Family Purity - Converting the Household - Call of the Eyshet Chayil/Warrior Woman
Scriptural Yehudism highly exalts the Yehudi/Israelite woman. According to the Aggadic Midrashim (interpretation of the non-legal portions of the Hebrew Bible) this twenty-two verse poem was originally written by Ab Abraham as a eulogy for Emah Sarah. Commentators have attributed the Yehudi Nashim as a vehicle through which the Shekinah (the Divine Presence/Glory), the Shabbat (Queen of days), Torah, wisdom (chokmah) the soul (nephesh), and Israel are compared to. This is her tribute, and is the mantle of true set apartness which she should strive to embrace as her own. It is a Yehudic chok (pronounced "howk" - portion/custom) for the father to sing and to rejoice over his eshet each Erev Shabbat (Friday night), fully pouring out his thank-filled heart over her for all the ways that she has serviced her family.
Last week we ended with a preview of the incredible worth of the Natzari Nashim, of her strength, her power, her worth, her innate resourcefulness to the Yehudi family and community. This week we will delve deeper into the inner character of the Natzari Nashim, and how it is synonymous to her relationship to Torah/Y'shua, to the Mishkan. "This passage is one of the thirteen alphabetical acrostic poems in Scripture (An acrostic (Greek: ákros "top"; stíchos "verse") is a poem or other form of writing in which the first letter, syllable or word of each line, paragraph or other recurring feature in the text spells out a word or a message). The virtuous wife is analogous to the Torah, serving a similar purpose of bringing us success both now and in the future." (Eshet Chayil- A Virtuous Woman).
חָֽגְרָה בְעֹוז מָתְנֶיהָ וַתְּאַמֵּץ זְרֹעֹותֶֽיהָ׃הָ
Chagrah v'oz motneiha vat'ametz zro'oteiha
She girds her loins in strength, and makes her arms strong.The first letter "chet" pictographically means a "hedge, a fence". It also carries the meaning of the profession of tailor (hhaith), and the act of sewing (hiyeth). Both imply the making of a garment. Cheth also symbolizes the reservoir of energy, the action of breathing the vital breath. Allegorically, the Mishkan is Messiah, it also represents the Natzari woman's soul. When she constructs her life according to HaShem's Word and plan (Ezekiel 43:10-12), Y'shua, who is the presence of YHWH, dwells there. The Natzari woman must learn to dwell in Y'shua by going to synagogue each Sabbath and learning Moshe, as it is his life which dwells within her's giving it life, the secret place of her own soul. Without the Ruach Life of Moshiach, there is absolutely no life in the Mishkan. This is all revealed on a sod level in this week's parsha Leviticus 16:1 to 18:30. The Midrash (Batei Midrashot 2) sees the above verse as a warrior woman. Just as Ya'el looked around and used a household item (tent peg) to kill Sisera, in influencing her family after her, the Natzari Isha is a resourceful woman who uses every day situations, gentle sage wisdom, home-building skills/tools as a vessel of HaRuach Kodesh, (the maternal expression of the Echad).
יָדֶיהָ שִׁלְּחָה בַכִּישֹׁור וְכַפֶּיהָ תָּמְכוּ פָֽלֶךְ׃יָ
Yadeha shilchah vakishor v'chapeiha tamchu felech
She sets her hands to the distaff, and holds the spindle in her hands.Yod is a hand with stretched fingers. The hand is the symbol of power, of creative and directed energy that maintains individual existence. Chayil/Valor/Virtue is wrapped in self-control, diplomacy, industrious, loyalty, kindliness, creativity. In her relationship to Y'shua, and thus to the Mishkan she realizes that her worth is rooted in his gift of salvation, the working out of such a gift called redemption. Being the bride, the "responder" she finds her strength in the life that he imparts to her via the Ruach HaKodesh. She recognizes her innate strength to nurture, to watch over, her strong sense of discernment as in her capability to be ezer k'negdo - the one who encircles and watches over her ish while he works, and who spots the enemy. The word ezer alone means "sustainer beside him" Genesis/B'rasheit 1:26-28 says
"And HaShem blessed them, and HaShem said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and conquer it, and hold sway over the fish of the sea and the fowl of the heavens and every beast that crawls upon the earth.' (Gen. 1:26-28 Alter)" A further rendering of ezer can be found in the book of Tehillim/Psalms:
'O house of Israel, trust in HaShem-he is their help and shield.
O house of Aaron, trust in HaShem-he is ther help and shield.
You who fear him, trust in HaShem-he is their help and shield.'
In summary, ezer is a lifesaver.
The command was given to both Ada'am and Hawwaw - they both have the identical calling and blessing to be fruitful and multiply, to fill the earth, to conquer it, and to hold sway over its abundance. Our distinction in gender and thus roles is not so much in the "if", but in the "how" we are to bear the image of HaShem in the olam (world). Incorrectly translated as "helper" or "helpmeet", ezer is used 20 times in Tanak, and each instance is used of HaShem himself when we cry out to him in desperation. A name reveals character and destiny, so again, Nashim, you are correctly called "isha" אישה-- alef (strength), yod (hand) shin (sharp), hey (look! behold!) Hey also means divine breath, revelation, light. On a spiritual level it corresponds to 5 level of soul:
Drawing from last week's midrash, HaShem's directives were to both man and woman to "Sh'ma". To hear in Hebraic thought is to obey, or act upon. Descriptive terminology must be deduced to its most primal definition of usage in order to be comprehended in the Natzari Yehudi mind. Women within First Century Israel were to observe hakhel (assembly/synagogue) to hear Moshe. The "shmiah" listening to Torah means to absorb. Hearing to a Natzari woman is an understanding not given to man, it's a hearing connected to a higher level of the soul - men understand from a rational learning perspective. This is why men, women, children were to hear the words. Man, acting as the executive arm, or CEO of HaShem on earth, is the executive producer, is responsible to give the framework, the order of Torah. Woman, acting as the express image of Y'shua, is the co-executive producer who "fleshes out" the order. She gives life, expression, meaning, existence to what man has inseminated within her soul.
Scriptural Yehudism highly exalts the Yehudi/Israelite woman. According to the Aggadic Midrashim (interpretation of the non-legal portions of the Hebrew Bible) this twenty-two verse poem was originally written by Ab Abraham as a eulogy for Emah Sarah. Commentators have attributed the Yehudi Nashim as a vehicle through which the Shekinah (the Divine Presence/Glory), the Shabbat (Queen of days), Torah, wisdom (chokmah) the soul (nephesh), and Israel are compared to. This is her tribute, and is the mantle of true set apartness which she should strive to embrace as her own. It is a Yehudic chok (pronounced "howk" - portion/custom) for the father to sing and to rejoice over his eshet each Erev Shabbat (Friday night), fully pouring out his thank-filled heart over her for all the ways that she has serviced her family.
Last week we ended with a preview of the incredible worth of the Natzari Nashim, of her strength, her power, her worth, her innate resourcefulness to the Yehudi family and community. This week we will delve deeper into the inner character of the Natzari Nashim, and how it is synonymous to her relationship to Torah/Y'shua, to the Mishkan. "This passage is one of the thirteen alphabetical acrostic poems in Scripture (An acrostic (Greek: ákros "top"; stíchos "verse") is a poem or other form of writing in which the first letter, syllable or word of each line, paragraph or other recurring feature in the text spells out a word or a message). The virtuous wife is analogous to the Torah, serving a similar purpose of bringing us success both now and in the future." (Eshet Chayil- A Virtuous Woman).
חָֽגְרָה בְעֹוז מָתְנֶיהָ וַתְּאַמֵּץ זְרֹעֹותֶֽיהָ׃הָ
Chagrah v'oz motneiha vat'ametz zro'oteiha
She girds her loins in strength, and makes her arms strong.The first letter "chet" pictographically means a "hedge, a fence". It also carries the meaning of the profession of tailor (hhaith), and the act of sewing (hiyeth). Both imply the making of a garment. Cheth also symbolizes the reservoir of energy, the action of breathing the vital breath. Allegorically, the Mishkan is Messiah, it also represents the Natzari woman's soul. When she constructs her life according to HaShem's Word and plan (Ezekiel 43:10-12), Y'shua, who is the presence of YHWH, dwells there. The Natzari woman must learn to dwell in Y'shua by going to synagogue each Sabbath and learning Moshe, as it is his life which dwells within her's giving it life, the secret place of her own soul. Without the Ruach Life of Moshiach, there is absolutely no life in the Mishkan. This is all revealed on a sod level in this week's parsha Leviticus 16:1 to 18:30. The Midrash (Batei Midrashot 2) sees the above verse as a warrior woman. Just as Ya'el looked around and used a household item (tent peg) to kill Sisera, in influencing her family after her, the Natzari Isha is a resourceful woman who uses every day situations, gentle sage wisdom, home-building skills/tools as a vessel of HaRuach Kodesh, (the maternal expression of the Echad).
יָדֶיהָ שִׁלְּחָה בַכִּישֹׁור וְכַפֶּיהָ תָּמְכוּ פָֽלֶךְ׃יָ
Yadeha shilchah vakishor v'chapeiha tamchu felech
She sets her hands to the distaff, and holds the spindle in her hands.Yod is a hand with stretched fingers. The hand is the symbol of power, of creative and directed energy that maintains individual existence. Chayil/Valor/Virtue is wrapped in self-control, diplomacy, industrious, loyalty, kindliness, creativity. In her relationship to Y'shua, and thus to the Mishkan she realizes that her worth is rooted in his gift of salvation, the working out of such a gift called redemption. Being the bride, the "responder" she finds her strength in the life that he imparts to her via the Ruach HaKodesh. She recognizes her innate strength to nurture, to watch over, her strong sense of discernment as in her capability to be ezer k'negdo - the one who encircles and watches over her ish while he works, and who spots the enemy. The word ezer alone means "sustainer beside him" Genesis/B'rasheit 1:26-28 says
"And HaShem blessed them, and HaShem said to them, 'Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and conquer it, and hold sway over the fish of the sea and the fowl of the heavens and every beast that crawls upon the earth.' (Gen. 1:26-28 Alter)" A further rendering of ezer can be found in the book of Tehillim/Psalms:
'O house of Israel, trust in HaShem-he is their help and shield.
O house of Aaron, trust in HaShem-he is ther help and shield.
You who fear him, trust in HaShem-he is their help and shield.'
In summary, ezer is a lifesaver.
The command was given to both Ada'am and Hawwaw - they both have the identical calling and blessing to be fruitful and multiply, to fill the earth, to conquer it, and to hold sway over its abundance. Our distinction in gender and thus roles is not so much in the "if", but in the "how" we are to bear the image of HaShem in the olam (world). Incorrectly translated as "helper" or "helpmeet", ezer is used 20 times in Tanak, and each instance is used of HaShem himself when we cry out to him in desperation. A name reveals character and destiny, so again, Nashim, you are correctly called "isha" אישה-- alef (strength), yod (hand) shin (sharp), hey (look! behold!) Hey also means divine breath, revelation, light. On a spiritual level it corresponds to 5 level of soul:
- Nefesh - instincts
- Ruach - emotions
- Neshamah - mind
- Chayah - bridge to transcendence
- Yehidah - oneness
Drawing from last week's midrash, HaShem's directives were to both man and woman to "Sh'ma". To hear in Hebraic thought is to obey, or act upon. Descriptive terminology must be deduced to its most primal definition of usage in order to be comprehended in the Natzari Yehudi mind. Women within First Century Israel were to observe hakhel (assembly/synagogue) to hear Moshe. The "shmiah" listening to Torah means to absorb. Hearing to a Natzari woman is an understanding not given to man, it's a hearing connected to a higher level of the soul - men understand from a rational learning perspective. This is why men, women, children were to hear the words. Man, acting as the executive arm, or CEO of HaShem on earth, is the executive producer, is responsible to give the framework, the order of Torah. Woman, acting as the express image of Y'shua, is the co-executive producer who "fleshes out" the order. She gives life, expression, meaning, existence to what man has inseminated within her soul.