룻기 4:11 해설: Tze'enah Ure'enah, Rashi & Ibn Ezra

“All the people answered” [4:11]. All the people who were sitting in the gate responded. The elders witnessed it and said: God should make the woman who is coming into your house like Rachel and Leah who built the house of Israel with twelve tribes. Prosper in Ephrat and may his name be perpetuated in Bethlehem. The sages say, even though the people were descended from Judah, who was the son of Leah, so why does the verse mention Rachel first? She was younger than Leah. The verse should have said, like Leah and Rachel, with Leah first. Don’t think that the children themselves did not recognize that Rachel was primary for Jacob. Jacob’s intention was for Rachel when he served Laban. Therefore, Rachel is mentioned first in the verse. Our sages say about the verse, the generations were redeemed only through the pious women who were in that generation, as the verse says, “He remembered His steadfast love and faithfulness to the house of Israel” [Psalms, 98:3]. This means that He remembered His grace and His truth to the house of Israel. The verse means the women of Israel, because it does not say the children of Israel.⁷³Midrash Zuta, Ruth 4.8. Why do we find that the sage calls his wife house, because she is the primary one in the house and that is what the verse means by house of Israel.

We find the story of a pious man who became very poor and he had a pious and kosher wife. He was finally so poor that he rented himself out to someone to plow the field. Elijah the prophet disguised himself and said to him. You have seven good years. When do you want them, immediately or at the end of your days? The pious man said, go away you sorcerer. You have nothing yourself and what do you want to give me. He went to him three times. The third time he said, I’ll go and ask my wife. He went to his wife and told her the story. The wife said to the pious man. Go there and let the seven years begin immediately. He came back to the field and spoke to Elijah the prophet that the seven years should begin immediately. Elijah said, go home and when you come home you will become rich. The children searched in the ashes and found only gold and brought it to their mother. The mother ran toward the pious man and said: God has made us rejoice from all of our troubles. They praised God and did many acts of lovingkindness and charity the whole seven years. Every day they said to their son, write down the charitable acts we are doing. Finally, after the seven years Elijah came again and he said to the pious man. Listen my dear friend, the seven years have ended and you must return the money. Just as when you first gave me the money, I first asked my wife, I will also now ask my wife. If she will tell me to return it, then it is good. He went to his pious wife and told him the news. Listen my dear wife; the old man has come again to take back the money. The wife said, go my dear husband and ask the old man that if he can find better people to hold the money? The Holy One agreed with her correct words and acts of lovingkindness and charity and gave them more and they remained rich for the rest of their lives. When women are pious there is none like them, but when they are evil, there is also none like them.⁷⁴Yalkut Shimoni, Ruth, Remez 607.

The Sanhedrin asked King Solomon, why did you say that you did not find a woman who was completely good.⁷⁵Ecclesiastes, 7:28. We have found many pious and virtuous women. The king responded: I would show you. Go out and find me somewhere a pious man who has a wife who is pious, beautiful and virtuous. The members of the Sanhedrin said: there is someone who is pious and has a pious wife and is extremely beautiful. He said, call him here. They ran and called him and he came quickly and he was brought into a locked room with the king, who said to him. My servants have told me that you are a very smart person and very pious. I would very much like to give you my daughter and I will appoint you over all the nobles. He responded, what am I that you want to give me your daughter or what is my lineage that I should marry the king’s daughter. The king responded: this is your wisdom that you make yourself humble and therefore my daughter is correct for you. However, go this night and bring me your wife’s head. The whole way home he thought about how he would kill his wife. He considered that she is very smart and pious and I also have children from her. His wife said to him, why are you so sad and depressed? He said that my heart aches. She prepared food and good drink, but he could not eat or drink. She ate and went to sleep with the small children. He carefully considered and said to himself. How can I commit such a great sin, to kill such a smart and pious person and what are the presents that the king wants to give me? However, a little while later he thought about the great honor from the king. He stood up and went to get his sword. He came to the bed to chop off her head. He uncovered her and saw her sleeping with a small child at her breast and another one near her arm. He went behind them. The third time he thought about the great honor from all the great nobles. He came over to the bed with a broad sword and he saw her lying there and her hair hanging down to the ground. He had pity on her, stepped back and said, if the king would give me all of his money I would not do this and he lay down and went to sleep. The next morning the servants of the king called him to the king. The king asked him, where is the head? He said: I couldn’t do it. The king said, go away, you are not worthy of honor.

Like Rachel and like Leah. Even though they were from the tribe of Yehudah and of the descendants of Leah, they conceded that Rachel was the mainstay of the household and they mentioned Rachel before Leah.⁸Alternatively, the blessing was for (Naomi)[Ruth] who was the daughter of idolaters. They blessed her that she should be in her own righteousness like Rachel and Leah who also were daughters of an idolater [Lavan], but because of their marriage to a great and righteous man [Yaakov], they created the House of Yisroel.

And be famous. I.e., may your name become great.