The Story of Tamar
A Study of the Women in the Genealogy of Jesus
Genesis 38:1–30
Part 1
Tamar is the first woman to be mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew chapter 1. Many commentators and scholars believe the placement of her story in the Bible is very significant because it appears right in the middle of the life of Joseph, which is covered in many chapters in Genesis. Her story doesn’t appear to relate to anything else happening in the Scripture at that time except that her father–in–law is a brother of Joseph. It is commonly accepted that her story is told so that we can see who she was and understand her importance to the line of Jesus.
Judah, brother of Joseph, crossed ethnic and cultural lines to marry a Canaanite woman named Shua. She bore Judah three sons, Er, Onan and Shelah. It was no surprise that Judah chose another Canaanite woman, Tamar, to marry Er his oldest son. Through a series of circumstances Er died without leaving an heir. According to the custom of Levirate marriage, Tamar would continue to be under the protection of Judah, taking the second son, Onan, for her husband to produce an heir for Er. When this husband also died, things started to go awry.
Judah was reluctant to commit his last son, Shelah, to marriage with Tamar since he feared that this young son would meet the same fate as his other brothers. Also, as Shelah was too young to be married, Judah sent Tamar home to her father to wait for him to grow up. Tamar realized that she was being dismissed, abused and neglected by the very person who was obligated to protect her. Judah scorned her and told her to remain a widow which gave her no chance of a husband or children. Tamar had no rights to search for a husband in another family.
After Shua died, Tamar saw a chance and took it. It is at this point that many scholars are split between those who feel Tamar indulged in incest with her father–in–law and became a “fallen woman,” and those who feel God intervened with His own plan to do what was right for this woman. It was obvious that Judah was no longer watching out for Tamar.
So, Tamar disguised herself as a prostitute and lay with Judah, conceiving his child. She felt she had to resort to trickery to tie herself to her dead husband’s family. Judah and his sons had sinned against Tamar and she was seeking what was hers by right. Tamar insisted that Judah leave a pledge for the payment of her services and Judah gave his seal (modern day credit card), cord and the staff in his hand. When Judah sent a goat to her in payment, but could not find her, he brushed the entire incident away.
Sometime later, a pregnant Tamar returns to Judah, is accused of harlotry and sentenced to burn. Tamar announces that the person who got her pregnant is the owner of the seal, cord and staff that she produces. Judah recognizes what has happened and sees the error of his way.
27 When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. 28 As she was giving birth, one of them put out his hand; so the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it on his wrist and said, “This one came out first.” 29 But when he drew back his hand, his brother came out, and she said, “So this is how you have broken out!” And he was named Perez.[a] 30 Then his brother, who had the scarlet thread on his wrist, came out. And he was named Zerah.
Study Questions
- Look up Deuteronomy 25:5–10 and describe the Levirate marriage custom that was made into law.
- Why and how did Tamar’s first two husbands (Er, Onan) die?
- How did Judah scorn and abuse Tamar?
- How did Tamar scheme to trick Judah?
- What pledge did Judah give to Tamar in promise for the payment of a goat?
- How did Tamar act shrewdly and vindicate herself from the charge of harlotry?
- What do you think was the significance of the seal, the cord and the staff?
- Who was in the wrong? Judah or Tamar?
- How did God show Tamar He was with her?
- Does the end justify the means in this case? Why or why not?
- Have you been in this kind of situation of having to do something that may appear wrong to accomplish the right? Share if you would like to.
Digging Deeper
God’s choice is grace, not merit, and in this story of Tamar we see a beautiful work of God’s grace. Though some accuse her of incest and trickery, it would seem that her sinful practice was pardoned and her good intentions accepted by God.
Close with some discussion about the statement above. Pray thanking to God for His grace and understanding of the hard things that we sometimes have to do in order to do the right thing.
