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Transparency in Action
Mishlei 13:16
משלי (יג:טז) כׇּל־עָ֭רוּם יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה בְדָ֑עַת וּ֝כְסִ֗יל יִפְרֹ֥שׂ אִוֶּֽלֶת׃
Mishlei 13:16 – Every Arum acts with knowledge, and the fool spreads foolishness.
Questions:
Q1: What is an Arum?
Q2: Why does is say “all” or “every” Arum?
Q3: How do the two halves contrast?
Q4: What is King Solomon telling me that I don’t already know? The intelligent or sophisticated act with knowledge, the fool acts like a fool.
מצודת דוד משלי
כל ערום – מעשה הערום המה בדעת וכוונה מיוחדת ואם כי לא יבינו כל אבל הכסיל פורש אולתו למען יכירו הכל כי אולת הוא.
Metzudat David
The actions of the sophisticated are executed with knowledge and specific intention, even if not everyone understands them. But the fool spreads foolishness, such that everyone recognizes that he is [engaged in] foolishness.
Description:
The Arum is one who acts with a sophisticated knowledge of human nature. He is often contrasted in Mishlei with the Peti or simpleton. As the Metzudot explain, the Arum may take a particular course of action that people don’t understand. There is nonetheless wisdom and thought behind it, even if not immediately apparent. That is why it says “every” Arum, to draw our attention to his actions even when the intention is not clear. The fool in contrast engages in a course of action that displays his foolishness. He operates in a fully transparent fashion and everyone plainly sees his intensions, and his foolishness.
Main Idea:
When we interpret the actions of others, it must be done based on the knowledge of the person. It is not always easy to discern the intentions of one who is deliberate and sophisticated. He may be thinking multiple steps ahead, and may even hide his ultimate intentions. It is nonetheless appropriate to assume there is intelligence behind his actions. The fool in contrast often acts in a way where his intentions are plain to all, usually reflecting his imprudence and stupidity. Rashi provides two examples:
רש"י
כל ערום יעשה בדעת – מעשהו, כגון דוד: יבקשו לאדוני המלך נערה בתולה וגו' (מלכים א א':ב').
וכסיל יפרוש אולת – אחשורוש, ויפקד המלך פקידים בכל מדינות מלכותו ויקבצו את כל נערה בתולה (אסתר ב':ג') – יודעים היו שלא ישא את כולן ומי שהיה לו בת היה מטמינה.
Rashi
Every cunning man acts with forethought He performs his deeds with forethought, like David: "Let them seek for my lord, the king, a young girl, a virgin, etc." (I Kings 1:2).
but a fool exposes [his] stupidity This is Ahasuerus (Esther 2:3): "Let the king appoint, etc." They knew that he would not marry them all. Therefore, whoever had a daughter concealed her.
The actions of King David and Achashverosh demonstrate this idea. When King David aims to recruit a maiden from his kingdom, the people interpreted this request based on their knowledge of the king as someone with good intentions. The people of the kingdom willingly offered to support the king in his request. In contrast, when Achashveirosh went to recruit a new queen, the people also understood his intentions based on his character. They hid their daughters, as no one would want his daughter to be disrespected and languish in the king’s harem.
Perhaps a slightly different approach that the Metzudot and Rashi is that the fool spreads foolishness because there is something appealing about his course of action. This could be based on the explanation of the action of have another element that makes it attractive. However, despite its popularity, it may nonetheless be totally foolish. This explains why bad ideas sometimes spread. The two halves contrast a noteworthy and sometimes counterintuitive reality, that what is popular is not always correct. Sometimes foolish ideas spread, while intelligent actions may fly under the radar, going unnoticed, or even face opposition when not understood. The subject of the verse would then be about the spread of information and misinformation. Sometimes intelligence is not recognized and foolishness spreads.
משלי (יג:טז) כׇּל־עָ֭רוּם יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה בְדָ֑עַת וּ֝כְסִ֗יל יִפְרֹ֥שׂ אִוֶּֽלֶת׃
Mishlei 13:16 – Every Arum acts with knowledge, and the fool spreads foolishness.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bentorah.substack.com
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By Ben TorahMishlei 13:16
משלי (יג:טז) כׇּל־עָ֭רוּם יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה בְדָ֑עַת וּ֝כְסִ֗יל יִפְרֹ֥שׂ אִוֶּֽלֶת׃
Mishlei 13:16 – Every Arum acts with knowledge, and the fool spreads foolishness.
Questions:
Q1: What is an Arum?
Q2: Why does is say “all” or “every” Arum?
Q3: How do the two halves contrast?
Q4: What is King Solomon telling me that I don’t already know? The intelligent or sophisticated act with knowledge, the fool acts like a fool.
מצודת דוד משלי
כל ערום – מעשה הערום המה בדעת וכוונה מיוחדת ואם כי לא יבינו כל אבל הכסיל פורש אולתו למען יכירו הכל כי אולת הוא.
Metzudat David
The actions of the sophisticated are executed with knowledge and specific intention, even if not everyone understands them. But the fool spreads foolishness, such that everyone recognizes that he is [engaged in] foolishness.
Description:
The Arum is one who acts with a sophisticated knowledge of human nature. He is often contrasted in Mishlei with the Peti or simpleton. As the Metzudot explain, the Arum may take a particular course of action that people don’t understand. There is nonetheless wisdom and thought behind it, even if not immediately apparent. That is why it says “every” Arum, to draw our attention to his actions even when the intention is not clear. The fool in contrast engages in a course of action that displays his foolishness. He operates in a fully transparent fashion and everyone plainly sees his intensions, and his foolishness.
Main Idea:
When we interpret the actions of others, it must be done based on the knowledge of the person. It is not always easy to discern the intentions of one who is deliberate and sophisticated. He may be thinking multiple steps ahead, and may even hide his ultimate intentions. It is nonetheless appropriate to assume there is intelligence behind his actions. The fool in contrast often acts in a way where his intentions are plain to all, usually reflecting his imprudence and stupidity. Rashi provides two examples:
רש"י
כל ערום יעשה בדעת – מעשהו, כגון דוד: יבקשו לאדוני המלך נערה בתולה וגו' (מלכים א א':ב').
וכסיל יפרוש אולת – אחשורוש, ויפקד המלך פקידים בכל מדינות מלכותו ויקבצו את כל נערה בתולה (אסתר ב':ג') – יודעים היו שלא ישא את כולן ומי שהיה לו בת היה מטמינה.
Rashi
Every cunning man acts with forethought He performs his deeds with forethought, like David: "Let them seek for my lord, the king, a young girl, a virgin, etc." (I Kings 1:2).
but a fool exposes [his] stupidity This is Ahasuerus (Esther 2:3): "Let the king appoint, etc." They knew that he would not marry them all. Therefore, whoever had a daughter concealed her.
The actions of King David and Achashverosh demonstrate this idea. When King David aims to recruit a maiden from his kingdom, the people interpreted this request based on their knowledge of the king as someone with good intentions. The people of the kingdom willingly offered to support the king in his request. In contrast, when Achashveirosh went to recruit a new queen, the people also understood his intentions based on his character. They hid their daughters, as no one would want his daughter to be disrespected and languish in the king’s harem.
Perhaps a slightly different approach that the Metzudot and Rashi is that the fool spreads foolishness because there is something appealing about his course of action. This could be based on the explanation of the action of have another element that makes it attractive. However, despite its popularity, it may nonetheless be totally foolish. This explains why bad ideas sometimes spread. The two halves contrast a noteworthy and sometimes counterintuitive reality, that what is popular is not always correct. Sometimes foolish ideas spread, while intelligent actions may fly under the radar, going unnoticed, or even face opposition when not understood. The subject of the verse would then be about the spread of information and misinformation. Sometimes intelligence is not recognized and foolishness spreads.
משלי (יג:טז) כׇּל־עָ֭רוּם יַעֲשֶׂ֣ה בְדָ֑עַת וּ֝כְסִ֗יל יִפְרֹ֥שׂ אִוֶּֽלֶת׃
Mishlei 13:16 – Every Arum acts with knowledge, and the fool spreads foolishness.
This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit bentorah.substack.com