Men and women of God - Part 3

By: Martin Connolly | Date: 2025-12-05

Men and women of God - Part 3

In this study we will look at Tamar, who was mis-treated and acted wrongly, but yet she remains a noted women of the Bible as God turned their lives to good.

        Tamar was taken by Judah as a wife for his son, Er. (Genesis 38:6) This marriage ended, when Er displeased the Lord by acting wickedly and he died at the hands of Yahweh. (Genesis 38:7) This was a tragedy for Tamar and according to Jewish Law, she was given to the next son of Judah, Onan. (Genesis 38:8) This son also did what was wrong in the eyes of Yahweh, by deliberately avoiding having children according to the command of God. Because of this wickedness, he too suffered death. (Genesis 38:10) Another tragedy for Tamar.

         Judah knew that his duty was for the next son, Shelah, to become the husband of Tamar. He was just over a year younger that Onan and was of an age to be married. However, Judah decided to use the excuse that he was too young for marriage, which was not the truth.

Genesis 38:11 “Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, "Remain a widow in your father's house, till Shelah my son grows up"- for he feared that he would die, like his brothers. So, Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.”

          There is a Jewish document that is not in Scripture, that gives the background to gossip within the community also blaming Tamar for the death of the two husbands. This was quite unfair. Even the Scriptures made clear that she was not responsible for the deaths. Tamar on her part, followed the instructions of Leviticus and went to live in her father’s house.

          Now a difficult story unfolds. Judah’s daughter dies and Tamar is well aware that Judah has not kept his word and given her, Shelah as her husband. When Judah goes off to another town to sheer sheep, Tamar conceives a plan to force Judah’s hand. She disguised herself as a harlot and sat on the road that she knew Judah would take towards his home. Covering her face, Judah just saw ‘a harlot’ and had intercourse with her. She was promised a sheep by Judah and Tamar not trusting him asked for tokens she could keep, until the promise was met. He gave her some of his possessions.

          About three months later, Judah is told that Tamar is pregnant, and she is accused of ‘harlotry’. Judah orders her to be burned. However, she produces the tokens Judah had given her, and he realizes his own guilt - he was the father. 

Genesis 38:26 “Then Judah acknowledged them and said, "She is more righteous than I, inasmuch as I did not give her to my son Shelah." And he did not lie with her again.”

It is unclear from Scripture what happened to Tamar but she gets referenced positively in the book of Ruth. 

Ruth 4:11-12 “Then all the people who were at the gate, and the elders, said, "We are witnesses. May Yahweh make the woman, who is coming into your house, like Rachel and Leah, who together built up the house of Israel. May you prosper in Ephrathah and be renowned in Bethlehem; and may your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the children that the LORD will give you by this young woman."

She is also given credit in the genealogy of Jesus.

Matthew 1:3 “Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram.”

Lessons from this life

 The full account is in Genesis 38.

1. The whole episode speaks of lies, deceit and betrayal. It is the case of Scripture that God lays all things bare – warts and all.
2. It shows that the mess we make of our lives, there is a gracious and merciful God who has compassion on us.
3. The story shows also, that God can turn all that was meant for evil, to good. As was written of Joseph, Genesis 50:20 “As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” As we see, Tamar was given the privilege of inclusion in the lineage of Jesus the Messiah who gives life to all.
4.  Like Judah, acknowledging our failures in sinning, we have a God that forgives and restores.