Genesis 38:24: “About three months later Judah was told, ‘Your daughter-in-law Tamar is guilty of prostitution, and as a result she is now pregnant.”
Three months came and went and Tamar knew that she was pregnant. Eden was the first to know and they hugged and wept with joy. “What are you going to do now?” Eden asked. – “I will have to talk with my relatives in Judah’s camp”, Tamar replied. Eden looked at her with admiration and said: “Good luck to you my friend.”
News about Tamar’s pregnancy spread quickly and when Judah heard about it he was relieved. He had felt guilty about keeping his son Shelah from marrying her – for fear that he would end up dead like his brothers. Now he had a valid reason to get rid of her. “Bring her to the town center for public trial”, he said to the elders after they had brought this matter to his attention, “if this is true she must die.”
In the ancient Middle East, if a woman was found guilty of harlotry the punishment was death. And Tamar knew what awaited her. They would bring her out and publicly burn her to death. Heartbroken her father tore his garment and said: “How could you do this wicked thing and dishonor our family name! Soon they will drag you away and kill you! What were you thinking? And what are you doing with this staff and seal in your hands?” Tamar calmly replied: “Dad, you have to trust me. I did this because Judah did not do right by me.” Confused her father stared at her, asking: “What are you trying to say?”
Now Tamar was ready to lift her secret. Straightening her shoulders she explained: “This staff and seal belong to Judah. Please let him know that I am pregnant by the man who owns these and ask him if he recognizes whose seal and staff these are.” Her father looked at her in shocked disbelief and said: “You slept with your father-in-law because he ignored you?” – “Yes”, Tamar said and handed him the staff and seal. Her father accepted them and said before he left to meet with Judah: “I am ashamed of you, but I must say I admire your courage.”
Tamar had just called her siblings inside when a man who was sent by the town’s elders arrived. Unceremoniously he said: “You must come with me.” Tamar nodded and instructed one of her older siblings to watch over their family in her absence. Quickly Tamar was brought before the council that had to decide her fate. A curious crowd had assembled to watch the trial. One of the town’s elders addressed Tamar and said:
“Are you Tamar, daughter of Kenan and Judah’s daughter-in-law?” Tamar answered: “Yes I am.” – “Have you lived as a widow in your father’s house after your two husbands died?” was the next question and Tamar nodded: “Yes I did”. The crowd began to murmur and one bystander shouted: “Burn her and that bastard in her womb! She’s a witch!” – “Quiet! Or all of you have to leave!” the councilmen declared and immediately the voices died down. The elder continued his questioning and quickly got to the point: “Are you with child?” Before Tamar could answer, another voice interrupted the hearing, saying: “Yes, she is pregnant and I am the father.” The bystanders gasped in surprise as Judah jumped off his donkey and stepped next to his daughter-in-law presenting the seal and staff he had received from Tamar’s father. – “I left this pledge with the woman I slept with during the sheep shearing festival”, Judah explained and added: “Today Tamar had the pledge returned to me, saying: ‘The man who owns this is the father of my child.’ I am standing before you today asking you to release my daughter-in-law. She is more righteous than I am since I have refused to give my son Shelah in marriage to her.”
After a short consultation the unanimous verdict was “Not Guilty”. Thanks to Judah’s testimony, Tamar was free to go.
Then and there Judah asked for a private meeting with Tamar and her father Kenan. A stone’s throw away from the town center they settled down under a fig tree. Judah said: “Since Tamar carries my child I propose that she lives under the protection of my roof from now on.” With one look Kenan measured Judah, bursting out: “You have the nerve to marry your own daughter-in-law? This is not right and you know it.” Judah stood up and swore: “You have my word that I will not marry your daughter. And I promise you that I will not sleep with her either.” He lifted his right hand and solemnly swore: “May the Lord punish me ever so severely if I lay hand on her again! But I will protect and honor Tamar, and her child will be my legitimate son.” – “I take you for an honest man”, Kenan finally consented. “May you stay true to your word and treat my daughter with respect.”
Tamar looked at her father and said: “I love you Dad! Sorry to have caused you so much pain.” Kenan hugged his daughter and said: “May you find all the happiness you deserve.”
When Tamar’s time came to give birth, there were twin boys coming out of her womb. One of her boys put out his hand and the midwife took a scarlet thread and tied it on his wrist, announcing to Tamar: “Your firstborn!” But his hand was pulled back and the other boy breached through, and so they gave him the name “Perez”, which means “breaking out”. Afterwards his brother who had the scarlet thread on his wrist was born and they named him “Zerah” which means “scarlet”.
As promised, Perez and Zerah were numbered among Judah’s sons. They grew up to be influential clan leaders. Perez, in particular, would go down in history as the ancestor of Christ, the Savior of the world.