Chapter VIII.--Joseph and Potiphar's Wife; Of What Kind Love to Females Ought to Be.
There is Joseph, faithful, and intelligent, and wise, and who feared God in everything. Did not a woman conceive an excessive passion for the beauty of this chaste and upright man? And, when he would not yield and consent to gratify her passionate desire, [471] she cast the righteous man into every kind of distress and torment, to within a little of death, [472] by bearing false witness. But God delivered him from all the evils that came upon him through this wretched woman. Ye see, my brethren, what distresses the constant sight of the person of the Egyptian woman brought upon the righteous man. Therefore, let us not be constantly with women, nor with maidens. For this is not profitable for those who truly wish to "gird up their loins." [473] For it is required that we love the sisters in all purity and chasteness, and with all curbing of thought, in the fear of God, not associating constantly with them, nor finding access to them at every hour.
[471] Lit. "her passion and her desire."
[472] Lit. "even to death."
[473] Luke xii. 35.
Chapter IX.--Samson's Admonitory Fall.
Hast thou not heard concerning Samson the Nazarite, "with whom was the Spirit of God," [474] the man of great strength? This man, who was a Nazarite, and consecrated to God, and who was gifted with strength and might, a woman brought to ruin with her wretched body, and with her vile passion. Art thou, perchance, such a man as he? Know thyself, and know the measure of thy strength. [475] "The married woman catcheth precious souls." [476] Therefore, we do not allow any man whatsoever to sit with a married woman; much less to live in the same house with a maiden who has taken the vow, or to sleep where she sleeps, or to be constantly with her. For this is to be hated and abominated by those who fear God.
[474] Judges xiii. 25.
[475] Lit. "know thy measure."
[476] Prov. vi. 26.
Chapter X.--David's Sin, So Admonitory to Us Weak Men.
Does not the case of David instruct thee, whom God "found a man after His heart," [477] one faithful, faultless, pious, true? This same man saw the beauty of a woman--I mean of Bathsheba--when he saw her as she was cleansing herself and washing unclothed. This woman the holy man saw, and was thoroughly [478] captivated with desire by the sight of her. [479] See, then, what evils he committed because of a woman, and how this righteous man sinned, and gave command that the husband of this woman should be killed in battle. Ye have seen what wicked schemes he laid and executed, and how, because of his passion for a woman, he perpetrated a murder--he, David, who was called "the anointed of the Lord." [480] Be admonished, O man: for, if such men as these have been brought to ruin through women, what is thy righteousness, or what art thou among the holy, that thou consortest with women and with maidens day and night, with much silliness, without fear of God? Not thus, my brethren, not thus let us conduct ourselves; but let us be mindful of that word which is spoken concerning a woman: "Her hands lay snares, and her heart spreadeth nets; but the just shall escape from her, whilst the wicked falleth into her hands." [481] Therefore let us, who are consecrated, [482] be careful not to live in the same house with females who have taken the vow. For such conduct as this is not becoming nor right for the servants of God.
[477] 1 Sam. xvi. 13; Ps. lxxxix. 20, seqq.; Acts xiii. 22.
[478] Lit. "verily."
[479] "By the pleasure derived from the sight of her."--Beelen.
[480] Ps. xviii. 50; 2 Sam. xix. 21.
[481] Eccl. vii. 26.
[482] Lit. "holy."
Chapter XI.--Admonitory History of the Incestuous Children of David.
Hast thou not read concerning Amnon and Tamar, the children of David? This Amnon conceived a passion for his sister, and humbled her, and did not spare her, because he longed for her with a shameful passion; and he proved wicked and profligate because of his constant intercourse with her, without the fear of God, and he "wrought uncleanness in Israel." [483] Therefore, it is not proper for us, nor right for us, to associate with sisters, indulging in laughter and looseness; but we ought to behave towards them with all chasteness and purity, and in the fear of the Lord.
[483] Gen. xxxiv. 7.