Tuesday 12 January 2016

women - What's her husband doing at the gates in the middle of her song?


Eishes Chayil is a song sung traditionally on Friday nights. It's the last 22 verses of Mishlei/Proverbs. It speaks about a "Woman of Valor", and literally does nothing but sing her praises. Well, almost.


Every verse is about something admirable about this woman1, except for one verse, Mishlei 31:23 (Chabad.org):




כג. נוֹדָע בַּשְּׁעָרִים בַּעְלָהּ בְּשִׁבְתּוֹ עִם זִקְנֵי אָרֶץ


23: Her husband is known in the gates, when he sits with the elders of the land.



While this is nice and all, this seems a little out of place; how is this a praise of the Woman of Valor?


Bonus points if you find an explanation of why Shlomo Hamelech chose to phrase it this way, instead of just stating her praise directly.


Yes, this is a bit of a softball. But it was a real question that I had. Best answer wins.




1: Interpreted as referring to the Jewish woman, and also to the Shabbos and the Torah.




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