Welcome everybody to NachDaily, covering the entire Tanach one perek at a time. Today we’re learning Mishlei, perek 14.
The perek opens with the famous words of “Chochmos nashim bonsa veisa, v’eveles b’yadeha seher’senu - A woman’s wisdom builds her house, but a foolish woman destroys hers with her own hands.”
We see that there's a special wisdom which women receive in order to influence and build their homes in a proper way. As steering a ship can be very difficult and require many decisions, building and guiding a home is also very nuanced. With so many subtleties of interactions and different personalities, how is a woman supposed to understand how to navigate her home in an ever-changing world?
Perhaps this is why our passuk begins in the plural with the word chochmos, wisdoms, and not chochma, wisdom, in the singular. Every situation, from being a wife, raising children, to working, requires a different type of wisdom and insight. With the many hats that women wear, and the many responsibilities that they juggle, a lot of wisdom is needed.
We see that there are special insights, perspective, and common sense that a woman receives in order to build her home. Insight is always changing, shifting, and guiding you on how to navigate your home. Sometimes with the same child one moment requires you to be strict while the next moment requires more flexibility, and the list goes on. Women’s expanded capabilities help them to build their homes and navigate their roles. This is hinted to by the use of the word Chochmos in plural form.
On a deeper level, the Vilna Gaon explains that the main bayis, house, of Tzaddikim is Olam Habah. Tzaddikim are constantly building spiritual edifices in the next world. The neshama, soul, is called an isha, woman. Therefore, this passuk can be understood to mean that Tzaddikim use their wisdom to cultivate their neshamos to build spiritual houses for themselves in the next world.
Imagine that after 120 years you receive your dream house, any type you might want, with any type of scenery. This should motivate us all to do mitzvos with simcha to continue building our houses in the next world which will last forever. These houses won't need an insurance policy or mortgage! They will be fully backed and guaranteed by the ultimate Builder of all we see, Hashem!
The rest of the perek continues to contrast the wise with the fool, the cynic with the good-hearted, evil with good. Someone who lives with the fear of Hashem versus one who doesn't, who acts with honesty as opposed to one who makes his way through life lying, who gives tzedakah versus a person who steals.
The people who walk in the path of God and His light will reap the benefits of their work, while those who were dishonest, and deviant, will live a life filled with strife and pain. We know in our hearts into which categories we fall, and at differing moments we can be in differing categories.
Stay tuned to the next episode of NachDaily. We’ll be moving on to chapter 15.
Thank you for listening and have a wonderful day.
