Welcome everybody, to Nachdaily, covering the entire Tanach one perek at a time. Today we’re learning Mishlei, perek 10.
Chapters one through 9 are considered one unit. We now begin the second section. The primary theme of the previous chapters was our obligation to obtain wisdom, understanding, and insight throughout our lives. Those chapters explained the value and many benefits that wisdom brings, and how leading a life based on Torah values and wisdom will lead to true fulfillment in this world and immense pleasure for all of eternity in the next world.
The second section goes from perekim 10 through 24, and primarily teaches mussar. It speaks about the value of working on our character, staying true to what we know to be right and conducting ourselves in a proper manner. While there are overall topical themes to each chapter, most of the pessukim contrast opposites with each other. They speak about the value of walking in the proper path and the pitfalls of leading a life of ill repute.
It should be obvious that Mishlei begins with the value of wisdom and then moves on to “tikkun hamidos,” correcting our moral characteristics, because our entire lives will be oriented around whatever we value as essential. When we understand, therefore, how much we need to obtain chochma, bina and daas, our actions will hopefully follow our minds.
The primary theme of the perek is the way that the intelligent, wise son brings happiness to his parents, works during the proper time, gives adequate tzedaka, stays away from fights, speaks words of truth, and lives a fulfilling life enriched by God. The Tzaddik is “zecher l’vracha,” always remembered for good, because he is the “yesod olam,” foundation of the world.
This is in contrast to the evil son, who follows his base, lower level desires. He makes his parents miserable, over-exerts himself, is always involved in strife, harbors resentment in his heart, and is lazy. The name of the negative, evil people will rot.
The perek opens with the words “Mishlei Shlomo. Ben chochom, yismach av u’ven k’sil tugas immo” - These are the proverbs of Shlomo. A son of the wise brings his father joy, but a foolish son is his mother’s grief.
The Ramad Walli explains that “av,” father - is referring to our Father in heaven. Hashem is constantly waiting for His children, Am Yisrael, the son of the wise, to make Him happy by bringing a “tikkun haolam,” spiritual mending and reparation to the world.
We find this by Shlomo Hamelech himself, who was the ultimate “ben chochom,” son of the wise, who built the Beis Hamikdash. The Beis Hamikdash brought about the ultimate rectification of the world through uniting the upper and lower spheres.
This will be the job of Mashiach, the ultimate Ben Chocham, who will bring a general mass rectification to the world at large with the building of the 3rd Beis Hamikdash.
This is why the word “yismach,” yud, samech, mem, ches, “will make happy,” in our passuk has the same letters as Mashiach! Our Father in heaven will ultimately be happy through Mashiach, when the world will be brought to its final tikkun, rectification.
“Yismach,” will make happy, is written in the future tense to show that this will take place in the future when Mashiach reveals himself.
May we merit making our Father happy when we see the final redemption with Mashiach and the 3rd Beis Hamikdash with our very own eyes. Then there will be no more war on His holy mountain in Yerushalayim.
Stay tuned to our next episode of Nach Daily with perek 11.
Thank you for listening and have a wonderful day.
