The Gemara says that Yoav sent to Tekoa and he took from there a wise woman.
Rebbi Yochanan said that because the people of Tekoa regularly consume olive oil, wisdom is found in them.
What is Rebbi Yochanan's proof that the people are smart; perhaps only the women are?!
Kol Tuv!
Alex Lebovits
Shalom Rav,
The answer to your question lies in the Gemara's question, "Mai Shena Teko'a?"
Clrearly, the Gemara understood that Teko'a was instrumental in producing people of the caliber of that wise woman. Rebbi Yochanan merely explained what was special about Teko'a.
Kol Tuv,
Eliezer Chrysler
Rabbi Chrysler thank you for answering my question. It is good to be in contact with you again.
I would just like to ask you perhaps one more question to your answer of "Mai Shena Teko'a?"
If as you say, "the Gemara understood that Teko'a was instrumental in producing people of the caliber of that wise woman. (and) Rebbi Yochanan merely explained what was special about Teko'a.", then why did Yoav look for a smart woman, rather than a smart man, from Tekoa? Or to put it simply, Mai Shena Isha?!
Kol Tuv
Alex Lebovits
As you probably know, this wise woman was subsequently asked to put on a show, pretending to be in mourning for her son and to shed copious tears over him.
Now there are some things that women do better than men. One of those things is putting on a spiel of this nature. They will put men in the shade any time.
Yo'av realized that, and that is why he got a woman to do it.
Be'Virchas Kol Tuv
Eliezer Chrysler