Tamar Bible Study

Tamar Bible Story

Christianity Oasis provides this Judah and Tamar Bible study on the Judah and Tamar Bible Story. We'll look into all aspects of the Christian Walk bringing forth truth, understanding and peace.


Daily Bread Devotional Bible Study
The First Book of Moses Called Genesis
Chapter 38


Judah and Tamar Bible Study

Judah and Tamar Bible Story

Welcome to our Christianity Oasis Daily Bread study program. This is our Judah and Tamar Bible study on the provocative Judah and Tamar Bible Story and how it affects your be-YOU-tiful Christian walk.

Judah and Tamar Bible Study Lesson
Judah and Tamar Bible Story on Tradition

Greetings to you, Daily Bread readers. We've just begun a story about Israel's son, named Joseph. Before we carry on with that story, Chapter 38 has a little story about Joseph's brother Judah, and a little bit about his life while Joseph was down in Egypt. But before we take that little detour, here's another Daily Bread Crumb!

Back in Biblical days, as we've said before, it was a blessing, and honorable to have a large family. Remember, God said that they should be fruitful and multiply. In fact, it was so important that if a man's brother died but had no children, out of duty, his brother would marry his widow and the firstborn would carry the deceased brother's name so that his name would continue in Israel. If the brother chose not to be dutiful, it was a very shameful thing and everyone knew it (Deuteronomy 25:5-10). So with that in mind, let's get on with our detour.

Judah had a friend who lived in Adullam, about a dozen miles outside of Hebron, and his name was Hirah. While visiting Hirah, Judah met a Canaanite girl, married her and they had a son. They called his name Er. They had another son and named him Onan. And they had a third son that they named Shelah.

When Er was old enough, Judah chose a wife for him whose name was Tamar. Er was wicked in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord killed him. Judah told Onan to marry his brother's wife to have a child in his brother's name. Onan knew that the child wouldn't be his, so he made sure Tamar didn't conceive by him. This made the Lord angry so He killed Onan too.

Judah and Tamar Bible Study Concern
Judah and Tamar Bible Story on Deception

Then Judah told Tamar to remain a widow at her father's house until Shelah was old enough to father a child for Er, unless he died too. So, Tamar lived at her father's house.

After a time, Judah's wife died and in time his soul was consoled. Shelah, his youngest son was grown now, but he was not given to Tamar as promised. Tamar heard one day that Judah was going to shear his sheep, so she took off her widow's clothes and dressed up, covered her face with a veil and sat in an open place where Judah was going to be.

When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot because she hid her face. Judah approached her and she said, What will you give to be with me? Judah said he would send her a kid from his flock. But Tamar said, Give me something to keep until you send it. She asked for his ring, his bracelets and his staff. Judah gave it to her. She conceived and went away and took off her veil and put her widow's clothes back on.

Judah sent Hirah with the kid to exchange it for his ring and bracelets and staff from the woman, but Hirah couldn't find her. He asked the men of the area, about her, but they said there was no harlot there. Hirah went back and told Judah that he couldn't find her. So Judah said, I tried to send this kid and he couldn't find her, so let her keep the other things or we'll look dishonorable.

Judah and Tamar Bible Study Truth
Judah and Tamar Bible Story Chaos

About three months later, Judah heard that it was Tamar who had pretended to be a harlot and that she was pregnant with someone's child. Judah said, Bring her here and let her be burnt for doing such a thing. However, he did not know that it was he that she did it with. She sent a message to Judah saying, The man who these items belong to is the dad of the child I carry. Figure out who this ring, these bracelets and this staff belong to and you will know the dad.

Judah admitted they were his and said, She's been more righteous than I have because I didn't give her Shelah, my son. And Judah had no further contact with her.

When Tamar went into labor, she was carrying twins. One put out his hand and the midwife tied a scarlet thread around it so they would know who was born first. But the baby pulled his hand back in and his brother was born first. The midwife said, How did you break ahead? This breach be on you, so his name was called Pharez, which means, Rupture. And next, his brother was born with the scarlet thread on his hand and he was named Zerah, which means, brightness.

Judah and Tamar Bible Study Summary
Judah and Tamar Bible Story Conclusion

Well now, we've learned a little bit about Judah's history, and about the ancient traditions of raising a child to a deceased brother. An interesting tidbit ... Old Testament Bible prophecy says that after the End Times, that 7 women will take the name of one man.

Isaiah 4:1

And in that day seven women shall take hold of one man, saying, We will eat our own bread, and wear our own apparel: only let us be called by thy name, to take away our reproach.

And for those of you who have been following the Daily Bread crumbs, our detour is now completed. The next time we'll resume with the story of Joseph and see what is going on with him in Egypt.