Midrash Mishlei Reader

"A rich man is wise in his own eyes" (Proverbs 28:11) - this is the master of Scripture; "but a poor man who has understanding sees through him" - this is the master of Talmud. Another interpretation: "wise in his own eyes [is the rich man]" - this is Haman the wicked; "but a poor man who has understanding sees through him" - this is Mordecai. Another interpretation: "a rich man is wise in his own eyes" - this is Pharaoh; "but a poor man who has understanding sees through him" - this is Moses our teacher. Another interpretation: "a rich man is wise in his own eyes" - this is Esau; "but a poor man who has understanding sees through him" - this is Jacob.

(Proverbs 28:13): "He who covers his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy." Rabbi Yohanan said: One who confesses on condition that he also forsake [his sin] will obtain mercy, as it is said (Isaiah 55:7): "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts, [and let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him]."

(Proverbs 28:19): "He who works his land will have plenty of bread." If a person merited Torah, he will be satisfied with bread, as it is said (Proverbs 9:5): "Come, eat of my bread, and drink of the wine I have mixed." "But he who pursues empty things will have plenty of poverty" — as it is said (Proverbs 3:34): "If [he deals] with scorners, He will scorn them, but to the humble He gives grace." There we learned (Mishnah Avot 4:10): "If you have labored in the Torah, you have much reward to receive; and if you have neglected the Torah, you have many idlers set against you."

(Proverbs 28:27): "He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who hides his eyes will have many curses." Rabbi Akiva said: Anyone who gives charity to a poor person will lack nothing, but if not — he who hides his eyes will have many curses. He used to say: If a poor man came to you in the morning and you gave him an issar [a small coin] and he went on his way, and another came at the afternoon prayer time, do not say, "I already gave to the first one," but it is a commandment that you give also to the last, as it is written (Ecclesiastes 11:6): "In the morning sow your seed, and in the evening do not let your hand rest, for you do not know which will succeed, this one or that, or whether both alike will be good."

(Proverbs 29:4): "A king by justice establishes the land." Rav Nahman bar Yitzhak expounded: If a judge resembles a king, who needs nothing, he establishes the land; "but a man of gifts" — and if he resembles a priest who makes the rounds of the threshing floors [to collect his portions], he tears it down.

(Proverbs 30:1): "The words of Agur son of Yakeh, the burden [ha-massa]." Agur — for he girded [agar] his loins; son of Yakeh [Yakeh] — a son who was clean [naki] of all sin and iniquity; ha-massa — for he bore [nasa] the yoke of the Holy One, blessed be He; "the utterance of the man [ha-gever]" — for the holy spirit was upon him; "to Itiel [le-Itiel]" — for he understood [hevin] the letters [otiyyot] of God [El]; "and Ukhal" — for he was able [yakhol] to withstand them. How so? That he reigned over those above and those below. From where do we know this? As it is said (1 Kings 5:4): "For he ruled over all the region west of the River, from Tiphsah even to Gaza." And after all that kingship and all that wisdom and all that praise, he must say (Proverbs 30:2): "Surely I am more brutish than a man" — this is Noah, who is called a man, as it is said (Genesis 6:9): "Noah was a righteous, blameless man in his generations." Solomon said: I should have learned from Noah, who became drunk with wine and was punished for it, yet is still called righteous. "And I have not the understanding of a man" — this is Adam the first man, who had only one wife and she turned him aside, while I married a thousand women, as it is said (1 Kings 11:3): "And he had seven hundred royal wives and three hundred concubines," therefore it is said (1 Kings 11:4): "his wives turned away his heart," as it is said (Proverbs 16:1): "The arrangements of the heart belong to man."

(Proverbs 30:4): "Who has ascended to heaven and come down?" — this is Moses; "who has gathered the wind in his fists?" — this is Aaron; "who has bound the waters in a garment?" — this is Elijah; "who has established all the ends of the earth?" — this is Abraham our father; "what is his name?" — the LORD is His name, as it is said (Exodus 15:3): "The LORD is a man of war, the LORD is His name." "And what is His son's name, if you know it?" — these are Israel, as it is said (Exodus 4:22): "Israel is My firstborn son." Another interpretation: "Who has ascended to heaven?" — who is it whose prayer ascends to heaven and brings down the rains? This is the one who distributes his tithes properly. "And come down?" — for he brings down dew and rain to the world, and by his merit good winds blow to grow the grasses. "Who has gathered the wind in his fists?" — this is the one who distributes his tithes by the handful, and so it says (Malachi 3:10): "Bring all the tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this, says the LORD of hosts, whether I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until there is more than enough." And from where do we know that the winds are a need for the grain? As it is written (Deuteronomy 32:2): "May my teaching drop like the rain." "Who has bound the waters in a garment?" — one who does not distribute his tithes by the handful, his prayer does not ascend to heaven and does not bring down water, but rather binds the waters so they do not descend to the earth. "Who has established all the ends of the earth?" — as it is said (Deuteronomy 28:24): "The LORD will make the rain of your land powder and dust." "What is his name?" — this is Abraham, who set aside the tithe first, as it is said (Genesis 14:20): "And he gave him a tithe of everything," and the Holy One, blessed be He, granted him possession of heaven and earth, heaven for rains and winds, and earth for fruits, as it is written (Genesis 14:19): "And he blessed him and said, Blessed be Abram of God Most High, possessor of heaven and earth" — He blessed him that God would grant him possession of heaven, and earth for his offspring. "And what is his son's name?" — this is Isaac, who gave a tithe and was blessed, as it is said (Genesis 26:12): "And Isaac sowed in that land and reaped in that year a hundredfold, and the LORD blessed him" — this teaches that he measured it in order to tithe it. "If you know it" — and so the Holy One, blessed be He, warned Israel that if they tithe their grain He will bless them, as it is said (Deuteronomy 14:22): "You shall surely tithe" [aser te'aser] — tithe [aser] so that you may become rich [titasher]. Another interpretation: "Who has ascended to heaven?" — this is Moses, as it is written (Exodus 19:3): "And Moses went up to God." "And come down?" — as it is said (Exodus 19:14): "And Moses went down from the mountain to the people." "Who has gathered the wind in his fists?" — as it is said (Exodus 9:29): "As soon as I have gone out of the city, I will spread out my hands to the LORD." "Who has bound the waters in a garment?" — as it is said (Exodus 15:8): "The floods stood upright like a heap." "Who has established all the ends of the earth?" — this is the Tent of Meeting, which is weighed equal to the making of heaven and earth, as it is said (Exodus 38:21): "These are the accounts of the Tabernacle, the Tabernacle of the Testimony." It says here "the Tabernacle of the Testimony," and it says elsewhere, regarding heaven and earth (Deuteronomy 4:26): "I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day." Another interpretation: "Who has gathered the wind in his fists?" — this is Aaron, as it is said (Numbers 17:11): "And Moses said to Aaron, Take the fire-pan and put fire on it," and it is written (Numbers 17:13): "And he stood between the dead and the living." "Who has established?" — this is Abraham our father; "what is his name?" — this is what is said (Exodus 15:3): "the LORD is His name." "And what is his son's name?" — these are Israel, as it is said (Exodus 4:22): "Israel is My firstborn son." Another interpretation: "Who has established all the ends of the earth?" — this is Moses, who set up the Tent of Meeting, with which the world was established. Scripture does not say "to set up a tabernacle" but "to set up the tabernacle" — the world was established with it, for until the Tabernacle was set up the world was trembling, and once it was set up the world became firm, therefore it is said (Numbers 7:1): "And it came to pass on the day that Moses finished setting up the tabernacle." Another interpretation: "Who has ascended to heaven?" — this is Elijah, as it is said (2 Kings 2:11): "And Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven." "Who has gathered the wind in his fists?" — this is Elijah, as it is said (1 Kings 17:1): "As the LORD lives, there shall not be dew or rain these years except by my word." "Who has bound the waters in a garment?" — as it is written (2 Kings 2:8): "And Elijah took his mantle." "Who has established all the ends of the earth?" — (1 Kings 17:23): "See, your son lives."

"Two things I have asked of You" (Proverbs 30:7); "Keep falsehood and lying words far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, feed me with my allotted bread" (Proverbs 30:8); "lest I be full and deny You and say, 'Who is the LORD?' and lest I be impoverished and steal and profane the name of my God" (Proverbs 30:9). Rabbi Levi said: Would it ever enter your mind that King Solomon was a speaker of lies, or a thief, or one who swore falsely? Rather, you must say that he set down wisdom for the generations, that they should not do such things. Rabbi Yudan said: It was stated only to add stringency upon the words of Torah. Elsewhere it is written, "You shall not take [the name of the LORD your God in vain]" (Exodus 20:7), and he too added stringency: "Keep falsehood and lying words far from me." And elsewhere it is written, "You shall not steal" (Exodus 20:13), and he too added stringency and said, "lest I be impoverished and steal." From this you have learned that he did not come to nullify the words of Torah, but to make them more stringent.

"The leech has two daughters: Give, Give" (Proverbs 30:15) - why "Give, Give" two times? Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai said: In time to come Gehinnom will cry out before the Holy One, blessed be He, and say, "Give me the wicked!" "The grave and the barren womb; the earth that is not satisfied with water, and the fire that never says, 'Enough'" (Proverbs 30:16) - the fire of Gehinnom never says "Enough," for it has no mercy upon the wicked.

"Three things are too wonderful for me, and four I do not know" (Proverbs 30:18). "The way of an eagle in the sky" (Proverbs 30:19) - for no one recognizes its place; "the way of a serpent upon a rock" - for no one recognizes its path; "and the way of a man with a maiden" - Rabbi Yochanan said: This is the rooster, for no one recognizes its seed.

"Under three things the earth trembles" (Proverbs 30:21); "under a servant when he becomes king" (Proverbs 30:22); "under a hated woman when she is married, and a maidservant when she dispossesses her mistress" (Proverbs 30:23) - Rabbi Alexandrai said: From where do we learn this? From Hagar, the maidservant of Sarah.

"Four are among the tiniest on earth, and yet they are the wisest of the wise" (Proverbs 30:24) these relate to the various empires and monarchs. "Ants are a folk without power, and yet they prepare food for themselves in summer" (Proverbs 30:25). This refers to the Empire of Babylon. As it is written "Behold the land of Chaldea. This is the people that has ceased to be. Assyria founded it to station ships" (Isaiah 23:13). "The badger is a folk without strength, and yet it makes its home in the rock" (Proverbs 30:26). This refers to the Persian-Median Empire. And what is the meaning of "and yet it makes its home in the rock?" This refers to Ahasuerus and Cyrus who sought to rebuild the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. "The locusts have no king, and yet they all march forth in formation" (Proverbs 30:27). This refers to Alexander the Macedonian, for he overtook the entire world as locusts fly through the air. "You can catch the lizard in your hand, and yet it is found in royal palaces" (Proverbs 30:28). This refers to Edom (i.e., the Roman Empire), for of all the small creatures, none are despised like it. And so it is written "And I hated Esau" (Malachi 1:3). And what is the meaning of "and yet it is found in royal palaces?" This also refers to Edom (i.e., Roman Empire), for they destroyed the Holy Temple. "You can catch the lizard in your hand" Said Rabbi Jeremiah, this is Edom the wicked nation, for everything established there in Israel is now destroyed and forgotten.

"Three things are stately in their stride, and four are stately in their walk" (Proverbs 30:29), and these are they: "the lion, mightiest among beasts, who turns back before nothing" (Proverbs 30:30) - why does it turn back before nothing? Because it is not ashamed. "The greyhound, or the he-goat" (Proverbs 30:31) - just as this greyhound walks and does not falter, so any kingdom that arises - you cannot stand before it. "The lion, mighty one" (Proverbs 30:30) - this is Babylon, as it is said, "A lion has gone up from his thicket" (Jeremiah 4:7). "The greyhound, or the he-goat" (Proverbs 30:31) - this is Media; just as the rooster crows in the night and rouses people, so was Ahasuerus, as it is said, "On that night" (Esther 6:1). "If you have been vile in exalting yourself" (Proverbs 30:32) - this is Greece, who decreed to ruin the wives of Israel, as it is stated, "for he has committed an outrage in Israel" (Genesis 34:7). "For the churning of milk brings forth butter" (Proverbs 30:33) - this is Edom, who merited kingship only through the merit of Abraham, as it is said, "and he took butter and milk" (Genesis 18:8). Five times Solomon saw the kingdoms. Another interpretation: "If you have been vile in exalting yourself" (Proverbs 30:32) - Rava said, and some say Rav Shmuel bar Nachmani: If a person makes himself vile over the words of Torah, he will be exalted, "and if you have schemed - put your hand to your mouth." "For the churning of milk brings forth butter" (Proverbs 30:33) - Rabbi Yannai expounded this verse: "For the churning of milk brings forth butter" - in whom do you find the butter of Torah? In one who pours out all the milk he nursed from his mother's breasts. "And the wringing of the nose brings forth blood" - whoever, when his teacher is angry with him a first and a second time, keeps silent, merits to discern between one blood and another, between impure blood and pure blood. "And the wringing of anger brings forth strife" - whoever, when his teacher is angry with him a first and a second time, keeps silent, merits to discern between cases of money and cases of life.

...Rabbi Ishmael said, the same night that Solomon had completed the Temple, he married the daughter of Pharoah and there was a great celebration in the Temple. And the celebration of the Daughter of Pharaoh rose above the celebration of the Temple. As it is said, “That it is always so that people flatter the king”. In that moment God thought of destroying it [the Temple] as it says (Jeremiah 32:31) “The city has aroused My anger and My wrath from the day it was built until this day; so it must be removed from My sight.” And Rabbi Levi said, regarding the Morning Sacrifice that was coming close to the fourth hour. What did the Daughter of Pharoah do? She made a certain sheet [and placed it above his bed], and placed on it stars and planets, and every time that Solomon would try to wake up, he would see these stars and planets and would return to sleep for another four hours. Rabbi Levi said, on that day the Morning Sacrifice came close to being sacrificed in the fourth hour. [and regarding that hour it was taught: there was a situation in which the Morning Tamid was sacrificed in the fourth hour nad the people of Israel were saddened, for it was the day of the Inaugration of the Temple and they could not carry out the sacrifice because Solomon was asleep, and they were afraid of waking him because of the fear of the Kingship. They went and told Bat-Sheva his mother, and she went and woke him up and rebuked him, as it is written, “rebuke that his mother rebuked him”...

"A valiant woman, who can find" (Proverbs 31:10): That is the Torah; "and further than pearls (peninim) is her price" - as it was 'in front of Me and inside (lefanim)' and Moshe merited to bring it down to earth. "Her husband puts his confidence in her, and lacks no 'booty'" - that there is nothing lacking in it. Another explanation: "A valiant woman, who can find" - They said, "There was a story about Rabbi Meir who was sitting and expounding in the study hall on Shabbat afternoon, when two of his sons died. What did his mother do? She placed both of them on the bed and spread a sheet over them. At the end of Shabbat, Rabbi Meir came home from the study hall. He said to her, 'Where are my two sons?' She said [back], 'They went to the study hall.' He said to her, 'I scanned the study hall and I did not see them.' They gave him the cup of Havdalah and he separated [the days of the week with the closure of Shabbat]. He repeated and said, 'Where are my two sons?' She said, 'They went elsewhere and they are coming now.' She placed food in front of him and he ate and blessed. After he blessed, she said to him, 'I have a question to ask you.' He said to her, 'Say your question.' She said to him, 'Rabbi, before today, a man came and deposited something with me, and now he is coming to take it. Should we return it to him or not?' He said, 'My daughter, one who has a deposit with him must return it to its owner.' She said to him, 'Were it not for your consent, I would not have given it to him.' What did she do? She grabbed his hand, brought him up to that room, had him approach the bed and took off the sheet from upon them. When he saw both of them dead and laying upon the bed, he began to cry and say, 'My sons, my sons, my teachers, my teachers - my sons in the way of the world, my teachers in that they would enlighten my eyes with their Torah.' At that time, she said to Rabbi Meir, 'Rabbi, is this not what I told you - do I not need to return the deposit to its Owner?' He said, '"The Lord has given and the Lord has taken; may the name of the Lord be blessed"' (Job 1:21)." Rabbi Chanina said, "With this thing, she consoled him and his mind became composed - that is why it states, 'A valiant woman, who can find.'" Rabbi Chama bar Chanina said, "On account of what did the sons of Rabbi Meir become liable and die at one time? Because they were accustomed to leaving the study hall to sit with food and drink." Rabbi Yochanan said, "Even with trifling matters - as when the Torah was given to Israel, he only warned them about the words of Torah, as it is stated (Deuteronomy 26:16), 'This day the Lord, your God, commands you to do.'"

"She is like the merchant ships; she brings her bread from afar" (Proverbs 31:14) - Rabbi Shimon ben Chalafta said: If a person does not expose himself for the words of Torah, he will never learn Torah; and "bread" means nothing other than Torah, as it is said, "Come, eat of my bread" (Proverbs 9:5). "She rises while it is still night" (Proverbs 31:15) - as long as a Torah scholar sits and engages in Torah at night, the Holy One, blessed be He, draws over him a thread of grace [by day], as it is said, "By day the LORD commands His lovingkindness, and at night His song is with me" (Psalms 42:9). And not only that, but the Holy One, blessed be He, supplies him his sustenance each and every day, as it is said, "She rises while it is still night and gives food to her household," and "food" means nothing other than sustenance, as it is said, "He has given food to those who fear Him" (Psalms 111:5); and it says, "And the dove came to him toward evening, and behold, in her mouth was a freshly plucked olive leaf" (Genesis 8:11), and she says, "Happy is the person whose food is bitter as an olive and given over into the hand of the Holy One, blessed be He, and not sweet as honey and given over into the hand of flesh and blood." Why? Because the Holy One, blessed be He, feeds and sustains all His creatures, as it is said, "You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing" (Psalms 145:16).

Many women have done well (Proverbs 31:29): Adam, the first man, was commanded about six commandments. Noach [was additionally commanded] about [not eating] a limb from a live animal. Avraham about circumcision. Yitschak was educated with [these] eight [commandments]. Yaakov [was additionally commanded] about [not eating] the sciatic nerve. Yehudah about levirate marriage. [The people of] Israel about two hundred and forty-eight positive commandments corresponding to the two hundred and forty-eight limbs in a man - each and every limb says to man, "I plead of you to do this commandment with me" - and three hundred and sixty-five negative commandments corresponding to the three hundred and sixty-five days of the solar [year] - and each and every day says to man, "I plead of you not to do this sin on me." "Grace is false, beauty is illusory" (Proverbs 31:30) - the grace of Noach was false, as it states (Genesis 6:8), "But Noach found grace in the eyes of the Lord." Rabbi Levi said, "Only in his generation [did he find grace]." "Beauty is illusory" - illusory was the beauty of Adam, the first man. Rabbi Shimon ben Manassia said, "The ball of Adam, the first man's heel would dim the sun. And do not wonder - it is customary in the world that when a man makes two salver vessels, one for himself and one for his household, which does he make [nicer], is it not his? So [too], Adam, the first man, was created to serve in front of the Holy One, blessed be He; and the sun was created to make light for the creatures. And if the ball of his heel was such, the contour of his face, all the more so." "A woman that has fear of the Lord, she is to be praised" - this is Moshe. "Give of the fruit of her hand" (Proverbs 31:30) - Rabbi Yose bar Yirmiyah said, "Why did he compare the prophets to women? Rather, just like [a] woman is not embarrassed to claim the needs of the home from her husband, so [too] were the prophets not embarrassed to claim the needs of Israel from in front of the Holy One, blessed be He." The Holy One blessed be He said, "My sons, be involved in Torah [study] day and night, and I will count it for you as if you hold up the heavens and the earth," as it states (Joshua 1:8), "Let not this book of the Torah cease from your mouth, but meditate upon it day and night"; and it states (Joshua 1:9), “Did I not command you, 'Be strong and resolute; do not be terrified or dismayed'"; and it states (Ezra 3:11), "with praise and thanks to the Lord, for He is good, for His kindness upon Israel is forever, and the people raised a great shout with praise to the Lord, for the foundation of the House of the Lord had been laid"; (Proverbs 23:23) "Acquire truth"; (Proverbs 5:17) "They will be yours alone"; (Proverbs 9:9) "Give to a wise man, and he will grow wiser"; (Proverbs 9:11) "For through me your days will increase, and years of life be added." Another interpretation: "A woman of valor who can find?" - this is [the meaning] of what the verse states (Psalms 92:15), "In old age they still produce fruit, etc." - corresponding to Avraham and Sarah who were of the same measure concerning charity and acts of kindness; they were a good sign for the world. In this way, He does not prevent proper women from the righteous ones, [but] matches them. As so [too] do we find with the wife of Noach that her actions and his actions were of the same measure - that is why she merited with him and was rescued from the waters of the flood. "Her husband puts his confidence in her" - this is Sarah, our mother, as Avaraham grew rich on her account, as it states (Genesis 12:16), "And he benefited Avraham for her sake." "She bestows good to him, and not bad" - this is Rivkah, our mother, who bestowed [good] to Yitzchak at the time that Sarah, his mother died. "She seeks wool and flax" - this is Leah, our mother, who received Yaakov with a pleasant countenance, as it is written (Genesis 30:16), "And Yaakov came from the field in the evening, and Leah went out to meet him and said, 'You are to sleep with me, for I have hired you, etc.'" Therefore she merited and kings and prophets came from her. "She is like a merchant fleet" - this is Rachel, our mother, who was embarrassed about [her lack of] children every day. Therefore she merited and a son came from her who was similar to a ship that is filled will all the good [found] in the world - so [was it with] Yosef, that the whole world survived from his merit and he supported the world in the years of famine. "She rises while it is still night" - this is Batya, the daughter of Pharaoh. She was a gentile and became a Jewess and they mentioned her name among the proper [women], since she took care of Moshe. Therefore she merited and entered the Garden of Eden in her lifetime. "She sets her mind on a field and acquires it; [she plants a vineyard from the produce of her hand]" - this is Yocheved, that from her came Moshe who is equivalent to all of Israel, which is called a vineyard, as it states (Isaiah 5:7), "For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the House of Israel." "She girds her loins with strength" - this is Miriam, as before Moshe was born, she said, "In the future, my mother will give birth to the savior of Israel." Once he was born and the yoke upon them became heavier, her father got up and bopped her on the head. He said to her, "Where is your prophecy?" And he got up and spit in front of her face. And nonetheless, she exerted herself about her prophecy, as it is written (Exodus 2:4), "And his sister stood from a distance." "She advises (taamah) that her merchandise is good; [her lamp never goes out at night]" - this is Channah who tasted (taamah) the taste of prayer, as it states (I Samuel 2:1), "And Hannah prayed, 'My heart exults in the Lord, etc.'" Therefore she merited and a son came from her that was the match of Moshe and Aharon, which would bring light to Israel like lamps, as it is written (Psalms 99:6), "Moshe and Aharon among his priests, and Shmuel among the ones that call His name." And it is written about Shmuel (I Samuel 3:3), "The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Shmuel was sleeping in the temple of the Lord." "She sets her hand to the distaff" - this is Yael, who did not kill Sisera with a weapon, but rather with a peg through the force of her hands. And because of what did she not kill him with a weapon? In order to fulfill that which it states (Deuteronomy 22:5), "There shall not be the vessel of a man on a woman." "Her palm she spreads out to the poor" - this is the widowed woman of Tsarfat, who supported Eliyahu with bread and water. "She is not worried for her home because of snow, for her whole home is dressed in crimson" - this is Rachav the prostitute. When Israel came to destroy Yericho, she did not fear from them, because they give her a sign - (Joshua 2:18) "this line of scarlet string." "She makes covers for herself; [her clothing is linen and purple]" - this is Batsheva, that from her came Shlomo, who was adorned with linen and purple and ruled from [one] end of the world to the [other] end. "Her husband is known in the gates," - this is Michal, who saved David from death. "She makes cloth and sells it" - this is the mother of Shimshon, that through him Israel was saved. "Strength and splendor are her clothing; [and she laughs to the last day]" - this is Elisheva, the daughter of Aminadav, who saw four joyful events in one day: her brother [became] a prince; her husband, high priest; the brother of her husband, king; and her two children, young priests. "She opens her mouth with wisdom" - this is the wise woman who said (II Samuel 20:16), “Listen, listen! Please tell Yoav, 'Come over here and I will speak to you,'” who saved the city with her wisdom; and this was Sarach the daughter of Asher. "She oversees the activities of her household" - this is the wife of Ovadiah, who rescued her sons and they did not worship idolatry with Achav. "Her children rise and declare her happy" - this is the Shunamite, who is called a great woman (II Kings 4:8). And because of what? Because she pressed upon Elisha to eat. “Many women have done well, but you surpass them all” - this is Ruth the Moabitess, who came under the wings of the Divine presence. "Grace is false, beauty is illusory" - as she left her mother and her forefathers and her wealth, and came with her mother-in-law and accepted all of the commandments: the domain of Shabbat - "to where you will walk, I will walk" (Ruth 1:16); the prohibition of isolation with a man - "and in that which you will lay, I will lay"; the six hundred and thirteen commandments - "your people is my people"; idolatry - "your God is my God"; the four death penalties of the court - "and in that which you will die, I will die"; "and there will I be buried" - these are the two graveyards arranged for the court, one for the stoned and the burned, and one for the killed and the strangled. Therefore, she merited and David came from her, who gave pleasure with songs and praises to the Holy One, blessed be He. Therefore it is stated, "Give of the fruit of her hand and let her works praise her in the gates." Be strong in ethical behavior, keep the Torah, and be rescued from the evil inclination.