| This passage is one
of the thirteen alpabetical acrostic poems in Scripture (An acrostic
(Greek: ákros "top"; stíchos
"verse") is a poem or other form of writing in which the first
letter, syllable or word of each line, paragraph or other recurring
feature in the text spells out a word or a message) .The virtuous
wife is analogous to the Torah, serving a similar purpose of bringing us
success both now and in the future.
Chayil - Valor/Virtue,
encompasses many characteristics such as:
self control, diplomacy, foresight, responsibility, patience, loyalty,
industrious, kindliness, selflessness, and creative talent,as we see in
these
twenty-two verses.
In addition, the root of the word
eishes, eish, which means fire. Thus, eishes
chayil, is a woman who is
charged with a fiery love of יְהוֹוָה
YHWH, the ,תּורה
tôrâh, law, her
אישׁ 'ı̂ysh (husband), and her
משׁפּחה mishpâchâh family.
In Shemos (Exodus)18:21 (Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able
[chayil] men, such as fear יְהוֹוָה, men of truth, hating covetousness) the quality of valor is listed as the first desirable
attribute, even before fear of יְהוֹוָה and truthfulness. Valor refers to
energy of character, which is manifested by action. It thus includes all
other desirable qualities.
The numerical equivalent (gematriah) of
the word chayil is forty-eight, which corresponds to the forty-eight
qualities that are essential in the law or Torah.
Mi Yimtza - Who Can Find?
alludes to Bereishis (Genesis) 2:20, where
the Torah teaches that there was a search to find a helpmate for Adam.
First יְהוֹוָה said (2:18): "It is not good for man to
be alone; I shall make for him a congruent helpmate." We then find an
unsuccessful search amongst all of the creatures that יְהוֹוָה
had created, until the Scripture concludes: "there
was not found an help meet for him"/ "there
was not found a helper for him, as his counterpart. "/"And for the man he
did not find a
congruent helpmate. "
Why did the Creator have אדם
aw-dawm' Adam search to find a wife? Why does Mishlei (Proverbs) here
communicate that it is difficult to
"find" a virtuous wife?
It would appear that אדם
aw-dawm' Adam was being prepared for a אשּׁה
ish-shaw' wife. The Creator employed a process of having Adam
go
in
a quest through the creatures that had been created
to indicate the need for an appropriate mate. If
חוּה chavvâh Eve had been offered as a
אשּׁה ish-shaw' wife without sufficient
introduction, Adam may
have considered her an encumbrance or a rival. Every benefit is
always appreciated more fully if it arrives after its need is felt.
This may be a reason why יְהוֹוָה seems
to withhold from some people their finding of the “right one” for a long
time. They should contemplate the need for a
אשּׁה ish-shaw' wife and sincerely
request יְהוֹוָה’s assistance in their quest.
As Mishlei (Proverbs) 18:22 sums up
this matter: “He who finds a wife finds good, and he obtains favor from
יְהוֹוָה!”
Her Value Is Far Greater than Rubies [Pearls, jewels] now makes the
connection to the first part of the verse obvious. After a search, one realizes that a wife is far
more valuable than all of the possible wealth in the world.
Generally there is a tendency to misjudge the value of
the marriage relationship. One may feel if he had made enough
money, he could buy most of the services that would be needed and manage
without marriage. But יְהוֹוָה knows better. “It is not good for man to be
alone!” A wife is the “good” helpmate, that is the greatest
earthly find
he will ever discover. Let him make the best of it and utilize the
opportunity fully by appreciating הוֹוָה’s gift to him in fulfillment of
the verse: ‘Rejoice with the wife of your youth” Mishlei (Proverbs)5:18. If you
have the right attitude and you work on understanding and appreciating
יְהוֹוָה’s ways, you will have cause to rejoice endlessly. However, one
who rejects a pious and wise woman fails the test and loses the greatest
wealth.
This verse obligates us to
continuously pray to יְהוֹוָה for assistance in “finding.” Tehillim
(Psalms) 32:6
teaches: "For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a
time when thou mayest be found/ Let every pious person pray to You at a time of
finding.” The
Gemara (from Aramaic גמרא gamar; literally, "[to] study" or
"learning by tradition")(Berachos/brachot [blessings] 8a) explains: “At the time of finding a wife.” Thus, we
must pray first to find the right partner and then continue to pray all
of our lives that we should appreciate the incredible find that יְהוֹוָה
has provided for us.
Second, the Sages would ask one, soon
after they were married, whether they had “found” a wife or whether they
were “finding” a wife. This is explained as referring to either of these
verses:
“One who found a wife has found
goodness” - Mishlei (Proverbs)18:22
“I find more bitter than death a woman” - Koheles (Ecclesiastes)7:26
This is puzzling. What is the purpose
of the question? The difference lies in the
tense of the word “found” or “finding.” The verse in Mishlei (Proverbs) is worded
in the past tense, whereas the verse in Koheles (Ecclesiastes)
is worded in the present tense. This teaches us that our happiness is in
our hands! If we decide to appreciate the great find that יְהוֹוָה has bestowed on us, we are
fortunate. However, one who is still seeking for another will find trouble. We must
open our eyes and rejoice in what we have been given!
Her husband trusts her
wholeheartedly,
and (as a result) he does not lack any treasure. 31:11
The word for trust (bitachon) is
usually used in connection with trusting in יְהוֹוָה. Thus, we may wonder
why this verse considers it appropriate for a husband to put his trust
in his wife?
This issue becomes even more surprising when we study the initial
instruction יְהוֹוָה gives man in regard to his relationship with his
wife: “Therefore a man should forsake his father and his mother, and
should cling (davak) to his wife, and they should become [as] one flesh”
Bereshis (Genesis)2:24. The word “cling” is the same as that used in reference
to “cling” to יְהוֹוָה Devarim
(Deuteronomy) 10:20. A man is instructed to form a bond
with his wife to the degree that they become as inseparable as if they
were one person.
Thus, man’s reliance on his wife is a
directive (mitzvah) of the Torah, which teaches them to form a union.
Together, as one unit, they trust solely in יְהוֹוָה
who created them both
and made them for each other.
The emphasis that he
trusts her with
his heart (the heart of her husband doth safely trust in
her) indicates that it is not mere logical trust, but one that is
deeply rooted in his emotions as well.
The Torah’s emphasis “They shall be as
one flesh” and the Gemara’s expression “His wife is as his body”
(Berachos 24a) indicate that a husband should consider his wife as
actually apart of himself. Thus, his feelings towards her supersede, in
a certain sense, even his relationship with his parents.
Why does the Torah describe marriage as “forsaking one’s parents”
Bereishis (Genesis) 2:24, when the Torah itself teaches as one of the Ten
Commandments the obligation to always honor one’s parents? The answer is
that your spouse is like you, and your care for yourself in a
fulfillment of honoring your parents, who desire your completion and
achievements in perfecting yourself.
יְהוֹוָה’s gift of a mate is designed to
provide countless benefits.
We are expected to consider the many
benefits and to be as appreciative and excited as one who finds infinite
treasure!
The word shalal (treasure) usually refers to spoils that are gained by a
victor in battle or an unexpected gain. She fulfills his expectations
and then much more than he was able to imagine.
She provides him with good and not bad,
all the days of her life. 31:12
She is an asset to her husband. She will never intentionally bring harm
his way. How do we imagine a person so virtuous
as to never cause someone harm? Is she an "saint"?
This refers us to the unique capacity inherent in a wife. The Torah
reveals יְהוֹוָה’s
miracle of a woman in her role as a “helper opposite him”
(נגד neged) Bereishis (Genesis) 2:18. Only the Great Designer could fashion a
help that serves also as an opposite. A man and his wife perfect each
other through their differences. They were not made alike: “Women are a
people to themselves”. Each has his/her own ways and
attributes, and each is intended by יְהוֹוָה
to serve as a test to the other. Each complements the other, so that
each one can harmonize and develop his/her potential to the fullest in
the service of יְהוֹוָה. Thus, even a contentious wife is a precious gift
from Heaven, meant as a test in the service of יְהוֹוָה.
When we understand the benefits
intended by יְהוֹוָה even from the seeming bad that occurs in this world,
we realize that it is not bad at all. A challenge is good, for it helps
elevate and perfect a person when he approaches life with the attitudes
taught by the Torah.
|