Chapter XII.--Solomon's Infatuation Through Women.
Hast thou not read the history of Solomon, the son of David, the man to whom God gave wisdom, and knowledge, and largeness of mind, [484] and riches, and much glory, beyond all men? Yet this same man, through women, came to ruin, [485] and departed from the Lord.
[484] Lit. "heart."
[485] Or "perished."
Chapter XIII.--The History of Susanna Teaches Circumspection with the Eyes and in Society.
Hast thou not read, and dost thou not know, concerning those elders who were in the days of Susanna, who, because they were constantly with women, and looking upon the beauty which was another's, [486] fell into the depths of wantonness, and were not able to keep themselves in a chaste mind, [487] but were overcome by a depraved disposition, and came suddenly [488] upon the blessed Susanna to corrupt her. But she did not consent to their foul passion, but cried unto God, and God saved her out of the hands of the bad old men. Does it not, therefore, behove us to tremble and be afraid, forasmuch as these old men, judges and elders of the people of God, fell from their dignity because of a woman? For they did not keep in mind that which is said: "Look thou not on the beauty which is another's;" and, "The beauty of woman has destroyed many;" [489] and "With a married woman do not sit;" [490] and that, again, in which it says: "Is there any one that puts fire in his bosom, and does not burn his clothes;" [491] or, "Does a man walk on fire, and his feet are not scorched? So whosoever goeth in to another man's wife is not pure from evil, and whosoever comes near to her shall not escape." [492] And again it says: "Thou shalt not long after the beauty a woman, lest she take thee captive with her eyelids;" [493] and, "Thou shalt not look upon a maiden, lest thou perish through desire of her;" [494] and, "With a woman that sings beautifully thou shalt not constantly be;" [495] and, "Let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall." [496]
[486] Susanna having a husband, Joachim.
[487] Lit. "a mind of chasteness."
[488] Lit. "rose."
[489] Ecclus. ix. 8, 9.
[490] Ecclus. ix. 12.
[491] Prov. vi. 27.
[492] Prov. vi. 28, 29.
[493] Prov. vi. 25.
[494] Ecclus. ix. 5.
[495] Ecclus. ix. 4.
[496] 1 Cor. x. 12.
Chapter XIV.--Examples of Circumspect Behaviour from the Old Testament.
But see what it says also concerning those holy men, the prophets, and concerning the apostles of our Lord. Let us see whether any one of these holy men was constantly with maidens, or with young married women, or with such widows as the divine apostle declines to receive. Let us consider, in the fear of God, the manner of life of these holy men. Lo! we find it written concerning Moses and Aaron, that they acted and lived in the company of [497] men, who themselves also followed a course of conduct like theirs. And thus did Joshua also, the son of Nun. Woman was there none with them; but they by themselves used holily to minister before God, men with men. And not only so; but they taught the people, that, whensoever the host moved, every tribe should move on apart, and the women with the women apart, and that they should go into the rear behind the host, and the men also apart by their tribes. And, according to the command of the Lord, so did they set out, like a wise people, that there might be no disorder on account of the women when the host moved. With beautiful and well-ordered arrangements did they march without stumbling. For lo! the Scriptures bear testimony to my words: "When the children of Israel had crossed over the Sea of Suth, Moses and the children of Israel sang the praises of the Lord, and said: We will praise the Lord, because He is exceedingly to be praised." [498] And, after that Moses had finished [499] singing praises, then Miriam, the sister of Moses and Aaron, took a timbrel in her hands, and all the women went out after her, and sang praises with her, women with women apart, and men with men apart. Then again, we find that Elisha and Gehazi and the sons of the prophets lived together in the fear of God, and that they had no females living with them. Micah too, and all the prophets likewise, we find to have lived in this manner in the fear of the Lord.
[497] Lit. "their conduct and living was with."
[498] Exod. xv. 1.
[499] Lit. "ceased from."