Judah and Tamar
The story of Tamar is not out of place here. This incident follows chrono-
logically the sale of Joseph in Egypt (Gen. 38:1), and it is consistent with the
fact that Judah has just left his brothers, which points to his disagreement
with them. In addition, the text shares a number of common words and
motifs with the preceding chapter, and it carries the same theological lesson:
an evil act will be turned into a positive event linked to salvation.
Read Genesis 38. Compare Judah’s behavior with that of the
Canaanite Tamar. Who of the two is more righteous, and why?
Judah finds a Canaanite wife (Gen. 38:2) with whom he has three
sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. Judah gives the Canaanite Tamar as wife
to Er, his firstborn, in order to ensure proper genealogy. When Er and
Onan are killed by God because of their wickedness, Judah promises
his last son, Shelah, to Tamar.
When, after some time, Judah seems to have forgotten his promise, as
he goes to comfort himself after the death of his wife, Tamar decides to
play the prostitute in order to force him to fulfill his promise. Because
Judah has no cash to pay the prostitute, whom he does not recognize,
he promises to send her, later, a goat from his flock.
Tamar requires that, in the meantime, he give her his signet and cord
and his staff as an immediate guarantee of payment. Tamar will get
pregnant from this unique encounter. When, later, accused of playing
the harlot, she will show to the accuser, Judah, his signet and cord and
his staff. Judah understands and apologizes.
The conclusion of this sordid story is the birth of Perez, meaning
“breaking through,” who, like Jacob, is born second, and becomes
first, and is named in salvation history as the ancestor of David (Ruth
4:18–22), and ultimately of Jesus Christ (Matt. 1:3). As for Tamar, she
is the first of the four women—followed by Rahab (Matt. 1:5), Ruth
(Matt. 1:5, 6), and the wife of Uriah (Matt. 1:6)—who genealogically
preceded Mary, the mother of Jesus (Matt. 1:16).
One lesson we can take from this story: just as God saved Tamar
through His grace, transforming evil into good, so will He save His
people through the cross of Jesus. And in the case of Joseph, He will
turn his troubles into the salvation of Jacob and his sons.
