One of the Best Prostitutes in All of Scripture

Sometimes the Bible can catch you off guard. There are times where the stories it tells ought not be used in polite conversation. One time someone asked me the most explicit verse in Scripture. I told him Ezekiel 23:20 without hesitation. That whole chapter is pretty risqué. God is calling Israel a bunch of whores. Read through the Bible and you will find these random, bizarre R rated stories. While we may consider some things not for family discussion material, God will deal with all of life, all emotions, and He will not shy away from anything.

I remember reading through Genesis when I was in high school and coming across the story of Judah and Tamar in chapter 38. I was taken aback. This is in the Bible? It is a one chapter story that seems to have no bearing on any of the other events going on at the time. Joseph is introduced in chapter 37, and then there is this break for this story of bad sexual ethics, having nothing to do with Joseph, and then chapter 39 picks right back up with his story.

There is much to learn from Judah and Tamar. While Tamar may be the one that comes off looking bad, it is really Judah who is the culprit in the story. Tamar only did what she did out of desperation. When Judah’s older two sons were put to death for their evil, Judah seemed to hold it against Tamar. Er was evil, but it doesn’t say what he did. Onan was evil because he was selfish and would not give his brother an heir (oh the ways that verse has been misused). Shelah was the innocent brother who ended up coming out pretty well, going from youngest to oldest. However, the true thrust of the story is in Judah’s self-righteousness and exposure (puns intended).

Tamar was nothing in this society without any children. She was twice widowed and Judah was kind to provide for her until Shelah was old enough. But Judah was afraid of losing another son, and refused to give him to Tamar. Tamar was a smart, resourceful woman who had been wronged and was not going to live in disgrace because of Judah’s selfishness. She took advantage of Judah’s situation. Judah’s wife Shua had died, and after he was done mourning, he went out to tend to his flocks. Tamar knowing this and knowing how Judah was lonely, dressed up as a prostitute. Judah fell for it, took her not knowing who she was, and paid for her services. Tamar accepted a young goat as payment, but since there wasn’t one around at the moment, she accepted Judah’s staff, seal and cord as a promise. Tamar is a smart woman, so gets back home with these items and forgets the sheep. When Judah comes looking for her she is gone. Judah eventually gives up looking for her because it seems he is afraid of the embarrassment of going to a prostitute.

Fast forward a few months. Judah is told Tamar is pregnant. Judah is outraged! He wants her burned…until Tamar reveals who the father of the baby is. Judah exclaims, “She is more righteous than I.” In all this, Judah is still blessed. The twins Tamar has again gives Judah three sons.

This Scripture doesn’t comment on anyone’s behavior directly other than Er and Onan. Is what Tamar did right? No, but she was driven to it by Judah’s sin. She is the better one in the story. Judah’s outrage is interesting. Many times the people who are most judgmental about someone else’s sin are guilty of the same thing. It’s almost like they project on others what they dislike about themselves, trying to hide behind their outrage. Judah’s self-righteousness is sickening. But when he is caught, he does what he should, he repents. He acknowledges what he did wrong. Judah is disgraced and Tamar is able to come out of her disgrace by having sons. The Bible never hides the convoluted difficulty of living life.

Tamar is one of four women mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew, and all of them have a sorted history. Rahab was a prostitute. Ruth was a Moabite, who pulled a little trick to get Boaz to marry her, and Bathsheba was an adulterous. But out of these sinful people comes the One who will redeem us of all sin. I’m thankful that God through His Word does not shy away from anyone’s sin and shortcomings. It shows that He can forgive us when we come to Him and He can bring great things out of our sinfulness. I thank God for stories like Judah and Tamar.