The courageous woman

The Book of Proverbs ends with a poem, where the initial letters of the lines follow the Hebrew alphabet (Prov. 31:10-31). It is a hymn of praise to the "eshet hayil." This is translated as the virtuous woman (KJV, NKJV), virtuous housewife (NASB), or strong woman (NBV). An "eshet" is a woman. The word "hayil" has several meanings. It indicates courage, strength, and conscientiousness.
We encounter the same concept in the Book of Ruth. When Ruth goes to the threshing floor to Boaz in the evening, and Boaz, upon waking, speaks to Ruth, saying that "all in the gates of my people know that you are a virtuous woman." This is the same expression. In Jewish tradition, the connection between Ruth and the courageous woman of Proverbs has long been made. A closer reading of the text in Proverbs reveals striking similarities.
Proverbs describes a woman who is very diligent and always busy, rising while it is still dark (Proverbs 31:15) and not stopping at night (Proverbs 31:18). This fits the image of Ruth, who spends the whole day, from early morning in the fields (Ruth 2:7), working until evening (Ruth 2:17).
When Proverbs 31:23 describes her husband as being well-known in the city and meeting with the elders in the gate, Boaz comes to mind.
The woman in Proverbs speaks wise words (Proverbs 31:26), and what Ruth says to Boaz at night on the threshing floor certainly falls under that description (Ruth 3:9).
It is also striking that, according to Proverbs, charm is deceptive and beauty fades (Prov. 31:30). Nowhere in the book of Ruth is there any allusion to Ruth's beauty. In that sense, this story is far from romantic. And although Ruth, at Naomi's suggestion, goes to Boaz at night, dressed seductively and wearing perfume, Boaz is not seduced.
Proverbs speaks of the glory of a woman in the gates (Prov. 31:31). In Ruth, this is mentioned twice (Ruth 3:11, 4:11-12).
There are many other things in the last poem of Proverbs that do not directly apply to Ruth. But it is quite possible that Solomon, as the Rabbis suggest, was inspired by Ruth's story when writing this poem.

Bas Krins