Succoth-Benoth

SUCCOTH-BENOTH. The Scripture 2 Kings xvii. 30.relates, that the Babylonians who were brought into the Country of Samaria by Shalmanesser, or by Esar-haddon King of Assyria, still continu’d the Worship of their false Gods, and made there Succoth-benoth, that is, the Tents of the young Women, or Places of Prostitution, where all young Women once in their lives prostituted themselves, in honour of the Goddess Herodot. l. 1. c. 199.Milytta¹. Herodotus says, this was thus practis’d at Babylon. All the young Women of the Country are obliged, once in their lives, to prostitute themselves to a Stranger, in honour of Milytta, who is the same as Venus. Those that are rich present themselves before the Temple in cover’d Chariots, attended by a great Number of Domesticks. They go only out of Ceremony, and do not abandon themselves to Strangers, as the others do. But those of the common Sort stand before the Temple, having Crowns upon their Heads, and are separated from one another by small Cords, which, however, do not hinder Strangers from going in where they are, and choosing which they like best. They throw Money in their Laps, saying; I invoke the Goddess Milytta for you. And these Women must not refuse this Money, be it ever so little, because it is appointed to Uses which they call sacred; nor must they reject such as offer themselves. These lead them away out of Sight of the Temple, and after they have defiled them, they may return to their own Houses. ‘Tis probably this abominable Custom, that the Babylonians brought with them into the Country of Samaria. The Rabbins will have it, that Succoth-benoth signifies a Hen and Chickens. Eusebius and St. Jerome seem to think, that it is a City Euseb. & Hieron. in locis.which these People built in Samaria: Others think it to be a particular Deity that they adored.

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