She seeketh wool and flax, And worketh willingly with her hands.
Pro 31:13 The poet now describes how she disposes of things: 13 ד She careth for wool and flax, And worketh these with her hands’ pleasure. The verb דּרשׁ proceeds, as the Arab. shows, from the primary meaning terere; but to translate with reference thereto: tractat lanam et linum (lxx, Schultens, Dathe, Rosemüller, Fleischer), is inadmissible. The Heb.
This portrait of virtue is not idle poetry; it teaches both women what they must become and men what they must seek. Mark how much hangs on the mothers, the piety and prosperity of entire households, the faith of generations to come. A man who means to prosper must reckon with his wife; her wisdom and goodness are the foundation.
AI summary
Commenting on Proverbs 31:10-31
Ancient women of rank thus wrought with their hands; and such, indeed, were the customs of Western women a few centuries since. In the East also, the fabrics were articles of merchandise.