Women Of The Bible Study Series – Tamar

3/28/2023 at 11:08pm

In the middle of reading about Joseph and his brothers, we are sidetracked into this messy side of Judah and Tamar.

In Genesis 28, Isaac, son of Sarah, told Jacob and Esau not to take a wife from the Canaanite women. Judah is one of the 12 sons of Jacob. Although Judah showed compassion for Joseph by not wanting to kill him, he did suggest the idea for Joseph to be sold (Gen. 37:26).

After the brothers sold Joseph to the Ishmaelites (Gen. 37:26), Judah ditches his brothers, meets up with a friend and has three sons with a Canaanite woman (Gen. 38:3-4).

Why do you think we do not know the name of the daughter of Shua?

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Judah chooses Tamar to be the wife of his first born, Er. God put Er to death. The second, Onan, refused to provide security for Tamar and conceive a child with her.  God put him to death also (Gen. 38:8-9)

Judah instructs Tamar to remain in her father’s house as a widow until his younger son, Shelah grows up. The bible states that Judah was fearful that Shelah would die also.  We don’t know how long it took for Judah to return to Enaim but we do know that Shelah was old enough. Judah appeared to have no inclination on making good on his promise to Tamar.

I liked how Tamar responded when she learned her father in law was coming. She took off her widow garments, covered herself and waited at the entrance (Gen. 38:14). Tamar was determined to get out of her situation, and she knew she needed to take action.

Have you ever had to take action immediately on a situation?

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Tamar learned her lesson from trusting in the words of her father-in-law, the first time. When asked what he shall pledge, she states your signet, your cord and your staff in your hand (Gen. 38:18) Tamar was smart enough to ask for items that were of significance.

What I found bizarre is that Judah thought she was a cult prostitute. His first two sons, wicked. He runs away from his family and into enemy territory. He does not sound like a trustworthy individual. And yet, when Tamar bore Perez and Zerah, the lineage continued to David and to Jesus Christ.

Judah was forced to admit part in Tamar’s pregnancy and even acknowledges Tamar as “more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah (verse 26). To be righteous is to be morally right and justifiable. This was Judah “aha moment.” When he spoke about Tamar, he had no choice but to understand his own failures. This was a turning point in Judah’s life. And it wouldn’t have happened like it did if it wasn’t for Tamar.

Do you think Tamar took the right course of action?

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