Lesson Four: Eshet Chayil - Part One
Audio discussion for this teaching
“Whoever marries a righteous woman is as if he had observed the entire Torah from beginning to end, and that is why Eshet Chayil is written according to the [twenty-two letters in the Hebrew] Alef-Bet.”
Rav Acha
Introduction
- In previous lessons, we have explored the Jewish wedding. Those practical aspects have revealed patterns that naturally teach us the language of the Bridegroom.
- Systematically, Christianity has used metaphors, homilies, symbols etc., to negate reading the Torah literally. Judaism does the opposite, it reads the Torah literally, and uses metaphors, homilies, symbols etc. to promote obedience.
- Now we will dig deep into one of the most famous chapters of Scripture: Proverbs 31: Eshet Chayil.
Eshet Chayil in Twenty-Two Letters
- Proverbs 31:10-31 is presented as an acrostic of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alef-bet
- The Sages considered these 22 verses to be practical, representative, and metaphorical
- Practically, these verses describe the ideal Jewish woman
- Representatively, these verses describe various historical Jewish women
- Metaphorically, these verses reveal the qualities of Israel, the Torah, and the Sabbath
Alef: Eshet Chayil (v 10)
- Eshet [woman] is clear - but what is chayil? Is it “accomplished”, “valiant”, “virtuous”, “valiant”, “excellent” or “renowned”?
- Genesis 34:29: first usage = “wealth”
- The Vilna Gaon said that Eshet Chayil is a warrior [chayil = strength, warrior], she protects her husband
- Exodus 24:7; Romans 7:21: she helps her husband obey HaShem
Bet: Batach bah lev (v 11)
- “Her husband’s heart trusts her...”
- R’ Moshe Alshich said that Eshet Chayil is completely trusted by her husband because she determines what is permitted or forbidding in the house
- Abraham’s confidence in Sarah is emblematic
- 1Peter 3:1-6: the powerful influence of a pious wife
- Matthew 16:19: with submission, comes great authority and confidence
Gimel: G’maltu tov (v 12)
- “She bestows goodness upon him all the days of her life.”
- Proverbs 12:4: Eshet Chayil is a crown for her husband
- Proverbs 19:14: she is a gift to a husband from HaShem
Dalet: Darshar tzemer ufish’tim (v 13)
- “She seeks wool and flax...”
- Clothing = good deeds, but wool and flax cannot usually be mixed in clothing (Deuteronomy 22:11)
- Revelation 19:7-8: clothed in linen (flax), righteous deeds
- Deuteronomy 15:37-41: tzitzit are threads from wool and flax tied together
Hey: Haitah ko’oniyot socher (v 14)
- “She is like the merchant ships...”
- R’ Moshe Alshich said the merchandise is her good deeds, and the ships are her soul. Thus she lays up treasure not only in this life, but in the World to Come.
- Proverbs 15:6: by the merit of her good deeds, brings true treasure to her house
- Matthew 6:19: Eshet Chayil’s true worth to her husband is incalculable in this life. Even the “treasure” evident in her children’s lives is not fully evident in this life.
Vav: Vatakom b’od lailah (v 15)
- “She arises while it is still night...”
- She is not merely industrious, she is zealous. She can rouse her soul even in spiritual darkness. Even though the reward for good deeds may not yet be evident, she continues faithfully.
- Matthew 26:36-45: she recognizes that the physical can both detract from, and aid her spiritual senses.
- Proverbs 20:13: it is easy to be comfortable, so her zeal keeps her focused on the task at hand.
- Deuteronomy 8:1-3: she uses physical discipline to stay humble
Zayin: Zam’mah sadeh vatikachehu (v 16)
- “She envisions a field, and buys it...”
- “She plants a vineyard” is actually in the masculine, indicating that there is a partnership at work here.
- Jeremiah 31:1-6: Israel plants, in HaShem’s Land
- Isaiah 65:17-25: planting, and always harvesting
- John 4:33-38: harvesting what HaShem has planted
Chet: Chagrah v’oz motneiha (v 17)
- “With strength she girds her loins…”
- Not naturally strong, she strengthens herself by motivation and discipline; yet she knows her strength comes from HaShem
- Psalms 29:11: strength and shalom
- Isaiah 12:2: strength and song
- Luke 6:40: a teacher disciplines his students
- Hebrews 12:11: Discipline yields the fruit of righteousness
Tet: Ta’amah ki tov sachrah (v 18)
- “She discerns that her enterprise is good…”
- She knows that her deeds have eternal outcome
- b’laila [at night] has no letter hey. Rashi notes Exodus 12:42 is the only other place: Pesach. The lamp of good deeds is not extinguished by death [night], but continues to burn.
- Psalms 119:55: remember His Name in the night, and keep His Torah
- Proverbs 6:23: the commandment is a lamp
- Matthew 5:14-16: you are the light of the world...
Yod: Yadeha shilchah vakishor (v 19)
- “She stretches out her hands to the distaff…”
- See v 20. the good deeds in the “home” prepare her for the good deeds “abroad.” Chesed begins at home, first in private, in family, then outside.
- Titus 2:3-5: teach what is good and to love their husbands, self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, submissive to their own husbands
Kaf: Kapah parsah le’ani (v 20)
- “She spreads our her palm to the poor man…”
- Two halves of this verse. To the first, who is humiliated by his need, she secretly gives. To the second, who is completely destitute, she reaches out publicly, and gives a double portion.
- James 1:27-2:8: pure religion: visiting orphans and widows in their affliction - keeping unstained by the world
Lamed: Lo tira l’vetah mishaleg (v 21)
- “She fears no snow for her household…”
- She doesn’t fear trouble or tribulation (or Gehinnom), her household is clothed in good deeds.
- Yalkut Shimoni: clothed in scarlet - blood of circumcision.
- Midrash Tanchuma: spelling of “scarlet” same as “two” - i.e commandments with double verbs...
- Deuteronomy 15:8: open your hand and lend...
- Deuteronomy 15:10: give freely not grudgingly
Summary
- The qualities of Eshet Chayil are highly desirable in a woman, but they also describe the ideal woman as represented many of the women of the Bible.
- Ultimately, using the language of the Bridegroom as He describes His bride, we learn of Israel’s (our) active relationship with the Master of the Universe.
- This is what the Bridegroom expects of us all.