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Stories Seldom Heard

118th Edition
June 2009
Genesis Chapter 38:1-30
Tamar and the Ancestry of Jesus

Matthew’s Gospel, as you know, begins with an extensive genealogy.  The first woman who is mentioned in Jesus' genealogy is Tamar.  The story of Tamar is quite brief, but it is extremely informative.   It tells us a lot about the customs of their day: marriage rites and obligations, the responsibility of midwives and the importance of honoring contracts even when the agreements are verbal.  It is also the story of a creative and fascinating woman of courage.

The story of Tamar begins in Genesis Chapter 38:1.  Judah leaves his brothers and goes to stay with an Adullamite, Hirah, in an area that is southwest of Jerusalem.  There Judah marries a Canaanite woman whose father's name is Shua.  Sad to say, the Canaanite woman's name is not mentioned.  But what is interesting is that there is no moral judgment passed on this intermarriage even though it was contrary to Israelites’ practice and forbidden by the law (Genesis 24:3-4).  Following the marriage, Judah and the Canaanite woman have three sons: Er, Onan and Shelah. 

Having three sons was certainly seen as a blessing since the Israelite heritage was passed on to the next generation through the male members of the family.   Also, male children were especially prized at this time because the twelve tribes were small in number.  In order to protect themselves from other tribes and establish themselves in the region they needed many healthy, strong male warriors. Furthermore, in a society that did not believe in bodily resurrection male children were viewed as a way of participating in an afterlife.  Because they believed that the dead person's soul went to Sheol which was a rather dismal place, they would name their children after their father and/or grandfather.  In this way the deceased ancestors would continue to live and be remembered “in the land of the living”.

So we can see how important the union between Tamar and Er was.  Er was Judah's first son. He marries Tamar. Judah has big hopes, but something goes wrong.  The author doesn't tell us much about Er, but tells us enough.  Er dies "because he was a wicked man.” According to the Israelite law it was the duty of a brother to marry the wife of his deceased brother. This custom might sound strange to us, but considering their attitude towards death, and the importance of the family lines, one can understand their point of view.  Therefore, Judah's second son, Onan, was required to marry Tamar.  However, any children from this union would be considered Er’s children and would allow Er’s name to be perpetuated for generations to come.  (Deut. 25:5-10)  This is where the plot thickens.

From Tamar’s point of view, the wife's compliance with the law to marry her deceased husband’s brother was seen as an act of devotion to her dead spouse.  This custom was also helpful since women without husbands were women without protection or legal rights.  Widows were on the fringe of society.   They were social outcasts and had no voice or power.   Therefore, if a widow could bear a male child, even if it meant through the union of the brother of her deceased husband, that offspring would secure for her a strong and valuable family bond which would protect her and all of her children.

Tamar didn’t have any choice, but to marry Onan even though it turned out to be a very difficult relationship.  Onan did not comply with the law.  He refused to have a child by Tamar.  Perhaps Onan was concerned about sharing his inheritance with more members of his family.  We don't know the reason for his actions, but the author of the story takes the liberty to interpret the reason for Onan's death.  "What he did was offensive to God, so God brought about his death also."  This was not only very bad news for Judah, but also for Tamar.  It doesn't say what the family thought of her.  Was Tamar a witch?  Was she a murderer?  Why had the two men died?  It is at this point that Judah decides to take matters into his own hands.
 
There was one more chance for Tamar to have a male offspring.  One brother, Shelah, as left, but Judah was taking no chances.  If Shelah died, Judah would have no male heirs.  His name would not be "known in the land of the living.”  So Judah tells Tamar to go back to her father's house and wait for Shelah to grow up.  Tamar is no dummy.  She knows she is under suspicion and in deep trouble. 

It is at this point that Tamar’s story falls into a larger category of the biblical stories: the trickster.  Tamar conceals her identity.  We have seen this narrative pattern before in the book of Genesis and will continue to see it in other parts of the Bible (1).  Yet, no one seems to question these actions.  Perhaps it is because   at this point the Israelites are marginal people.  Thus, like other outsiders in order to achieve success, they sometimes choose devious paths which include deception and trickery.  We might condemn these actions, but the Israelites seem to view them as necessary and take them in their stride (2)

Hidden identity in Tamar’s case is essential to her well-being, as it was for Abraham and Sarah.  In the light of the Biblical trickster, what Tamar does by disguising herself is ingenious.  She also carefully plots out her actions.  She insures her safety by demanding identifiable collateral and in the midst of all of this, she also fulfills her marriage contract. The strength of her convictions illustrates her integrity.  She knows what her rights are.  She pleads her case carefully for she is a righteous woman.  Judah acknowledges this when Tamar's identity is revealed.  "She is in the right rather than I.  This comes from my not giving her my son Shelah to be his wife."   Perhaps to make up for some of her tribulations, Tamar is blessed with great news.  She conceives and births two sons by Judah: Perez and Zerah.

It is an amazing, well crafted story.  The vivid details linger in our memories. The pledge between Tamar and Judah stirs our imaginations and curiosity: a "kid from your flock….Your seal, your cord and the stick you are holding.”  In the birthing process the midwife catches the first hand that appears.  She ties "a scarlet thread to it" in order to identify the first born.  But oops, not so fast, that son draws back his hand still tied with a scarlet thread.  He is not to be the first born after all.  The story of their birth is memorable and reminds us that without Tamar’s courage and wisdom Judah’s family line could have been lost.  Tamar is another one of those "little people" in scripture whose stories we seldom hear.  But by carefully examining her choices, the customs of the culture in which she lived and the text of the story, we know we have met another outstanding wise woman.

Tamar's foresight and perseverance not only protects her life and reveals her integrity, but also preserves her memory as it is recorded in Matthew’s Gospel. 
Creative lives, human flaws, intriguing births and the growth of a nation - all are of God.  And what a God!  God not only puts up with these kinds of trickery and survival tactics, but bears with and is faithful to the Israelites.  It’s a great reminder of God’s patience and steadfast love for us too. 

1.  Remember the story of Abraham and Sarah? Abraham used this method of trickery to insure his safe passage and life. In fact, Abraham disguises the true identity of his relationship with Sarah three times in order to protect himself as they pass over different borders into foreign territory.  Later Rebekah and Jacob trick the blind Isaac (Gen 27:1-25). 

2.  What is interesting about Abraham and the other stories of trickery is that no negative attitudes are imposed on the trickster as a result of their deceitful decisions and actions.  In fact, their decisions seem to be acceptable behavior.

Special thanks to Mary Ellen Green, Maria Hetherton and Jeanne Keating 
who have helped in editing this article.

"Stories Seldom Heard" is a monthly article written by Sister Patricia Bruno, O.P. Sister is a Dominican Sister of San Rafael, California. This service is offered to the Christian community to enrich one's personal and spiritual life. The articles can be used for individual or group reflection. If you would like "Stories Seldom Heard" sent to a friend, please send a note to purple115@juno.com. Thank you.