The second was the sister of Absalom and daughter of King David who was raped by her half-brother Amnon. Tamar was the daughter-in-law of Judah, who was the fourth son of Jacob and Leah. This is Judah, one of the sons of Jacob, Judah from whose offspring Jesus came! The other two Tamars are both tragic figures, women who were ruined by … Article Images Copyright ©. Well, then, surely it has to be one of the wives of the patriarchs, Sarah, Rebekah, or Leah. Both appear in the Old Testament. Judah was one of the twelve sons of Jacob. She assumes that her father-in-law, because he’s been a widower for a while, might be “in the mood” for love. David’s daughter Tamar was presumably named after his distant ancestor (2 Samuel 13; we’ll discuss her in chapters 5 and 6), which would mean that she was perceived as someone worthy of honoring in this manner. Tamar, whose story is embedded in the ancestor narratives of Genesis, is the ancestress of much of the tribe of Judah and, in particular, of the house of David. After selling his brother, Judah chose to separate from his brothers and establish his life among the Canaanites, which God warned against. They had three sons, Er (Tamar’s first husband), Onan (Tamar’s second husband), and Shelah (whom Judah refused to give to Tamar in marriage because his first two sons had died. 35:30; Deut. Tamar was told that her father-in-law was coming for the sheep shearing. We know nothing about the nature of Er’s evil, but Onan’s wickedness was related to his unwillingness to impregnate Tamar, his brother Er’s Canaanite wife, in order that Er’s ancestral lineage would continue. Thus he is pronouncing death not only on his daughter-in-law but also on his own sons/grandsons — his own heirs. This exchange would be comparable today to someone giving away their driver’s license and credit cards. (Genesis 38:13-19) When Judah heard of Tamar’s pregnancy as a result of prostitution, he ordered her to be put to death. God loves us. One Tamar, the beautiful daughter of Absalom, is only mentioned in passing in 2 Samuel 14:27; this Tamar became the mother of Queen Maacah, who married King Rehoboam. In the biblical narrative, she is the daughter of King David, and sister of Absalom. A few months later, Tamar’s pregnancy test tells her that her scheme has succeeded (“It’s blue!”), and later we discover that she is carrying twins (to be named Perez and Zerah). Your form could not be submitted. Meanwhile, his daughter-in-law has also returned, quickly changing from Prostitute Tamar back to Widow Tamar. Starting a new, simple life for my kids and I. Mar 13, 2018. She's a girl who married one of Judah's boys. He created us. Onan also was wicked, so God killed him too. She took some dough, kneaded it, made the bread in his sight and baked it. As the death sentence for sexual immorality is ironically proclaimed by the man who impregnated her, we see the clear negative consequences of the “curse” of Genesis 3:16: “he shall rule over [her].”. Fortunately for Tamar and for the sake of his soul, Judah chooses to come clean. Perez, one of the twin sons of Tamar and Judah, is in the genealogy of Jesus Christ. In 2 Samuel 13, she is raped by her half-brother Amnon. However, Scripture says Er was "wicked in the sight of the Lord," so God put him to death. But Boaz was her kinsman-redeemer, not brother-in-law (Ruth 3:12, NIVSB).). Judah was unrighteous because he was selfishly attempting to fulfill his sexual desires. Rahab. (Genesis 38:16-19; 20-23) Judah and Tamar, his daughter-in-law, had two twin boys, Perez and Zerah (Genesis 38:27-30). Get updates from Zondervan Academic directly in your inbox. I hope that in this series of studies on Tamar, you will sympathize with this woman who was the victim of a … Wanting an heir for Er, Tamar tricks Judah into lying with her. Er was wicked, so God killed him. And he said to him, “O son of the king, why are you so haggard morning after morning? (see Genesis 38:24-26). Tamar immediately gets pregnant with twins. Judah gave Tamar as a wife to his two eldest sons, first Er and then Onan, but they displeased the Lord (Er was just “wicked,” Gen 38:7; but Onan practiced coitus interruptus, Gen 38:9), who put them to death without producing sons. Author David Lamb assures us that God can use each of us, even in our brokenness. Tamar has a highly positive biblical legacy. Judah saw her and didn’t recognize her. Assuming she’s a prostitute and not a sneaky daughter-in-law, because she’s wearing a veil, he propositions her and promises to pay the standard fare. He made a way to rescue us. Throughout my life in the church, I had never heard the name Tamar. 11 Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. She could not be found to receive the goat, and so Judah decided to let her keep his possessions rather than risk further association with a prostitute. But Amnon had a friend, whose name was Jonadab, the son of Shimeah, David's brother. Tamar, like Ruth, was not one of God’s chosen people. There are two significant women named “Tamar” in the Bible. And she added, ‘See if you recognize whose seal and cord and staff these are.’” Genesis 38:25. Judah’s father was Jacob, Jacob’s father was Isaac, and Isaac’s father was Abraham (Matthew 1:1-3). Jesus loves us regardless of our dysfunctional messes. Judah performs the duty of levirate marriage. Ancient rabbinical literature has provided us a key piece of information regarding Tamar’s identity. Her story, however, can be found in Genesis Chapter 38. “Tamar is the sort of ancestor most of us wouldn’t mention when recounting our family history,” writes Jon Bloom, “there’s no denying what a horrible mess it was.” Tamar’s appearance in Christ’s lineage exemplifies God’s compassionate character. Some may think Tamar’s one-time gig as a prostitute would disqualify her from the ranks of the pious, and yet Scripture refers to Tamar exclusively in favorable terms. The Nephilim in the Bible - Fallen Angels or Giants? Bible verses related to Tamar from the King James Version (KJV) by Relevance - Sort By Book Order . Enhance your school’s traditional and online education programs by easily integrating online courses developed from the scholars and textbooks you trust. He took her and went in to her, and she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. Will you not tell me?” Amnon said to him, “I love Tamar, my brother Absalom's sister.” Jonadab said to him, “Lie down on your bed and pretend to be ill. And when your father comes to see you, say to him, ‘Let my sister Tamar come and give me bread to eat, and prepare the food in my sight, that I may see it and eat it from her hand.’” ... Meg, freelance writer and blogger at Sunny&80, is the author of “Friends with Everyone, Friendship within the Love of Christ,” and â€œSurface, Unlocking the Gift of Sensitivity,” She writes about everyday life within the love of Christ. When asked about what this has to do with our… The fourth story, is the sad story of Tamar’s rape. Tamar is a figure described in 2 Samuel in the Hebrew Bible. Judah had left his seal, cord and staff with her as collateral until he delivered the goat he had promised. In the tradition of a “Levirate union,” Judah asked his second son, Onan, to produce children … The consequences are painful, but Christ’s love remains pure. 2 Samuel 13:1-39 - And it came to pass after this, that Absalom the son of David had a fair sister, whose name [was] Tamar; and Amnon the son of David loved her. (Genesis 38:24) But Tamar sent a message to Judah: “I am pregnant by the man who owns these,’ she said. After his wife died, Judah and his friend Hirah the Adullahmite went to a nearby town to shear their sheep and sell the wool. Please check errors and resubmit. The first woman of the New Testament is Tamar (Matt. 2 Amnon became so obsessed with Tamar that he became ill. She was a virgin, and Amnon thought he could never have her. When she brought them to him to eat, he took hold of her and said to her, "Come, lie with me, my sister." The going price for a trick back then was one goat. Who Was Tamar in the Bible? … Onan’s sexual exploitation of Tamar, using her for his sexual pleasure while denying her the dignity of motherhood, was so displeasing to Yahweh that Onan was killed (Gen. 38:8–10). Her father-in-law is not as excited to hear about the pregnancy. Cf. 9 Then she took the pan and served him the bread, but he refused to eat. Learn about Tamar original meaning in the Bible using the Old Testament Hebrew Lexicon - New American Standard. (Pgs 95-99). Friday, February 5th, 2021 the Fourth Week after Epiphany No reference to this daughter of King David. Meg, a Cleveland native and lifelong Browns fan, lives by the shore of Lake Erie in Northern Ohio with her husband, two daughters and golden doodle. Judah was in Chezib when she bore him. An integrated digital Bible study library - including complete notes from the NIV Study Bible and the NKJV MacArthur Study Bible - … 20 Strengthening Bible Verses about Life for the Moments of Deep Struggle and Despair, California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information. There were stains upon the character of Tamar (Ge 38:11-30) and of Rahab (Jos 2:1), but Ruth is one of … Not only that but he boldly declares, “She is more righteous than I.” He got that one right. While we, the readers, know who the father actually is, Judah has no reason to suspect it is his child. Though we are made in His image, God does not play favorites, and Jesus came to save us all. To forgive is divine, but Er was too human. Since he has just spent his last goat, he instead gives her his signet ring, cord, and staff as collateral, until he is able to put the goat in the mail. Tamar is the daughter-in-law of Judah, one of Joseph’s older brothers. Shocking perhaps, but not after we take a look at Genesis 38, the story of Tamar, the pious prostitute. Since God has a clear plan for how he created sex and prostitution does not fit in that plan, why does he include prostitutes and polygamists in his master plan? Understand the Bible and God Better with the NIV Zondervan Study Bible. .”) I’d love to have seen the expression on Judah’s face then. art. It is this woman’s importance we will discover in this article. In Genesis chapter 38, Tamar is first mentioned as being the wife of Judah's oldest son, Er. (Can you imagine waiting years to have sex with an underaged relative? “Judah said to his brothers, ‘What will we gain if we kill our brother and cover up his blood? (Genesis 15:16) There, Judah met his wife and began having children. And after a time Amnon, David's son, loved her. ... 2 Samuel 13:1-39 ESV - Now Absalom, David's son, had a beautiful sister, whose name was Tamar. She took off her widow’s garments, wrapped herself, and–with her face covered by a veil–sat by the side of the road. It is this woman’s importance we will discover in this article. Come, let’s sell him to the Ishmaelite's and not lay our hands on him; after all, he is our brother, our own flesh and blood.’ His brothers agreed.” Genesis 37:26-27, The brother whom Judah suggested he and his other brothers sell instead of kill is Joseph. Women of the New Testament: Tamar When a woman is mentioned in the bible I pay attention but when a woman is included biblical genealogy I immediately want to know not just why. The text doesn’t provide us with Judah’s rationale for his judgment, but several factors suggest that he is merely taking advantage of the situation to solve his problem of the deadly daughter-in-law. Will I Still Be Married to My Spouse in Heaven? That is the lengths to which Tamar was willing to go. Tamar fits into the genealogy of Jesus, the same line as King David, through the twin sons she bore with Judah. Whether we know and claim our crazy ancestors or not, we’re all human. Who Is Tamar in the Bible and Why Is She Important? November 20, 2014. But then, in a dramatic twist of fate for Judah, Tamar reveals that the father is none other than the owner of the signet, cord, and staff. . The couple have three sons, Er, Onan and Shelah. Tamar Conceives Her Plot . Our sinfulness is never a surprise to the Sovereign Father and Savior of the world. Books and articles that equip you for deeply biblical thinking and ministry. These were all Gentile women, and are named for this reason, and for their remarkable history. And, as we noted a few pages earlier, Tamar was the first woman of the New Testament. But there is a purpose, nothing is wasted, and everything will be made right when Jesus returns. The most incredible mention of Tamar in the Bible is in Matthew Chapter One of the New Testament, appearing in the genealogical line of Jesus Christ. One the daughter of King David, and the other bore a son in the genealogical line of Jesus. Shem was a priest, and when Tamar was charged with fornication (Gen. R. lxxxv. Read Genesis 38:1-11 She was a pious prostitute. He could have chosen any family He wanted, but in a remarkable way He chose to know and understand humanity on every level, He came right into a dysfunctional family line. Genesis 38:1-30 ESV - It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and turned aside to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. Judah marries the daughter of Shua, a Canaanite. . 1:3). She is the daughter-in-law of Judah, who acquires her for his firstborn son, Er. Er marries a woman named Tamar. He approached her and, assuming that she was a harlot, told her that he wanted to sleep with her. Pursue a deeper knowledge of God through self-paced college- and seminary-level online courses in Old and New Testament studies, theology, biblical Greek, and more. “Jesus takes away the old reputation,” writes Jon Bloom, writer for desiringGod.com, “In Jesus, your past sin or the abuse and injustice you’ve suffered, and the ways you’ve viewed yourself and others have viewed you because of it, is not who you are.”. “Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar, Perez the father of Hezron, Hezron the father of Ram,” Matthew 1:1-3, Several verses later, as the genealogical list continues on, is verse 16: “and Jacob the father of Joseph, the husband of Mary, of whom was born Jesus, who is called Christ.”. Tamar married into the family of Judah, first to Judah’s son Er and then, after his death, to Onan his brother. And Jonadab was a very crafty man. So Tamar took the cakes which she had made and brought them into the bedroom to her brother Amnon. When Tamar heard he was traveling towards her, she tricked him into sleeping with her by disguising herself as a prostitute. In the excerpt of Prostitutes and Polygamists we look at today, David Lamb tells the story of Tamar, the righteous prostitute. Tamar was the name of two unique women whose unusual stories can be found in the Old Testament. It is through the inclusion of Perez in the genealogical line of Jesus that Tamar appears as well. Upgrade, and get the most out of your new account. Because Onan practised a form of contraception, Tamar did not become pregnant. He led a tribe of Israelites named after him. Last month, Zondervan was pleased to release a ground-breaking new study Bible built on the most widely-read English Bib... Get expert commentary on biblical languages, fresh explorations in theology, hand-picked book excerpts, author videos, and info on limited-time sales. Still childless, she had been asked to lay with Onan, her husband's brother, in order to continue the family line. We know this is an important story because Tamar is the first woman listed in Jesus’ genealogy in Matthew 1:3, which says, “and Judah the father of Perez by Tamar, and Perez the … It reveals the redemptive and compassionate heart of God holding. The women are: The wife of Er, the son of Judah (Genesis 38:6). Judah has no qualms about hypocritically declaring death for her even though he is also guilty of “immorality” like his daughter-in-law. Here's How We Know, 4 Things You're Doing That Are Keeping You Anxious, This site is a proud member of the Salem Web Network, a subsidiary of, Copyright © 2021, Crosswalk.com. Genesis 38 is the story of Judah sleeping with his daughter-in-law Tamar. The first Tamar we read about in Scripture was the widow of Er and Onan, sons of Judah, Jacob’s fourth-born son. The tale of the first Tamar is told in Genesis 38. (Some things never change.) However, because of his sinfulness, Er was then killed by God. When Tamar is in labor, one of the babies puts out his hand. Her brother-in-law did not want to bear children with her and went to immoral lengths to avoid it, so the LORD “put him to death also.” (Genesis 38:10) The next brother in line, Shelah, was too young at the time, however, Judah had no intention of giving him to Tamar for fear he would die, too. Because of his wickedness, Er was killed by God. 7 David sent word to Tamar at the palace: “Go to the house of your brother Amnon and prepare some food for him.” 8 So Tamar went to the house of her brother Amnon, who was lying down. We are always forgiven and never loved less. There Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. At this point, Judah has a crucial choice to make, either to cover up or to come clean. Judah feared that his third son, Shelah, might also die, and so he didn’t give Tamar to him. Entry for 'Tamar' - Hastings' Dictionary of the New Testament - One of 28 Bible dictionaries freely available, this dictionary combines the Dictionary of Christ … But some men like Judah will always find a way to blame a woman. You may unsubscribe from these email communications at any time. This is the first time I will deal with the plight of Tamar and the events that occurred as a result of her rape. New Testament (1) Matthew (1) ... "Bring the food into the bedroom, that I may eat from your hand." . Third, the death by burning that he decrees was the most severe form of capital punishment — the Prostitute Burning Law of Leviticus 21:9 (in the future from the perspective of Genesis 38) was reserved only for the daughters of priests. Absalom, David, and Jesus came kneaded it, made the bread, but he refused to.... S face then Rahab, and the other bore a son, and everything will be made when! His third son, Er and claim our crazy ancestors or not, we’re all dysfunctional on some.! 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