Genesis 38:1-30

Judah and Tamar

 

38:1 And it came about at that time, that Judah departed from his brothers and visited a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.

 

2 Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua; and he took her and went in to her.

 

3 So she conceived and bore a son and he named him Er.

 

4 Then she conceived again and bore a son and named him Onan.

 

5 She bore still another son and named him Shelah; and it was at Chezib that she bore him.

 

6 Now Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.

 

7 But Er, Judah's firstborn, was evil in the sight of the LORD, so the LORD took his life.

 

8 Then Judah said to Onan, "Go in to your brother's wife, and perform your duty as a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother."

 

9 Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so when he went in to his brother's wife, he wasted his seed on the ground in order not to give offspring to his brother.

 

10 But what he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD; so He took his life also.

 

11 Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, "Remain a widow in your father's house until my son Shelah grows up"; for he thought, "I am afraid that he too may die like his brothers." So Tamar went and lived in her father's house.

 

12 Now after a considerable time Shua's daughter, the wife of Judah, died; and when the time of mourning was ended, Judah went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.

 

13 It was told to Tamar, "Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep."

 

14 So she removed her widow's garments and covered herself with a veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gateway of Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah had grown up, and she had not been given to him as a wife.

 

15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, for she had covered her face.

 

16 So he turned aside to her by the road, and said, "Here now, let me come in to you"; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, "What will you give me, that you may come in to me?"

 

17 He said, therefore, "I will send you a young goat from the flock." She said, moreover, "Will you give a pledge until you send it?"

 

18 He said, "What pledge shall I give you?" And she said, "Your seal and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand." So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him.

 

19 Then she arose and departed, and removed her veil and put on her widow's garments.

 

20 When Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman's hand, he did not find her.

 

21 He asked the men of her place, saying, "Where is the temple prostitute who was by the road at Enaim?" But they said, "There has been no temple prostitute here."

 

22 So he returned to Judah, and said, "I did not find her; and furthermore, the men of the place said, 'There has been no temple prostitute here.'"

 

23 Then Judah said, "Let her keep them, otherwise we will become a laughingstock. After all, I sent this young goat, but you did not find her."

 

24 Now it was about three months later that Judah was informed, "Your daughter-in-law Tamar has played the harlot, and behold, she is also with child by harlotry." Then Judah said, "Bring her out and let her be burned!"

 

25 It was while she was being brought out that she sent to her father-in-law, saying, "I am with child by the man to whom these things belong." And she said, "Please examine and see, whose signet ring and cords and staff are these?"

 

26 Judah recognized them, and said, "She is more righteous than I, inasmuch as I did not give her to my son Shelah." And he did not have relations with her again.

 

27 It came about at the time she was giving birth, that behold, there were twins in her womb.

 

28 Moreover, it took place while she was giving birth, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, "This one came out first."

 

29 But it came about as he drew back his hand, that behold, his brother came out. Then she said, "What a breach you have made for yourself!" So he was named Perez.

 

30 Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand; and he was named Zerah.

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This is the Word of the Lord ... It is meant to change the way that we think, and the way that we live.

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Commentary by Bob Pardue

Judah, Tamar, and the Kinsman Redeemer

Judah - a vivid contrast to his brother, Joseph. While Joseph was pure at heart and was strong in his obedience to God (chapter 39) Judah seemed to be a weak man morally - and it cost him and his family.

On the other hand, this is one reason I like reading the Bible - it doesn't hide the character flaws of people God has used.

The Kinsman Redeemer

Although there are many twists and turns in this study we could take (Why was prostitution no big deal?) I'd like to go over a subject which is mentioned matter-of-factly here - the kinsman redeemer.

This is a more formal term for the law about marrying a widow in the family. Normally a close relative, like a brother would be required to make sure the woman had a son to inherit the property of the deceased husband. Since the husband obviously can't produce an heir, the brother-in-law becomes the substitute - the kinsman redeemer to take the husband's place.

The Irony

We would most likely condemn Tamar for posing as a prostitute and tricking Judah into sleeping with her. But, the ironic outcome is that she forced and heir to her husband's property which was promised when she was told to wait for Shelah and was withheld from her.

Don't Judge Too Harshly

In Tamar's defense, she may have acted out of pure desperation. Women of this time who did not have a husband or son to take care of them only had a couple of options - beg in the streets or turn to prostitution. She made a choice and Judah was at the very center. He had covered up his sin and was quick to want Tamar killed because of her sin.

Admit - The First Step to Salvation

What about our sin? When we point fingers and say; "Look at them." it might be partially so no one will look at us. Let's keep that in mind when we find ourselves pointing out the sins of others. The good news for us? Jesus is our kinsman redeemer - He steps in to save us from sin as we cannot save ourselves.

Love in Christ

- Bob

Genesis 35:1-15 - Jacob is Named Israel - Return to Bethel