Parashat Yitro:Eshet Chayil, The Empowered Woman

Parashat Yitro: Eshet Chayil, The Empowered Woman

(כא) וְאַתָּ֣ה תֶחֱזֶ֣ה מִכׇּל־הָ֠עָ֠ם אַנְשֵׁי־חַ֜יִל יִרְאֵ֧י אֱלֹקִ֛ים אַנְשֵׁ֥י אֱמֶ֖ת שֹׂ֣נְאֵי בָ֑צַע וְשַׂמְתָּ֣ עֲלֵהֶ֗ם שָׂרֵ֤י אֲלָפִים֙ שָׂרֵ֣י מֵא֔וֹת שָׂרֵ֥י חֲמִשִּׁ֖ים וְשָׂרֵ֥י עֲשָׂרֹֽת׃

Exodus 18:21

(21) You shall also seek out, from among all the people, capable individuals who fear God—trustworthy ones who spurn ill-gotten gain. Set these over them as chiefs of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens, and

שמות י״ח:כ״ה

(כה) וַיִּבְחַ֨ר מֹשֶׁ֤ה אַנְשֵׁי־חַ֙יִל֙ מִכׇּל־יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וַיִּתֵּ֥ן אֹתָ֛ם רָאשִׁ֖ים עַל־הָעָ֑ם שָׂרֵ֤י אֲלָפִים֙ שָׂרֵ֣י מֵא֔וֹת שָׂרֵ֥י חֲמִשִּׁ֖ים וְשָׂרֵ֥י עֲשָׂרֹֽת׃

Exodus 18:25

(25) Moses chose capable individuals out of all Israel, and appointed them heads over the people—chiefs of thousands, hundreds, fifties, and tens;

רש"י על שמות י״ח:כ״א:ב׳

(ב) אנשי חיל. עֲשִׁירִים, שֶׁאֵין צְרִיכִין לְהַחֲנִיף וּלְהַכִּיר פָּנִים (שם):

Rashi on Exodus 18:21:2

(2) אנשי חיל MEN OF ABILITY (but חיל may mean “wealth” and in this sense the words would mean) — rich men who will not need to flatter or to show favour (cf. Mekhilta d'Rabbi Yishmael 18:21:1).

*Is this true? Are wealthy people truly impervious to bribery and corruption? What could this mean for our definition of an Eshet Chayil?*

דברי הימים א כ״ו:ח׳

(ח) כׇּל־אֵ֜לֶּה מִבְּנֵ֣י ׀ עֹבֵ֣ד אֱדֹ֗ם הֵ֤מָּה וּבְנֵיהֶם֙ וַאֲחֵיהֶ֔ם אִֽישׁ־חַ֥יִל בַּכֹּ֖חַ לַעֲבֹדָ֑ה שִׁשִּׁ֥ים וּשְׁנַ֖יִם לְעֹבֵ֥ד אֱדֹֽם׃

I Chronicles 26:8

(8) All these, sons of Obed-edom; they and their sons and brothers, strong and able men for the service—62 of Obed-edom.

רש"י על דברי הימים א כ״ו:ח׳

(א) איש חיל. לא בכח ולא במלחמה אלא כאדם שאומר עליו פלוני חשוב וכן הלא בועז מודעתנו איש גבור חיל (רות ג׳:ב׳):

Rashi on I Chronicles 26:8

(1) valiant men - Heb. אִיש חַיִל, not with strength and not in war but like a man about whom someone says, “So-and-so is of high esteem,” and similarly, (Ruth 2:1): “... a mighty man of valor, etc., and his name was Boaz.”

*Does this definition fit with Yitro's ideal judge- a person who is important or honored? Are well-respected people more capable of judging the people effectively? How can this relate to our description of an Eshet Chayil?*

משנה אבות ד׳:א׳

(א) בֶּן זוֹמָא אוֹמֵר, אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם, הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים קיט) מִכָּל מְלַמְּדַי הִשְׂכַּלְתִּי כִּי עֵדְוֹתֶיךָ שִׂיחָה לִּי. אֵיזֶהוּ גִבּוֹר, הַכּוֹבֵשׁ אֶת יִצְרוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (משלי טז) טוֹב אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם מִגִּבּוֹר וּמשֵׁל בְּרוּחוֹ מִלֹּכֵד עִיר. אֵיזֶהוּ עָשִׁיר, הַשָּׂמֵחַ בְּחֶלְקוֹ, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (תהלים קכח) יְגִיעַ כַּפֶּיךָ כִּי תֹאכֵל אַשְׁרֶיךָ וְטוֹב לָךְ. אַשְׁרֶיךָ, בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה. וְטוֹב לָךְ, לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. אֵיזֶהוּ מְכֻבָּד, הַמְכַבֵּד אֶת הַבְּרִיּוֹת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (שמואל א ב) כִּי מְכַבְּדַי אֲכַבֵּד וּבֹזַי יֵקָלּוּ:

Pirkei Avot 4:1

(1) Ben Zoma said: Who is wise? He who learns from every man, as it is said: “From all who taught me have I gained understanding” (Psalms 119:99). Who is mighty? He who subdues his [evil] inclination, as it is said: “He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty; and he that rules his spirit than he that takes a city” (Proverbs 16:32). Who is rich? He who rejoices in his lot, as it is said: “You shall enjoy the fruit of your labors, you shall be happy and you shall prosper” (Psalms 128:2) “You shall be happy” in this world, “and you shall prosper” in the world to come. Who is he that is honored? He who honors his fellow human beings as it is said: “For I honor those that honor Me, but those who spurn Me shall be dishonored” (I Samuel 2:30).

משלי ל״א:י״ח

(יח) טָ֭עֲמָה כִּי־ט֣וֹב סַחְרָ֑הּ לֹא־יִכְבֶּ֖ה (בליל) [בַלַּ֣יְלָה] נֵרָֽהּ׃

Proverbs 31:18

(18) She sees that her business thrives;
Her lamp never goes out at night.

משלי ל״א:כ״א

(כא) לֹא־תִירָ֣א לְבֵיתָ֣הּ מִשָּׁ֑לֶג כִּ֥י כׇל־בֵּ֝יתָ֗הּ לָבֻ֥שׁ שָׁנִֽים׃

Proverbs 31:21

(21) She is not worried for her household because of snow,
For her whole household is dressed in crimson.

משלי ל״א:כ״ח

(כח) קָ֣מוּ בָ֭נֶיהָ וַֽיְאַשְּׁר֑וּהָ בַּ֝עְלָ֗הּ וַֽיְהַלְלָֽהּ׃

Proverbs 31:28

(28) Her children declare her happy;
Her husband praises her,

משלי ל״א:י״א-י״ב

(יא) בָּ֣טַח בָּ֭הּ לֵ֣ב בַּעְלָ֑הּ וְ֝שָׁלָ֗ל לֹ֣א יֶחְסָֽר׃ (יב) גְּמָלַ֣תְהוּ ט֣וֹב וְלֹא־רָ֑ע כֹּ֝֗ל יְמֵ֣י חַיֶּֽיהָ׃

Proverbs 31:11-12

(11) Her husband puts his confidence in her,
And lacks no good thing. (12) She is good to him, never bad,
All the days of her life.

משלי ל״א:כ׳

(כ) כַּ֭פָּהּ פָּֽרְשָׂ֣ה לֶעָנִ֑י וְ֝יָדֶ֗יהָ שִׁלְּחָ֥ה לָאֶבְיֽוֹן׃

Proverbs 31:20

(20) She gives generously to the poor;
Her hands are stretched out to the needy.

Rachel Abraham