The theme of women is common in the wisdom literature of the Bible as well as in the surrounding cultures of Israel, Egypt, and Mesopotamia. Typically, the portrayal is negative. Women are depicted as traps in Judges 16:4-6. The ancient Egyptian wisdom of “Ptah-hotep” and the later wisdom of “Ani,” or the “Babylonian Dialogue of a Master with his Slave,” warn against women. See also Proverbs 22:14; 23:27-29, etc. Therefore, it is not surprising that Qohelet concludes this section in a similar way.
We don’t know why many parts of the Bible, including Qohelet, seem so misogynistic. Once again, we need to understand that we should interpret and study the texts of Scripture, not just assume their meaning; otherwise, we won’t really understand what they are trying to say. Ecclesiastes reflects the views of his time. The most important thing to notice is the main idea we find: his thoughts are shaped by his personal experience, and in his quest for wisdom, he’s willing to question even the most accepted classical beliefs.