Pisqa’ 260¹

1

“No daughter of Israel shall become a prostitute”² (Dt.23:18)—

but, you are not cautioned about

them among the gentile nations.

“Neither shall a son of Israel become a prostitute” (Dt.23:18)—

but, you are not cautioned about

them among the gentile nations.

2

Now, it might have been reasonable to argue:

Just as in the lesser sin of the female prostitute,

you are cautioned to avoid them among Israel,

so, too, in the more severe sin of the male prostitute,

isn’t it only logical that you be cautioned to keep away

from them among Israel?

Perhaps we can reverse the reasoning?

If, in a case of the severe sin of the male prostitute,

you are not warned to avoid them among the gentile nations,

so, too, in the lesser sin of the female prostitution,

isn’t it only logical that

you should not be warned to avoid them among the gentile nations?

3

What does the Teaching say about this?

“A male prostitute” (Dt.23:18)—

[since female prostitution is common,

while male prostitution is rare,]

this distinction is necessary.

For had it only stated:

“A female prostitute” (Dt.23:18),

but not “a male prostitute,”

I might have thought:

If, in the case of the lesser sin of the female prostitute,

you are cautioned to avoid them among Israel,

so, too, in the severe sin of the male prostitute,

isn’t it only logical that

you should be cautioned to avoid

them among the gentile nations?

The Teaching states:

“No daughter of Israel shall become a prostitute” (Dt.23:18)—

thus you are not cautioned regarding the gentile nations!

“Neither shall a son of Israel make prostitution his calling” (Dt.23:18)—

thus you are not cautioned about the gentile nations!

Another word:

“No daughter of Israel shall become a prostitute” (Dt.23:18)—

the referent of this warning is open-ended,

as it is said:

“There was no female prostitute here” (Gn.38:21).³

1. H:258;JN2:189-190.
2. Heb: qedeishah; literally, “one set apart: root, q-d-sh.” Usually used in relation to cultic prostitution. The male form is qadeish.
3. This brief unit appears in only a few textual witnesses. See F:283, n.8.