JOSEPH The Life of Joseph (Genesis 37:2 to Genesis 50:26) In this section we have the life of Joseph from beginning to end. It quite clearly bears within it the stamp of a deep knowledge of Egypt, its customs and its background, and could not have been written by anyone who did not have that deep... [ Continue Reading ]
JUDAH FALLS FURTHER INTO SIN (GENESIS 38:1). The compiler's purpose in the insertion of this separate account of Judah's private life here is to demonstrate that Judah, having betrayed Joseph (and Jacob) by instigating the selling of him to the Midianites, now as a consequence continues on a downwa... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Then Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father's house until Shelah my son is grown up”, (for he said, ‘Lest he also die like his brothers'). And Tamar went and lived in her father's house.' Having lost two sons through premature death Judah is concerned for the safe... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And in process of time Shua's daughter, the wife Judah, died, and Judah was comforted and went up to his sheep shearers to Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.' In the meanwhile Judah's wife also dies. This is what makes what follows possible. Had she still been alive Tamar might not ha... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Tamar was told saying, “Look, your father-in-law goes up to Timnah to shear his sheep.' It would appear that Tamar was not invited to the funeral and mourning for her mother-in-law and realises that she has been ostracised. He has completely ignored her. This brings home to her that he has no... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And she put off from her the garments of her widowhood, and covered herself with a veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gate of Enaim which is by the way to Timnah, for she saw that Shelah was grown up and she was not given to him to wife.' When we consider Tamar's actions we must recognise t... [ Continue Reading ]
‘When Judah saw her he thought her to be a prostitute for she had covered her face.' Here the common word for prostitute is used (zonot) but in Genesis 38:21 the word is kedesha, a ‘holy one', one dedicated to the service of a goddess. It is possible that he had realised the difference while in the... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And he said, “I will send you a kid of the goats from the flock.” And she said, “Will you give me a pledge until you send it?” And he said, “What pledge shall I give you?” And she said, “Your signet, and your cord, and your staff which is in your hand.” And he gave them to her and came in to her an... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And she rose and went away and put her veil off from her and put on the garments of her widowhood.' Having hopefully achieved her aim Tamar goes back to her previous respectability. No one would be aware of anything different about her unless her plan worked.... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Judah sent the kid of the goats by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman's hand, and he did not find her. Then he asked the men of her place, “Where is the sacred prostitute who was at Enaim by the way side?” And they said, “There has been no sacred prostit... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And it happened about three months after that it was told to Judah, saying, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has behaved as a prostitute, and what is more, she is with child by harlotry.” And Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned.” Once her pregnancy became apparent Tamar was sure to be stig... [ Continue Reading ]
‘When she was brought out she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “I am with child by the man whose these things are.” And she said, “Discern, I beg you, whose these things are, the signet and the cords and the staff.” The mound for the fire has probably already been prepared, and the tribe will be... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And Judah acknowledged them and said, “She is more righteous than I inasmuch as I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he knew her again no more.' To his credit Judah acknowledges the truth of the situation and recognises that she is not guilty after all. She has only done what she had a right... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And it happened that in the time of her labour pains, behold, twins were in her womb. And it happened that when she was enduring her suffering one put out his hand, and the midwife took and bound on his hand a scarlet thread, saying, “This came out first.” And it happened, that as he drew back his... [ Continue Reading ]