Scripture Post #1,641: *PAYBACK!*

 

Genesis 38:24:

"And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt."

Genesis chapter 38 contains a very complex story of the Bible. Judah, the son of Jacob, A.K.A. Israel, had 3 sons (Er, first, Onan, second, and Shelah, last). His firstborn son, Er, died for being wicked. God had him killed, actually. But before he died, he had gotten married to a woman named, Tamar, but had no children with her. So Judah told his secondborn son to marry the wife of his deceased son. Judah's secondborn son did so, but died before having any children with Tamar, just as his brother had died. God had Onan killed for being wicked just as He had killed Er over wickedness. So Judah told his daughter-in-law to wait until his thirdborn son, Shelah, was older, and then she could marry him. So she waited. And Judah's thirdborn son grew up and became a man, but was never given to Tamar. Time went on and Judah's wife died. So Judah, being a widower, went to a certain part of town and saw a prostitute wearing a veil, and slept with her. Turns out, that Judah mistook Tamar for the harlot he'd slept with (and impregnated, I might add)! Tamar got back at Judah for not giving her his thirdborn son, Shelah, for a husband, as he had promised!!

Originally Published: Sat. 3 • 11 • 17