Chapter
VI.—Sikera, a Manufactured and Spurious Wine, Yet Intoxicating; Things Which are Akin to Sins are to Be Avoided by a Virgin; The Altar of Incense (a Symbol Of) Virgins.
Moreover, it is not only forbidden to virgins in any way
to touch those things which are made from that vine, but even such
things as resemble them and are akin to them. For Sikera, which
is manufactured, is called a spurious kind of wine, whether made of
palms or of other fruit-trees. For in the same way that draughts
of wine overthrow man’s reason, so do these exceedingly; and to
speak the plain truth, the wise are accustomed to call by the name of
Sikera all that produces drunkenness and distraction of mind, besides
wine. In order, therefore, that the virgin may not, when guarding against
those sins which are in their own nature evil, be defiled by those
which are like them and akin to them, conquering the one and being
conquered by the other, that is, decorating herself with textures of
different cloths, or with stones and gold, and other decorations of the
body, things which intoxicate the soul; on this account it is ordered
that she do not give herself up to womanish weaknesses and laughter, exciting herself to wiles and foolish talking, which whirl the mind around and confuse it; as it is indicated in another place, “Ye shall not eat the hyæna and animals like it; nor the weasel and creatures of that kind.” For this is the straight and direct way to heaven, not merely not to avoid any stumbling-block which would trip up and destroy men who are agitated by a desire for luxuries and pleasures, but also from such things as resemble them.
Moreover, it has been handed down that the
unbloody altar of God signifies the assembly of the chaste; thus
virginity appears to be something great and glorious. Therefore
it ought to be preserved undefiled and altogether pure, having no
participation in the impurities of the flesh; but it should be set up
before the presence of the testimony, gilded with wisdom, for the Holy
of holies, sending forth a sweet savour of love to the Lord; for He
says, “Thou
shalt make an altar to burn incense upon: of shittim-wood shalt
thou make it. And thou shalt make the staves of shittim-wood, and
overlay them with gold. And thou shalt put it before the veil
that is by the ark of the testimony, before the mercy-seat that is over
the testimony, where I will meet with thee. And Aaron shall burn
thereon sweet incense every morning: when he dresseth the lamps, he shall burn incense upon it. And when Aaron lighteth the lamps at even, he shall burn incense upon it; a perpetual incense before the Lord throughout your generations. Ye shall offer no strange incense thereon, nor burnt-sacrifices nor meat-offering; neither shall ye pour drink-offering thereon.”