Rebbetzin Chava Kuperman
Last time, in our discussion of Eshet Chayil, we examined the verse «Her husband is renowned; he sits with the elders at the city gates…» and explained why it is understood to refer to Michal, David's wife.
There is, however, another opinion, according to which the verse is dedicated to Bathsheba, who bore David an heir—his son Solomon.
We have already written that during David's lifetime, his marriage to Bathsheba, despite having been entered into in accordance with the Law, still carried a certain cloud of doubt. David will be fully vindicated and free of any stain only with the coming of Mashiach. This is how it will happen:
It is known that the coming of Mashiach will be marked by the building of the Third Temple and a Special Feast for the Righteous, at the end of which Birkat Hamazon will need to be recited. If three (or more) men have taken part in a meal, a zimun is made: that is, one of the participants must lead Birkat Hamazon over a cup of wine, while the others praise G-d, following the leader. Leading the zimun is a great honor. But when the cup is offered to Isaac, he will say that, unfortunately, he cannot take on this honored role because he loved someone whom the Almighty hated—namely, Esau.
The cup of wine will then pass to Jacob, but he too will say that he is not entitled to do so, because he married two sisters, which is forbidden by the Torah (Leviticus 18:18 — “and you shall not take a woman as a rival to her sister”).
The cup will pass from Jacob to Moses, but he too will decline, citing the reason why the Almighty did not allow him to enter Eretz Yisrael...
The cup will pass to Aaron, who will also decline…
...Finally, the cup will reach David, and David will gladly accept this honor: “Oh! I am entitled to recite Birkat Hamazon!” he will say. And all humanity will understand that he is Bathsheba's lawful husband and that their marriage is fully valid. And he will “sit with all the elders of the land (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Moses).
The phrase “Her husband is known, sitting at the gates...” does not refer to fame as such, but to the fact that he is her lawful husband! Since David is entitled to lead Birkat Hamazon, there was no sin in his marriage to Bathsheba.
On the level of the plain meaning, the woman being praised is one who knows how to do everything necessary to make her husband an important and respected man.
She makes coverlets and sells them, supplies belts to merchants…
In a more precise translation, she gives belts to merchants as gifts.
According to tradition, the verse refers to Tzelalponi, Samson's mother, who supported her family and to whom an angel appeared twice.
She sells the coverlets because they command a high price (a great deal of fabric and work), while she “gives belts to merchants as gifts.” By offering a pleasant, inexpensive present, she wins the merchants' loyalty. Now they gladly buy their goods from her specifically, and it is with her that they intend to keep doing business.
This woman understands the psychology of trade well and knows how to build a business.
The plain meaning of the verse: a woman does everything involving thread and fabric with her own hands.
to be continued