Tamar was married to Er, the firstborn son of Judah. However, Er was so wicked that the Lord put him to death before Tamar had conceived. Therefore Judah gave her to Onan, telling him to fulfill his duty as her brother-in-law and give her a baby. Being a selfish man, Onan slept with Tamar but spilled his seed on the ground so that he would not be burdened with a child that would be considered his dead brother's son. Angered by his actions, the Lord killed him also.
Judah then sent Tamar home to her father promising to send for her when his third son, Shelah, was old enough to marry. Time passed and Shelah became a man, but Judah, fearing that this son would also be killed did not send for the girl.
In those days a woman needed a husband or son to provide for her so, desperate for a son, Tamar disguised herself as a prostitute and had relations with Judah. Since he did not have the young goat she claimed to require for her services, her father-in-law gave her his seal, its cord, and his staff as pledges, promising to send the goat soon. When his servant went to deliver the goat, he was unable to find the "prostitute."
3 months later Judah was told that his daughter-in-law had gotten herself pregnant. In accordance with the laws of the time, he demanded that the girl be brought out and burnt to death. However, Tamar sent her father-in-law the pledges he had given her, saying, "I am pregnant by the man who owns these" (Gen 38:25).
Judah then admitted that Tamar was more righteous than himself. He took her into his house but did not sleep with her again. Tamar eventually gave birth to twin sons, Perez and Zerah. Perez is listed in the genealogy of Jesus. There are those who say that a demon hid Judah's pledges from Tamar so that she would be burnt, cutting off the Messianic line. However, the angel Gabriel found them and returned them to her.
Gen 38:6-30; Ruth 4:12; Mt 1:3
All scripture quotes are from the NIV Bible unless otherwise indicated.
Comments© 1998 by Suzetta Tucker
To cite this page:
Tucker, Suzetta. "Jesse Tree Advent Calendar - December 11
- Tamar." ChristStory Christian Bestiary. 1998. http://ww2.netnitco.net/users/legend01/11tamar.htm
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