiastes is a masterclass in poetic and philosophical economy. In 7:6, a vivid simile becomes a vehicle for…