Reading for March 1st

Read Proverbs 31.10-31. In 31.10-31: Praise of the capable wife. An acrostic poem of twenty-two lines, each line beginning with a successive letter of the alphabet. It is an encomium or hymn praising the capable wife. A hymn does not dwell on the inner feelings or the physical appearance of it hero but decribes the hero's mighty feats of valor, in this case the wife's extraordinarily wise management of her great household. The narrator first describes wonderful deeds (vv. 11-27), a description that is completed by her own children and husband (vv. 28-31. In verses 19-20: The chiasmus at the center of the poem (hand ("yad") ... hands ("kap")?? hand ('kap") ... hands ("yad") shiftsthe actions from the domestic to the public sphere in that the hands weave the cloth (v. 19) now open wide in lergesse to the poor beyond the household gates 9v. 20). She is a blessing not only to her famaily but to the whole community. The hymn tothe capable wife includes a metaphorical dimension. The heroic woman evokes Woman Wisom of chs. 1-9. Her abundantly prosperous household illustrates the result of becominga disciple of Wisdom (ch. 8; 9.6,11). The book began with a young person leaving the parental house to found and maintain a new one. It ends with a splendid household provided by the wisdom of the capable wife. Visible within the house are all the blessings of wisdom- wealth, justice, generousity to the poor, reputation, children, and most precious of all (compare 19.14), a good wife (or spouse). The pursuit of wisdom has brought every belssing Comments or Questions..