Sexuality in Jewish Law and Tradition 21

multiply, fill the earth and conquer it”(Gen. 1:28). One may well compare and contrast these two sources. In the first verse the sexual urge of Adam and Eve, as well as that of all subsequent pairs, is ordained by God as the means of populating the earth. This is a blessing for all mankind as well as for those whose sexual impulses are directed to living together and establishing a family and household.

On the other hand, one who is not interested in marriage or an ongoing relationship but only the momentary pleasure derived from this, or perhaps many other connections, is called upon to conquer his own sexual impulses. We may contrast this precept with the custom of the Roman legions and other conquerors to give the reign to satisfying their bodily passions as part of the spoils of war. These included not only confiscating all wine and food stuffs for immediate consumption, but also the body of the woman prisoner as a prize of war. The rabbis taught their lessons of self-restraint against this background of the nations who conquered, raped, and despoiled villages and families. In contrast, the Jewish tradition teaches that the inner conquest of one’s impulses far outweighs the glory of the defeat of an enemy in war.

6) Rabbi Johanan, a leading second-century Palestinian Amora, summed up the discussion about the sexual urge with this pithy, paradoxical statement:“There is a small organ in man, that is hungry when he indulges it and satiated when he starves it....”° Rashi comments:“When a man satisfies his sexual urge in coition, his body is exhausted afterwards and is starved in old age.”'’ The Midrash comments that if one overindulges his sexual desires, he becomes satisfied and calm for a while but then is stimulated and longs for more. He may become addicted to sexual intercourse in a way similar to any other addiction. This can prove to be like addictive drugs, which may satisfy for a brief period but then require frequently increased doses.

As a postscript to the above, the Midrash describes David’s confrontation with God presenting the following complaint:“Master