“It was about three months later that it was told to Judah, saying: Tamar your daughter-in-law acted as a harlot; moreover, behold, she conceived through harlotry. Judah said: Take her out, and she shall be burned” (Genesis 38:24). Sumekhos says in the name of Rabbi Meir: From where is it derived that the fetus is not noticeable in the woman’s womb until three months? From here: “It was about three months later.”
Rav Huna in the name of Rabbi Yosei: Not at the end of three full months, but rather, most of the first, most of the last, and the entire middle one, and ultimately it is not three full ones.46If a woman conceived toward the beginning of the calendar month, her fetus will be noticeable after the remainder of that month, the entire following month, and the majority of the month after that have passed, even though that is not three full months.
This is derived from the phrase “it was about three months later.” “Moreover, behold, she conceived through harlotry” – it teaches that she would pat her belly and say: I am pregnant with kings; I am pregnant with redeemers.47The phrase “moreover, behold, she conceived through harlotry” is understood to imply that she was not embarrassed that she had conceived; on the contrary, she was proud, even though onlookers assumed that it had occurred through harlotry (Yefe To’ar).
“Take her out and she shall be burned” – Efrayim the cucumber seller [makshaa],48Cucumbers are kishuim; alternatively, makshaa refers to one who poses many questions [kushyot]. student of Rabbi Meir, said in the name of Rabbi Meir: Tamar was the daughter of Shem, as it is written: “The daughter of a man who is a priest, [if she shall profane herself by acting as a harlot…she shall be burned in fire]” (Leviticus 21:9); that is why [Judah said]: “Take her out, and she shall be burned.”49Shem is identified by the Sages (see Nedarim 32b) as Malkitzedek, of whom the verse states that “he was a priest to God, the Most High” (Genesis 14:18). Consequently, if a daughter of Shem had committed adultery, she would have incurred the punishment of burning.