"But Er, Judah's first born was wicked in the LORD'S sight; so the LORD put him to death."
Gen 38:7
Gen 38:7
When Judah decided to leave his brothers in Egypt, he traveled into Canaanite territory where he settled down. There he met a woman who being of a Canaanite tribe would bare him his first born son, Er. It can be speculated that Er was a way ward child as most likely he did not know the ways of the Hebrew. He lived among his father Judah and his mother and her family. Judah was the foreigner within a foreign land and he and his son would have adopted the ways of Canaan.
Judah would have known the Hebrew custom that allowed husband's to make concubines of foreign women, but the wives of Israel were to be of the same nation. Something which Judah in his rebelliousness did not honor. He left his brothers; his fellow tribesmen to venture out in life on his own. When he came to a place of his choosing, he became enticed with the way of the land. Although Judah may have considered his son Er to be an Israelite, coming from honorable stock, scripture reveals that Er was not an Israelite at heart. Er did not adopt the ways of the Hebrew and therefore could not be awarded any Hebrew inheritance. Only Hebrew wives who bore children with their Hebrew husbands had entitlement to the family rights of the first born child. Canaanite concubines were exempt unless they gave their children over to the Hebrew wives to raise as their own. Judah's Canaanite wife was a wife in name only, her position of faith within pagan tradition denied her and her children any traditional Hebrew inheritance. Judah broke away from Israelite tradition and for this reason he unknowingly forfeited Hebrew blessings on his children. Because Judah did not choose a Hebrew wife, it is easy to see why the first born son of Judah did evil before the Lord. Er lived among his extended Canaanite family who practiced traditional pagan superstitions and rituals and because of his nationality, Er was not considered a pure Hebrew. Had he grown up with the ways of Godly tradition, he would have fared far better in his life. But because of his upbringing, Er was against God and his actions openly denied God and all forms of Godly living.
" And my master made me swear an oath, and said, 'You must not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live." Genesis 24:37
"Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land; for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you and you will eat their sacrifices. And when you choose some of their daughters as wives, for your sons and those daughters prostitute themselves to their gods, they will lead your sons to do the same." Exodus 34:15-16
The wife of Er was a Hebrewess, named Tamar. She was unable to conceive a child for Er and this was most likely the reason he took concubines. Hebrew tradition shares with us that the reason why women remained barren was due to some sort of personal transgression upon the woman. Bearing the mark of sin through the inability to carry on the Hebrew family name was the sign of a marked woman. Tamar was not a woman singled out among her clans people as God did not make an example of her. The fault of her being unable to have children was because of the transgressions of her husband because of who he was.
The sins of Er is what killed him leaving Tamar childless and a widow. While He was alive, it was his sins that he committed that caused Tamar to become barren. It was through no fault of her own, but instead through the decision of God that allowed the first born son of Judah to remain childless. Without a husband to support her and tend to her needs Tamar would be forced to go back to her family home and live the remainder of her years with her parents, taking care of them. This is exactly what happened because Judah's other sons, Er's brothers failed to complete the tradition of filling in the role of husband to their brother's wife. Traditionally the men who refused to fulfill this ordinance were subject to public disgrace and humiliation. ( See Deuteronomy 25:7-10)
"Then Judah said to Onan; ' Lie with your brother's wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to produce offspring for your brother." But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his so whenever he lay with his brother's wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from producing offspring for his brother. What he did was wicked in the LORD's sight so he put him to death also." Genesis 38:8-10
Judah's youngest son was not yet eligible to marry and so Tamar's father-in-law told her to live as a widow until his son Shelah was of age. However it was never Judah's intention to legitimize a marriage to her by producing a son in Er's name. Instead Judah sent Tamar away as a widow for fear his youngest would die if he married Tamar.
"For he thought, " He may die too, just like his brothers." So Tamar went to live in her father's house." Genesis 38: 11
Tamar was indirectly accused of causing the death of Judah's sons. A superstition born out of Canaanite culture and not out of Hebrew observance. As Tamar waited, Judah aged and a month after his wife had died, Tamar seized an opportunity. Even though at this time Judah's young son was eligible to be married, Judah did not give him to Tamar in marriage. Instead of calling Judah out on his mistake and bearing further humiliation she decided to take matters into her own hands and make right the wrong that the men of Judah had given her. Tamar was a Hebrew and she was being deliberately denied her heritage and the birthright of her potential children. The men of Israel were ignoring her and not taking care of her as according to Hebrew law. She did not demand respect and did not use this to openly embarrass anyone but she knew that she had been wronged. Because these men were led astray but were in ruling authority, she could not openly seek retribution fairly. However, she was not going to let these way ward men stop her from her blessings that were credited to her.
Most ( not all) modern scholars and teachers ( men- no male bashing here, just stating the obvious.) assume that Tamar prostituted herself through devious means in order to get her due and get revenge on Judah who had wronged her. This is not true. Scripture through the words of Jacob hints at an often over looked fact; through the tribe of Judah Jesus the People's Messiah would be born. This helps us to understand the reason why God deliberately allowed Tamar to remain barren. Through the transgression of Judah's sons they proved that they were not worthy of carrying on the Hebrew royal bloodline. A blood line that had to be pure and not racially mixed. Judah and Tamar were both Hebrew and according to the Levitical law, if there were no sons to fulfill the duty of siring offspring to their brother's wife, then the role fell on the father or next male closest relative; who would only lay with his daughter in law in order to conceive.
Through the union between Tamar and Judah, twins were conceived and according to custom, it appeared that Tamar prostituted herself in order to have children. Sentenced to burn to death for this alleged transgression, Tamar knew of this and secured her position before hand. To prove the legitimacy of her legal right to bear a child with her father-in-law, she secured his personal items to be used as proof later as to who the father of her children were.
"Judah recognized them and said, " She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn't give her to my son Shelah." And he did not sleep with her again." Genesis 38:26
Through the story of Tamar we are shown how God blesses those who are faithful to Him. Faithful women are favorable to God just as faithful men are. Tamar's actions may have appeared to be devious but in order to gain herself blessings without drawing attention to Judah's transgressions, she, working within the Law held her superiors to the Law. She simply was not going to allow a decision outside of God's law ( which was considered evil) to control her and dictate to her blessings she had coming to her. Victimization comes in all forms but God works for those who follow Him and taking matters into your own hands while working in the confines of God's word is not devious and never underhanded. Tamar used the word of God against those who tried to usurp the law of God because unbeknownst to believers, going against God's law means to go against His will. Had Tamar not disguised herself, King David would never have been born!
"The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nation is his." Genesis 49:10
The items that Judah gave to Tamar as payment for laying with her were of great significance. Judah was willing to give her a young goat as payment. Tamar wanted something not of personal value to her, but items that would clearly identify the individual tribesman. Judah's staff, his seal and cord were items that identified not only Judah as the man of choice, but the ruling authority of the tribe of Judah. These items were used to act as the final authority on decisions made according to the Law of God. Tamar secured them as they acted as the binding authority between her conceived child who would forever be the first born of Judah and his inheritance would never be taken away from him. By giving Tamar these significant items, Judah unknowingly acknowledged her birthright as a Hebrewess and she by keeping these items and giving them back to Judah when the time was right secured her children's birthright in the kingdom of God. Through Tamar Judah would bear twin boys; Perez and Zerah. Perez was the ancestor of King David and Jesus Christ our savior.
Judah would have known the Hebrew custom that allowed husband's to make concubines of foreign women, but the wives of Israel were to be of the same nation. Something which Judah in his rebelliousness did not honor. He left his brothers; his fellow tribesmen to venture out in life on his own. When he came to a place of his choosing, he became enticed with the way of the land. Although Judah may have considered his son Er to be an Israelite, coming from honorable stock, scripture reveals that Er was not an Israelite at heart. Er did not adopt the ways of the Hebrew and therefore could not be awarded any Hebrew inheritance. Only Hebrew wives who bore children with their Hebrew husbands had entitlement to the family rights of the first born child. Canaanite concubines were exempt unless they gave their children over to the Hebrew wives to raise as their own. Judah's Canaanite wife was a wife in name only, her position of faith within pagan tradition denied her and her children any traditional Hebrew inheritance. Judah broke away from Israelite tradition and for this reason he unknowingly forfeited Hebrew blessings on his children. Because Judah did not choose a Hebrew wife, it is easy to see why the first born son of Judah did evil before the Lord. Er lived among his extended Canaanite family who practiced traditional pagan superstitions and rituals and because of his nationality, Er was not considered a pure Hebrew. Had he grown up with the ways of Godly tradition, he would have fared far better in his life. But because of his upbringing, Er was against God and his actions openly denied God and all forms of Godly living.
" And my master made me swear an oath, and said, 'You must not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live." Genesis 24:37
"Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land; for when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them, they will invite you and you will eat their sacrifices. And when you choose some of their daughters as wives, for your sons and those daughters prostitute themselves to their gods, they will lead your sons to do the same." Exodus 34:15-16
The wife of Er was a Hebrewess, named Tamar. She was unable to conceive a child for Er and this was most likely the reason he took concubines. Hebrew tradition shares with us that the reason why women remained barren was due to some sort of personal transgression upon the woman. Bearing the mark of sin through the inability to carry on the Hebrew family name was the sign of a marked woman. Tamar was not a woman singled out among her clans people as God did not make an example of her. The fault of her being unable to have children was because of the transgressions of her husband because of who he was.
The sins of Er is what killed him leaving Tamar childless and a widow. While He was alive, it was his sins that he committed that caused Tamar to become barren. It was through no fault of her own, but instead through the decision of God that allowed the first born son of Judah to remain childless. Without a husband to support her and tend to her needs Tamar would be forced to go back to her family home and live the remainder of her years with her parents, taking care of them. This is exactly what happened because Judah's other sons, Er's brothers failed to complete the tradition of filling in the role of husband to their brother's wife. Traditionally the men who refused to fulfill this ordinance were subject to public disgrace and humiliation. ( See Deuteronomy 25:7-10)
"Then Judah said to Onan; ' Lie with your brother's wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to produce offspring for your brother." But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his so whenever he lay with his brother's wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from producing offspring for his brother. What he did was wicked in the LORD's sight so he put him to death also." Genesis 38:8-10
Judah's youngest son was not yet eligible to marry and so Tamar's father-in-law told her to live as a widow until his son Shelah was of age. However it was never Judah's intention to legitimize a marriage to her by producing a son in Er's name. Instead Judah sent Tamar away as a widow for fear his youngest would die if he married Tamar.
"For he thought, " He may die too, just like his brothers." So Tamar went to live in her father's house." Genesis 38: 11
Tamar was indirectly accused of causing the death of Judah's sons. A superstition born out of Canaanite culture and not out of Hebrew observance. As Tamar waited, Judah aged and a month after his wife had died, Tamar seized an opportunity. Even though at this time Judah's young son was eligible to be married, Judah did not give him to Tamar in marriage. Instead of calling Judah out on his mistake and bearing further humiliation she decided to take matters into her own hands and make right the wrong that the men of Judah had given her. Tamar was a Hebrew and she was being deliberately denied her heritage and the birthright of her potential children. The men of Israel were ignoring her and not taking care of her as according to Hebrew law. She did not demand respect and did not use this to openly embarrass anyone but she knew that she had been wronged. Because these men were led astray but were in ruling authority, she could not openly seek retribution fairly. However, she was not going to let these way ward men stop her from her blessings that were credited to her.
Most ( not all) modern scholars and teachers ( men- no male bashing here, just stating the obvious.) assume that Tamar prostituted herself through devious means in order to get her due and get revenge on Judah who had wronged her. This is not true. Scripture through the words of Jacob hints at an often over looked fact; through the tribe of Judah Jesus the People's Messiah would be born. This helps us to understand the reason why God deliberately allowed Tamar to remain barren. Through the transgression of Judah's sons they proved that they were not worthy of carrying on the Hebrew royal bloodline. A blood line that had to be pure and not racially mixed. Judah and Tamar were both Hebrew and according to the Levitical law, if there were no sons to fulfill the duty of siring offspring to their brother's wife, then the role fell on the father or next male closest relative; who would only lay with his daughter in law in order to conceive.
Through the union between Tamar and Judah, twins were conceived and according to custom, it appeared that Tamar prostituted herself in order to have children. Sentenced to burn to death for this alleged transgression, Tamar knew of this and secured her position before hand. To prove the legitimacy of her legal right to bear a child with her father-in-law, she secured his personal items to be used as proof later as to who the father of her children were.
"Judah recognized them and said, " She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn't give her to my son Shelah." And he did not sleep with her again." Genesis 38:26
Through the story of Tamar we are shown how God blesses those who are faithful to Him. Faithful women are favorable to God just as faithful men are. Tamar's actions may have appeared to be devious but in order to gain herself blessings without drawing attention to Judah's transgressions, she, working within the Law held her superiors to the Law. She simply was not going to allow a decision outside of God's law ( which was considered evil) to control her and dictate to her blessings she had coming to her. Victimization comes in all forms but God works for those who follow Him and taking matters into your own hands while working in the confines of God's word is not devious and never underhanded. Tamar used the word of God against those who tried to usurp the law of God because unbeknownst to believers, going against God's law means to go against His will. Had Tamar not disguised herself, King David would never have been born!
"The scepter will not depart from Judah, nor the ruler's staff from between his feet, until he comes to whom it belongs and the obedience of the nation is his." Genesis 49:10
The items that Judah gave to Tamar as payment for laying with her were of great significance. Judah was willing to give her a young goat as payment. Tamar wanted something not of personal value to her, but items that would clearly identify the individual tribesman. Judah's staff, his seal and cord were items that identified not only Judah as the man of choice, but the ruling authority of the tribe of Judah. These items were used to act as the final authority on decisions made according to the Law of God. Tamar secured them as they acted as the binding authority between her conceived child who would forever be the first born of Judah and his inheritance would never be taken away from him. By giving Tamar these significant items, Judah unknowingly acknowledged her birthright as a Hebrewess and she by keeping these items and giving them back to Judah when the time was right secured her children's birthright in the kingdom of God. Through Tamar Judah would bear twin boys; Perez and Zerah. Perez was the ancestor of King David and Jesus Christ our savior.