1. Septuagint, Ecclesiasticus (Siracides), 25.16-25.26, 26.5-26.9, 26.11-26.18, 39.6-39.8, 47.19-47.20 (2nd cent. BCE - 2nd cent. BCE)
| 25.16. I would rather dwell with a lion and a dragon than dwell with an evil wife. 25.17. The wickedness of a wife changes her appearance,and darkens her face like that of a bear. 25.18. Her husband takes his meals among the neighbors,and he cannot help sighing bitterly. 25.19. Any iniquity is insignificant compared to a wifes iniquity;may a sinners lot befall her! 25.21. Do not be ensnared by a womans beauty,and do not desire a woman for her possessions. 25.22. There is wrath and impudence and great disgrace when a wife supports her husband. 25.23. A dejected mind, a gloomy face,and a wounded heart are caused by an evil wife. Drooping hands and weak knees are caused by the wife who does not make her husband happy. 25.24. From a woman sin had its beginning,and because of her we all die. 25.25. Allow no outlet to water,and no boldness of speech in an evil wife. 25.26. If she does not go as you direct,separate her from yourself. 26.5. of three things my heart is afraid,and of a fourth I am frightened:The slander of a city, the gathering of a mob,and false accusation -- all these are worse than death. 26.6. There is grief of heart and sorrow when a wife is envious of a rival, and a tongue-lashing makes it known to all. 26.7. An evil wife is an ox yoke which chafes;taking hold of her is like grasping a scorpion. 26.8. There is great anger when a wife is drunken;she will not hide her shame. 26.9. A wifes harlotry shows in her lustful eyes,and she is known by her eyelids. 26.11. Be on guard against her impudent eye,and do not wonder if she sins against you. 26.12. As a thirsty wayfarer opens his mouth and drinks from any water near him,so will she sit in front of every post and open her quiver to the arrow. 26.13. A wifes charm delights her husband,and her skill puts fat on his bones. 26.14. A silent wife is a gift of the Lord,and there is nothing so precious as a disciplined soul. 26.15. A modest wife adds charm to charm,and no balance can weigh the value of a chaste soul. 26.16. Like the sun rising in the heights of the Lord,so is the beauty of a good wife in her well-ordered home. 26.17. Like the shining lamp on the holy lampstand,so is a beautiful face on a stately figure. 26.18. Like pillars of gold on a base of silver,so are beautiful feet with a steadfast heart. 39.6. If the great Lord is willing,he will be filled with the spirit of understanding;he will pour forth words of wisdom and give thanks to the Lord in prayer. 39.7. He will direct his counsel and knowledge aright,and meditate on his secrets. 39.8. He will reveal instruction in his teaching,and will glory in the law of the Lords covet. 47.19. But you laid your loins beside women,and through your body you were brought into subjection. |
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2. Josephus Flavius, Jewish Antiquities, 2.252-2.253, 8.191-8.194 (1st cent. CE - 1st cent. CE)
| 2.252. Tharbis was the daughter of the king of the Ethiopians: she happened to see Moses as he led the army near the walls, and fought with great courage; and admiring the subtilty of his undertakings, and believing him to be the author of the Egyptians’ success, when they had before despaired of recovering their liberty, and to be the occasion of the great danger the Ethiopians were in, when they had before boasted of their great achievements, she fell deeply in love with him; and upon the prevalancy of that passion, sent to him the most faithful of all her servants to discourse with him about their marriage. 2.253. He thereupon accepted the offer, on condition she would procure the delivering up of the city; and gave her the assurance of an oath to take her to his wife; and that when he had once taken possession of the city, he would not break his oath to her. No sooner was the agreement made, but it took effect immediately; and when Moses had cut off the Ethiopians, he gave thanks to God, and consummated his marriage, and led the Egyptians back to their own land. 8.191. He grew mad in his love of women, and laid no restraint on himself in his lusts; nor was he satisfied with the women of his country alone, but he married many wives out of foreign nations; Sidontans, and Tyrians, and Ammonites, and Edomites; and he transgressed the laws of Moses, which forbade Jews to marry any but those that were of their own people. 8.192. He also began to worship their gods, which he did in order to the gratification of his wives, and out of his affection for them. This very thing our legislator suspected, and so admonished us beforehand, that we should not marry women of other countries, lest we should be entangled with foreign customs, and apostatize from our own; lest we should leave off to honor our own God, and should worship their gods. 8.193. But Solomon was Gllen headlong into unreasonable pleasures, and regarded not those admonitions; for when he had married seven hundred wives, the daughters of princes and of eminent persons, and three hundred concubines, and those besides the king of Egypt’s daughter, he soon was governed by them, till he came to imitate their practices. He was forced to give them this demonstration of his kindness and affection to them, to live according to the laws of their countries. 8.194. And as he grew into years, and his reason became weaker by length of time, it was not sufficient to recall to his mind the institutions of his own country; so he still more and more condemned his own God, and continued to regard the gods that his marriages had introduced; |
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