Tamar: The Pretending Prostitute In The Genealogy of Jesus

Tamar’s story is all about sex and intrigue, at least the way it is reported (Genesis 38). That makes it difficult to tell, especially for those who are looking for a moral. We have to read her story of seduction (exciting enough for a blockbuster movie) and then push back the details in our search for her redeeming qualities. If we succeed, we will discover the appealing story of an unmentionable woman who receives honorable mention in the illustrious genealogy of Jesus.

Tamar is the only one of the four women--besides Mary--mentioned in this ancestry (Matthew 1) who forces her way in.

Rahab is approached by Israelite spies who rescue her family when they destroy Jericho, facilitating her marriage to Salmon, resulting in the birth of Boaz who gets into the lineage.

Ruth is guided into marriage with Boaz by Naomi, the Hebrew woman who is her former mother-in-law.

Bathsheba is accepted by King David, great grandson of Boaz (after incidents of adultery and murder).

Tamar alone enters without invitation.

She is first introduced as the wife of Er--a preacher's kid, the first son of Judah, one of the best known sons of Jacob, who is the father of the tribes of Israel. Tamar is set up to have children with outstanding Hebrew pedigree, but her husband is too wicked to live, and he dies leaving her childless.

Now what? Judah allows his second son, Onan, to marry Tamar. According to their custom, a man is obligated to provide the widow of his dead brother with a child, who would be considered the heir of the deceased. Onan is unwilling to perform his duty, and he makes sure that his semen never enters Tamar’s body. His rebellion is offensive to God, and he also dies.

What next? Judah is wary about losing his third son, Shelah. He lies to Tamar, promising that Shelah would marry her when he is old enough. When Tamar thinks that she has waited long enough, she devises a plan to take her revenge on Judah for not keeping his word.

It is a devious plot. Tamar disguises herself and poses as a prostitute on Judah’s route to Timnah. His wife is now dead. Who knows how long since he has been with a woman? He solicits the pretending prostitute and offers to pay with a goat. Tamar asks for his shepherd’s staff, his signet and its cord as collateral until he sends the goat. Wise woman!

Judah does not know that the woman is Tamar, but he leaves her pregnant with twin boys. When the news of her pregnancy spread, Judah calls for her immoral action to be punished by death. She presents his staff, signet and cord as proof that he is her partner in crime. He confesses to his wrongdoing and rescinds her death sentence.

The story of their conception is as gripping as the event of their birth. The midwife grabs the first hand that she sees, and ties a red cord around it to mark the firstborn; then, Zerah (meaning sunshine) to whom the hand belongs pulls back. Perez whose name means bursting forth exits his mother’s womb ahead of his brother, and makes his way into the genealogy of Jesus.

The other women mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus have other important parts to the story of their lives. Rahab is mentioned in the Faith Hall Fame (Hebrews 11) for her contribution to the Israelite’s capture of Jericho. Ruth’s expression of devotion (1:16) to Naomi, her mother in law is still sung at weddings. Bathsheba’s political influence on the life of King David and her son, King Solomon is well established (2 Samuel 11-12; 1 Kings 1-2). Tamar has no such story.

To find her real legacy, we have to raise our focus from the unmentionable Tamar to the God who selects her for mention; not because of her redeeming qualities, but because of His quality of redemption. He rewards her quest for significance with a son who becomes an ancestor to the Savior, who brings love and grace to forgive and redeem all the Tamars who receive Him.

Tamar's life is a series of mishaps interwoven with God's control and ending with a message of hope for all men and women who have mismanaged the circumstances in their lives. God has a place within His will for everyone. Tamar’s legacy is grace illustrated!