משלי, פרק ז׳, פסוק כ׳

Proverbs 7:20Sefaria

צְֽרוֹר־הַ֭כֶּסֶף לָקַ֣ח בְּיָד֑וֹ לְי֥וֹם הַ֝כֵּ֗סֶא יָבֹ֥א בֵיתֽוֹ׃

A master manipulator knows that fear is the greatest obstacle to temptation. To successfully seduce her target, the unfaithful woman must first completely erase any worry of being caught. She paints a picture of perfect safety, assuring her victim that her husband is far away and will not unexpectedly walk through the door.

She explains that her husband has left on a distant business trip [ביאור שטיינזלץ, עמנואל הרומי]. To prove he will be gone for a long while, she points out that he took a tied bag of money with him to cover his travel expenses [מצודת ציון]. This detail serves as a calculated psychological tool to calm the victim's fears. Since the husband is carrying a sum of money, he will likely be delayed for an extended period, taking his time to spend it all on merchandise before making his way back [מצודת דוד, מלבי״ם]. Adding another layer to her deception, she specifically mentions that he took silver rather than gold. This creates a false image that her husband left his greater wealth at home out of deep affection, intending to spoil her with jewelry. By presenting herself as a cherished and honored wife, she tries to mask her betrayal and make her lies more convincing [אלשיך]. On a deeper, allegorical level, the mention of the silver is also seen as a hint to the tragic loss and departure of the finest and most righteous people [רש״י].

To finalize her persuasive argument, she declares that her husband will only return on a specific, predetermined day. The primary approach among commentators is that this refers to a fixed and well-known date. While some explain this as the new moon, a time when the moon is completely covered and hidden from sight [אבן עזרא], others suggest it refers to the final day of the month or a designated holiday [עמנואל הרומי, רש״י]. Regardless of the exact date, her goal is absolute clarity. She wants to prove that her husband has a strict schedule and will under no circumstances return early, assuring her victim that they have plenty of time to themselves and are completely safe from any sudden interruptions [מלבי״ם, ביאור שטיינזלץ, מצודת דוד].

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