Genesis 38:1-30
Q.1. From where did Judah’s wife come? What children did they have? Who was Tamar? Why did his two older sons die? Did Judah do the right thing by Tamar? – (Gen.38:1-14)
Judah took a Canaanite wife, in defiance of the instruction given by Isaac to his father Jacob (Gen.28:1). They had three boys, none of whom appear in the New Testament genealogies of Jesus. The reason given was as follows: 6 Now Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord took his life (Gen.38:6-7). We are not told exactly what evil he did. In that culture, the next son was to fulfill the Levirate law and take the widow and raise a son to his brother. However, Onan refused to perform this duty because he knew this son would not be his heir. This displeased God, so He took Onan’s life as well (Gen.38:8-10). Judah then deceived Tamar and sent her back into the care of her family, promising that his next son Shelah would raise up a son to his firstborn deceased brother – Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Remain a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up”; for he thought, “I am afraid that he too may die like his brothers.” (Gen.38:11). This never happened. Eventually Shelah married and was the father of the Shelanites. Later Shelah was replaced as firstborn by Perez, who was from Judah’s union with Tamar (Num.26:20)
Q.2. What did Judah do after his wife died? How does his response to Tamar’s pregnancy reveal hypocrisy? How did his pledge testify against him? – (Gen.38:12-26)
Judah’s son Shelah had grown up and had not been offered to Tamar. Judah’s wife died. After observing a suitable time of mourning, Judah went shearing at Timnah (Gen.38:12 & 14). Tamar there pretended to be a harlot, and Judah sought out her services for the price of a goat. She wisely asked for a pledge – … “Your seal and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went into her, and she conceived by him (Gen.38:18). When Judah heard that Tamar was pregnant, he demanded she be burned to death (Gen.38:24). How blind we can be to our own sin, and how severe on the sins of others. As Tamar was being led away to execution, she produced the tokens that identified Judah as the father – Judah recognized them, and said, “She is more righteous than I, inasmuch as I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not have relations with her again (Gen.38:26).
Q.3. What was unusual about the birth? How did God reveal His sovereign choice? What does Tamar’s inclusion in Christ’s family tree reveal about God? – (Gen.38:27-30 c.f. Gen.38:3-5; Mt.1:3; Lk.3:33)
The birth of Tamar’s children was unusual on a number of counts: (i) Tamar had a son to Judah who would be the heir – a daughter would not have been included (Mt.1:3; Lk.3:33). (ii) Tamar had twins (Gen.38:27). (iii) Tamar placed a scarlet cord on the wrist of Zerah, so she could identify her firstborn (Gen.38:28). (iv) However, by divine intervention, Perez came out first, so become the firstborn son and heir (Gen.38:29-30). The Bible records that none of Judah’s sons from his marriage to a Canaanite women were his heirs. In spite of Judah’s fornication, Tamar, who was the wife of Judah’s firstborn, was included in Christ’s family tree. God knew all this, and in including Tamar’s son in this genealogy, He revealed that He is not ashamed to be identified with sinners (Heb.2:11; 11:16).