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. 8 Then Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife, and perform your duty as a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.” 9 Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so when he went in to his brother’s wife, he wasted his seed on the ground in order not to give offspring to his brother. 10 But what he did was displeasing in the sight of the Lord; so He took his life also. 11 Then 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.” So Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.
12 Now after a considerable time Shua’s daughter, the wife of Judah, died; and when the time of mourning was ended, Judah went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. 13 It was told to Tamar, “Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.” 14 So she removed her widow’s garments and covered herself with a veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gateway of Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah had grown up, and she had not been given to him as a wife. 15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, for she had covered her face. 16 So he turned aside to her by the road, and said, “Here now, let me come in to you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?” 17 He said, therefore, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” She said, moreover, “Will you give a pledge until you send it?” 18 He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” And she said, “Your seal and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him. 19 Then she arose and departed, and removed her veil and put on her widow’s garments.
20 When Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman’s hand, he did not find her. 21 He asked the men of her place, saying, “Where is the temple prostitute who was by the road at Enaim?” But they said, “There has been no temple prostitute here.” 22 So he returned to Judah, and said, “I did not find her; and furthermore, the men of the place said, ‘There has been no temple prostitute here.’” 23 Then Judah said, “Let her keep them, otherwise we will become a laughingstock. After all, I sent this young goat, but you did not find her.”
24 Now it was about three months later that Judah was informed, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar has played the harlot, and behold, she is also with child by harlotry.” Then Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!” 25 It was while she was being brought out that she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “I am with child by the man to whom these things belong.” And she said, “Please examine and see, whose signet ring and cords and staff are these?” 26 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.
27 It came about at the time she was giving birth, that behold, there were twins in her womb. 28 Moreover, it took place while she was giving birth, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” 29 But it came about as he drew back his hand, that behold, his brother came out. Then she said, “What a breach you have made for yourself!” So he was named Perez. 30 Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand; and he was named Zerah.
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
We can see how dysfunction these families were... these people who would be the ancestor's of Jesus when He came to earth born in flesh... to be 100% man while still being 100% God. God's chosen were certainly not perfect, but none of us are perfect! This is why we all need His salvation and His help!
Now, in those days as a matter of survival, in order to have a legitimate heir to take over a family's birthright, it was the custom that if the firstborn son died, the son next in line who was still single, was to marry the widow and provide children (on behalf of the oldest son). And if there weren't any (single) sons left, they would then look to other kinsmen, such as cousins, etc. In this way also, the wife would be looked after. But Judah's two younger sons did not want to be obedient to this custom, because they wanted to inherit the birthright for themselves. After the second son died, Judah himself was disobedient to the custom by helping his youngest son avoid this obligation.
We all know, prostitution is wrong.. and going to a prostitute is just as wrong! All sex outside of marriage is wrong! And even though Tamar was being unjustly neglected, deceiving and blackmailing her father-in-law was not the correct approach to solving her issue.
Since we do not have these customs and God has never given us directions to do this, we'll never face this sort of situation. But there are a few things we can learn from this. We can consider how many times the Bible tells us to look out for the welfare of widows and orphans if and when family members neglect them. Basically we are to respect and help the weak and the vulnerable. We are to respect the laws of the land unless it goes against God's will. We are to respect our parents and each other! And most importantly respect and trust that when God tells us to do something, it is always in our best interest to follow through.
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