THE SLOW ROAD TO MONOGAMY
Sexual relationships with gentile slaves and servants were, of course, prohibited; some responsa dealt with these matters.*’
We can see in the discussions of concubinage and polygamy a slow movement toward monogamy, first in Ashkenazic lands and then in the Mediterranean basin. It was driven more by popular consent than by rabbinic leadership. Absolutes were avoided and so was radical change. If this had been a major matter of principle, no such division in family life between the Ashkenazic and Sephardic communities would have developed. The distinction was tolerated, unlike the views of various other sectarian groups within Judaism . The Ashkenazic discussions of this question were known in the Sephardic community, but they brought about no change.
INFORMAL“RELATIONSHIPS” AND RULINGS ON VIRGINITY
Casual sexual relationships, of course, have always been a danger to monogamy. Proverbs warned against prostitutes. The Bible prohibited prostitution and made it punishable by death; the rabbinic tradition changed this to whipping.
Casual sexual relationships were problematic in a polygamous or a monogamous society. Every effort was made to keep young women from such relationships. Precautions were taken(0 ensure their virginity through a strict regime of chaperonage, and the rules continued after engagement, although the standards were stricter in Galilee and Babylonia than in Judea, *® and men and women were to be punished equally. The traditional authorities also did their best to protect the female from false charges and erroneous assumptions about her lack of virginity; anyone wishing to bring charges against a bride found it extremely difficult. The biblical tex!
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