When Did Shlomo Write His Books?

[Shlomo] Wrote three books: Mishlei, Kohelet and Shir HaShirim [Song of Songs].

Which did he write first?

Rabbi Hiya Rabbah and Rabbi Yonatan - Rabbi Hiya Rabbah said: first he wrote Mishlei, and then Shir HaShirim, and then Kohelet, proving it from the following verse: "He composed three thousand proverbs, and his songs numbered one thousand and five" (I Kings 5:12). "Proverbs" is the book of Mishlei, "and his songs numbered one thousand and five" is the Shir HaShirim, and Kohelet was spoken [written] at the end.

The received teaching of Rabbi Hiya Rabbah disagees with this teaching, the received tradition states: all three were written as one. And another received tradition states: Each was written independently.

Rabbi Hiya Rabbah taught: only when Shlomo became old, the Holy Spirit [ruach haKodesh] dwelt upon him, and he spoke three books: Mishlei, Kohelet and Shir HaShirim.

Rabbi Yonatan said: Shir HaShirim was written first, and then Mishlei, and then Kohelet. And Rabbi Yonatan proved it from common sense - when a man is young he composes words of song; when he matures he composes proverbs; when he grows old he writes words of hevel.

Rabbi Yannai, the father-in-law of Rabbi Ami said: Everyone agrees that Kohelet was said [written] last.