Our lesson comes from Genesis 38 & Matthew 1:3. These key points may not help you answer the questions on pages 43 & 44 but may help you with the discussion on Saturday 5/30/2015.
1. Tamar, her name means Date Tree or Palm Tree. (2, Page 41)
2. Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death. Vv 6-7.
3. Then Judah said to Onan, “lie with your brothers wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to produce offspring for your brother.” But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his, so whenever he lay with his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from producing offspring for his brother. What he did was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so he put him to death also Vv 8-10. (Levirate marriage DT 25:5)
4. Judah then said to his daughter-in-law Tamar. Live as a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up. For he thought, “He may die too, just like his brothers.” So Tamar went to live in her father’s house. V 11
5. She was to stay in widows garb until contacted by Judah or Shelah Vv 11.
6. For she saw that, though Shelah had now grown up, she had not been given to him as a wife. V14
7. Judah thought she was a prostitute, not realizing who she was and slept with her and she became pregnant. Vv 15-18.
8. Judah was told Tamar was guilty of prostitution and he wanted her burned to death. V 24. (Lev 21:9)
9. Tamar provided the seal, cord & staff of the man that fathered her children. Judah recognized them and realized he had not fulfilled the levirate law or his promise to her. Vv 25-26.
10. Tamar had twin boys fighting to come out of her womb. One stuck out his hand and a red string was placed on thinking he would be born first. His arm went back in and his brother came out first and was named Perez (breaking out) and the one with the red string came out second and was named Zerah (scarlet)
11. 5 women are named in the Matthew’s genealogy chart- Tamar Mat 1:3, Rahab (v5) Ruth (v5), Bathsheeba (v6, by description) and Mary (v16), 3 of the 5 are Gentiles. (NIV footnote 1:3 & 3, page 72). This just proves God can and will use anyone to fulfill his plan, and His plan is always righteous.
1. The NIV Study Bible: Zondervan edition 2008
2. Women of the Bible 52 studies for individual s and groups: Jean E Syswerda
3. Women of the Bible a one year Devotional study of women in Scripture: Ann Spangler & Jean E. Syswerda.
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