WOMEN UNDER POLYGAMY
The Jewish harem reached its highest importance and splendour in the time of David and Solomon. David first married Michal, the daughter of Saul, who, after a quarrel, transferred Michal to another husband. Abigal was the next bride of David, and afterwards he formed an adulterous union with the lovely Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah. In his palace were many concubines. Ten of these women misconducted themselves with the king's son Absalom, and as a punishment they were imprisoned for the rest of their lives.
Chastity was inculcated by Moses and Solomon, and fornication was condemned. "Do not prostitute thy daughter to cause her to be a whore, lest the land fall into whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness." (Leviticus 19–29.) Solomon, in the seventh chapter of Proverbs, warns young men against "the strange woman." "Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths."
In the courts of Baal and Asherah there are distinct traces of ancient Phallicism, and this worship survived till the time of Joshua. The temple of Solomon was of Phœnician character, and the decorations were Phallic. Jeremiah complains that the people "defiled the land, and committed adultery with stones and with stocks." The worship of Priapus is mentioned by Ezekiel (xvi. 17), and such worship of sexual images is referred to in Deuteronomy iv., 16.
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