Is it true that Judah slept with his daughter-in-law, Tamar? What is the significance of the three items belonging to Judah found with Tamar when she presented her exhibits?
Read the previous episode here!
Judah tried to mask the tears. There was no gainsaying to the fact that he really loved his daughter-in-law. However, it has to be family first, then duty.
What happens when the family is also involved in this duty?
Zilpah had their necessary luggage strapped to her back. Tamar’s face was like the drizzling rain. It held so much pain and frustration, just like the cloud held rain droplets!
They started out on their journey, but not without, Shua, her mother-in-law, ensuring that all of Tamar’s property was evacuated. She lamented….whilst sprinkling some bottled contents of strange fragrance, with the intent of exorcising whatever evil spirits they were that Tamar had brought to her home.
Zilpah made to respond back to Shua’s insults, but one look from Tamar made her discontinue her proposed session of exchange of words with her mother-in-law.
Sabre (Tamar’s mother) could hardly contain her tears seeing the streaked lines of dried out tears and fresher lines in different contours as they made their way down Tamar’s cheeks.
Zilpah was not a very emotional woman, but she lost guard on seeing mother and daughter in another session of teary outbursts…attracting other townspeople who made way to see Tamar.
Zared could not bear the shame of the emotional scene in his house, Hurriedly, he dismissed the outsiders. He couldn’t imagine the shame of his daughter leaving her matrimonial home, childless and shamed. Who did he offend?
Zared made things clear to Tamar, she was now a grown woman, and as such, she must be ready to accept responsibilities for her actions…or rather, her fate.
This implied that Tamar was to see to her own needs, and not be a financial burden to her father. After all, she was married.
Tamar knew it was not about the responsibilities, she was neither physically challenged nor lazy. Her father was more concerned about his pride…one that he needs to protect!
Tamar accepted her fate, and made a living out of making pottery, she put her all into this trade, because she sought for ways to divest her feeble and bleeding emotional state, more appropriately.
Every morning, the cock crows always resonated with her hummings as she got busily steady in her little industry. Tamar was very enterprising and hoped for the best.
Although many men were aware of her marital ordeals, they still made advances at her. However, none was bold enough to seek for her hand in marriage. Of course, it would be customarily incorrect, being once married.
Tamar prayed to the God of the Hebrews whom she had come to love, trust and believe in…She knew she been strengthened to move on. However, she could swear that the gods of her father’s house had no hand in her recent joyful hope and optimism.
She prayed for protection over Shelah, (her husband-to-be). She also prayed that the God of Israel would touch the heart of her father-in-law to redeem her from her father’s house…
It was 7 years already, there was not much time anymore. How Tamar fantasized about giving birth to sons, that will serve the living God. How would that be actualized when she had never taken in?
One afternoon, Tamar was still trying to sleep, Zilpar stormed the little cubicle that she intentionally carved out for her resting pleasure. She was panting heavily, struggling to catch her breath… Obviously, she had something to say.
Tamar was patient enough to allow her to catch her full breath, but what she heard from Zilpar was rather shocking.
She had spotted Shelah amongst a crowd of hagglers at the market square. She had done some eavesdropping to have observed that Shua passed on last spring, and the funeral rites had just been concluded.
Her concern was not necessarily for the demise of the nagging woman, but for the young lad Shelah, who had become a full-grown man. Though he was looking assertive, like a spoilt brat, with a flock of young temple kedeshas (prostitutes) round about him.
Tamar let down a volume of saliva, as though, she had been having difficulty in swallowing. She tried hard to absorb the facts and process them accordingly.
Had Judah forgotten that he has a daughter-in-law, languishing in feminine virility? But why….Shelah had grown. What stopped Judah from doing the needful, as regards the levirate laws? No one had informed her of her mother-in-law’s death? Was she still a part of Judah’s family?
She had waited patiently for Judah for 7 years, and now, here was Shelah leading a careless lifestyle. He might as well die, like Er and Onan, if she was married to him eventually!
The thoughts were ramming in on Tamar’s head, screaming for expression, but she made no comment, her face was shriveled from anguish!
What would become of her? She stood helplessly. Even if she confronted Judah over his unfair reluctance to do the needful, what was the guarantee that Shelah would not end up like his late brothers since the same bloody traits run through their veins?
Was she really accursed, as many have affirmed? Perhaps, she was destined to die as an old unhappy mare? Being widowed twice. It seemed her fate entirely depended on her father-in-law, who was unwilling to do the needful. Who would she turn to? It seemed God was far!
Tamar takes a risk
Finally, Tamar took the bold step to take a rational risk, lamenting bitterly and loudly to herself:
“I have become a prisoner of woes,
Its been 10 years of misery, as a married but single woman,
I am alone in my world of untold pain, enslaved by a sheer complication of the levirate laws!
The one man who can redeem me has stubbornly endeavored not to comply
I must do the needful, I am prepared to take the ‘just’ laws into my hands, and die if need be …”
Tamar ranted on, unaware of Zilpar’s presence, who merely stared at Tamar in pity. Recently, Tamar had become a lower version of herself with no signs of Judah. She had metamorphosed into an emotional wreck, a byword, and a human template for defining marital failure.
Zared would not look her way because he had his pride to protect. He could not stand boldly in the city gates to speak with the elderly statesmen.
The townspeople had earlier suggested she offer sacrifices to the Cannanite gods of her fatherland, one of which she may have offended. Tamar had at one time, obliged them and nothing positive was forthcoming. Judah niether came nor sent for her.
Zilpar trembled in an attempt to hold distressed Tamar. She could relate with her pains, and sincerely wished she could take them away.
It was yet another sheep shearing session. Tamar’s mind was made up. She had mastered the basics of the feminine fertile window.
Tamar girded herself as one of the temples Kedeshas (prostitutes). She almost debunked the idea, for she was not looking like it. She braced up herself up to the challenge, this task which must be achieved. This opportunity may never present itself again so as to execute this plan before she goes completely crazy.
Having admired herself in a mirror, she forced a smile, assuring herself that all would be well. She veiled herself completely and departed from the house as soon as the mother hen set about calling her chicks to roost.
She arrived early and gallivanted around the pathway to Timnath on its outskirts, declining sexual advances from wealthy merchants, whilst they burned with hot jealousy.
Tamar was proactive when she set eyes on her target.
However, there was one big problem. It was not Shelah, but Judah and Hirah, his Adullamite friend. Judah could recognize Tamar, and that would outrightly spell her doom.
Sheep shearing sessions were great times for revelry, a time for fathers to showcase their industrious sons. Tamar had thought Shelah would come to Timnath with a throng of ladies, as houseflies swarming around a juicy fruit. She had expected to seduce Shelah and sleep with him, but now Judah did not come with him.
She wondered why his sons have decided to tow a single path, the path of irresponsibility! According to the levirate laws, Judah could also act as the levir, only if he had no son anymore.
Tamar understood this, however, there was little or no time to plan and re-strategize, Judah might not be interested in messing around with harlots.
However, Shua was dead, and he was free from the restrictive bonds of fidelity in marriage. Tamar thought to deploy every available feminine seduction scheme she could muster, whilst she remained veiled. It must work!
Tamar didn’t have to do much work, for Judah seemed to be favorably disposed to her. He offered to send her a young goat from his flock. (a gift which temple harlots would hardly deny). However, she made do with the available; his signet, bracelets, and staff, perceiving its future relevance.
However, Tamar trembled greatly, wondering if Judah had discovered her true identity and sought to agree to her terms quickly, so as to publicly shame her. Nevertheless, it was a rational risk!
She prayed silently and followed her father-in-law to a secure spot.
Judah slept off, giving her ample time to observe him closely.
The times have not been kind! He was old and lonely. He obviously sought for true solace in the momentary pleasures of sex which he was agile enough to relish only for a short time.
Tamar beheld him closely and this time, felt a deep sense of love for him or was it borne out of pity. The eventful episodes in his life, having lost his wife and two sons in less than 7 years. She wondered if she had been the object of affliction in his life. Judah snored loudly for a second or two, and this jolted Tamar back to consciousness.
She hurried out of sight with the items that Judah was ready to part with. On arriving home, she carefully tucked Judah’s personal effects where none could access them.
Judah was in a frenzied state when none could identify any kedesha along that pathway. He couldn’t have slept with a ghost…wondering what she intended to achieve hurdling his seal and staff. However, He did not want to make a fuss over his missing items, for posterity sake, considering his age and tribe. How could he explain this?
Zilpah was the first to detect that Tamar was pregnant when it was barely 3 weeks. She could not hide it, at least not from her.
Three months later, pandemonium set in, as Zared’s household was more heated as though it was directed towards the mid-afternoon sun. Tamar saw her father sent for Judah immediately. He was able to tolerate his ‘seemingly’ divorced daughter, but not a pregnant one!
Sabre tried to intervene, but he would hear nothing of it. Interestingly, Judah promptly responded to the call from Zared!
Tamar wondered how people can be so inconsiderate, always willing to lash out on other people’s wrongs but too unwilling to do the right things to forestall the wrong things from happening!
However, she had no regret over her actions, it was a rational risk!
To be continued…!
Lessons from Tamar’s Story
My dear blog reader, Can you die for what you believe? Tamar understood the implications of her actions, but she went on ahead!
How desperate can we be for a change in light of the ugly occurrences around us? She bore the brunt, and took responsibility for it! Her intention was never to publicly shame her father-in-law, but to see the truth established by her rightful reinstatement into her marital home… unknown to her, she was preserving a future!
Can we bear such shame for Jesus, and to see his Kingdom established in mortal men?
Tamar waited for Judah to fulfill his word to her many years ago, yet Judah was not forthcoming.
Do we believe that God would come right through for us?
God can never renege on His promises over our lives, if we patiently wait on/for Him.
Bible Reading: Genesis 38
Thanks for reading…
