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Bible Studies

Tamar – Who Would Have Thought?

August 27, 2019 By Major Bonnie Kirk

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1 The Story of Tamar

A Study of the Women in the Genealogy of Jesus

Genesis 38:1–30

Part 1

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Tamar is the �rst 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 signi�cant 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 sta� in his hand.
When Judah sent a goat to her in payment, but could not �nd 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 sta� that she
produces. Judah recognizes what has happened and sees the error of his way.

27 When
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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 �rst.” 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 �rst two husbands (Er, Onan) die?

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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 signi�cance of the seal, the cord and the sta�?

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.

P.S. Don’t forget to check out the Leader’s Guide and Resources! 

About author

Major Bonnie Kirk

USA Eastern Territory

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