38:1ff This chapter vividly contrasts the immoral character of Judah with the moral character of Joseph. Judah’s lack of integrity resulted in family strife and deception. Chapter 39 shows how Joseph’s integrity and wise choices reflect his godly character. His faithfulness was rewarded with blessings greater than he could imagine, both for himself and for his family.
38:8-10 This law about marrying a widow in the family is explained in Deuteronomy 25:5-10. Its purpose was to ensure that a childless widow would have a son who would receive her late husband’s inheritance and who, in turn, would care for her. Because Judah’s son (Tamar’s husband) had no children, there was no family line through which the inheritance and the blessing of the covenant could continue. God killed Onan because he refused to fulfill his obligation to his brother and to Tamar.
38:15-23 It may seem strange that prostitution is written about in such a matter-of-fact way here. Prostitutes were common in pagan cultures such as Canaan. Public prostitutes served Canaanite goddesses and were common elements of the religious cults. Fornication was encouraged to improve fertility in crops and flocks. Public prostitutes were more highly respected than private prostitutes, who were sometimes punished when caught. Tamar was driven to seduce Judah because of her intense desire to have children and be the matriarch of Judah’s line; Judah was driven by his lust. Neither case was justified.
38:15-24 Why was Judah so open about his relations with a harlot, yet ready to execute his daughter-in-law for being one? To understand this apparent contradiction, we must understand the place of women in Canaan. A woman’s most important function was bearing children who would perpetuate the family line. To ensure that children belonged to the husband, the bride was expected to be a virgin, and the wife was expected to have relations only with him. If a wife committed adultery, she could be executed. Some women, however, did not belong to families. They might serve as shrine prostitutes supported by offerings or common harlots supported by the men who used their services. Their children were nobody’s heirs, and men who hired them adulterated no one’s bloodlines.
Judah saw no harm in hiring a harlot for a night; after all, he was more than willing to pay. He was ready to execute Tamar, however, because if she was pregnant “by whoredom,” his grandchild would not be part of his family line. Apparently the question of sexual morality never entered Judah’s mind; his concern was for keeping his inheritance in the family. Ironically, it was Tamar, not Judah, who acted to provide him with legal heirs. By seducing him, she acted more in the spirit of the law than he did when he refused to send his third son to her.
This event in no way implies that God thinks lightly of prostitution. Throughout Scripture, “harlotry” is condemned as a serious sin. If the story has a moral, it is that faithfulness to family obligations is important. Incidentally, Judah and Tamar are direct ancestors of Jesus Christ (see Matthew 1:1-6).
38:18 A signet was a form of identification used to authenticate legal documents. Usually a unique design carved in stone and worn on a ring or necklace inseparable from its owner, it was used by the wealthy and powerful to mark clay or wax. Because Tamar had Judah’s seal, she could prove beyond a doubt that he had been with her.
38:24-26 When Tamar revealed she was pregnant, Judah, who unknowingly had gotten her pregnant, moved to have her killed. Judah had concealed his own sin, yet he came down harshly on Tamar. Often the sins we try to cover up are the ones that anger us most when we see them in others. If you become indignant at the sins of others, you may have a similar tendency to sin that you don’t wish to face. When we admit our sins and ask God to forgive us, forgiving others becomes easier.