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In general, then, early in their history the Jews shared the permissive sexual values and traditions of other ancient Middle Eastern cultures. Gradually, however, as Jewish culture became more insulated as the result of monotheism, their social codes and customs diverged from those of their neighbors. Increasingly, monogamy began to be emphasized as the norm and the Jews began to condemn certain sexual practices. Prohibitions with increasingly severe penalties against homosexuality, masturbation, prostitution, and nudity emerged. The older concern for affiliation with polytheism was now joined by injunctions against the loss of semen, a theme that appears with increasing regularity in the scriptures. Since procreation was every man's responsibility to God, sexual acts which resulted in the loss of semen (masturbation, bestiality, homosexuality) were regarded as abominations (Lev. 15:16-18). Perhaps it is in this context that the story of Onan (Gen. 38:7-10) (which has often been interpreted as a condemnation of masturbation, although the act described is actually an example of coitus interruptus) can best be understood.

The situation with regard to homosexuality is equally complicated. The earliest mention of homosexuality in the Bible is in Leviticus: "Thou shalt not lie with mankind as with womankind; it is an abomination." What is not clear, however, is whether this warning accurately reflects early Hebrew values or, as we have seen, was actually written at some later stage in Jewish history, after homosexuality came to be considered deviant, and was then inserted in Leviticus. Similar ambiguity exists with regard to the story of Sodom, from which the term sodomy is derived, and is most frequently used to describe homosexual practices. Suffice it to say that, again, the scriptures are unclear as to the exact nature of the "abominations" of the sodomites, despite the traditional interpretation.

Whatever is the correct interpretation of the sexual morality of the ancient Jews, by the time of the Babylonian exile (400 to 200 B.C.) sexual customs of the Jews had clearly diverged from those of their neighbors. The pleasurable dimensions of sex were still recognized, but they were to be realized only within the context of a monogamous marriage relationship. Certain rituals and codes were imposed on sexual behavior, such as the cleansing rituals and the abstention rituals for women during the menstrual period. However, as long as the importance of procreation was recognized and these various customs were honored, no serious restrictions governing sexual activity were imposed.

In the following centuries, assimilation by Other cultures came to be regarded as a threat to Jewish survival, leading to even more rigid distinctions between acceptable Jewish practices and those that were associated with pagan cultures. The most important changes which occurred in this context were the strengthening of prior rules prohibiting intermarriage, which have continued to present times.

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