“The days accumulated, and the daughter of Shua, wife of Judah, died, and Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheepshearers, he and Ḥira, his friend the Adulamite, to Timna” (Genesis 38:12). “The days accumulated, and the daughter of Shua, wife of Judah, died.” “The days accumulated” – twelve months. “Up to his sheepshearers” – every place that shearing is stated, it makes an impression.
We found likewise regarding Naval, Laban, and Avshalom.37Each of these biblical characters is recorded as having gone to shear his sheep (I Samuel 25:2; Genesis 31:19; II Samuel 13:23). In each case, this preceded a significantly negative event. Some explain that the shearing would accompanied by celebration, and these celebrations led to negative consequences (see Maharzu). “It was told to Tamar, saying: Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timna to shear his sheep” (Genesis 38:13).
“It was told to Tamar, saying…” – Rav said: There are two Timnas, one of Judah and one of Samson.38“Samson went down to Timna, and he saw a woman in Timna of the daughters of the Philistines” (Judges 14:1). Why does it mention in its regard ascent and descent? It was an ascent for Judah because he was producing kings, and a descent for Samson because he was marrying a gentile woman. Rabbi Simon said: There is one Timna.
Why does it mention ascent and descent in its regard? Rabbi Aivu ben Agri said: It is like that Beit Maon – one ascends to it from Tiberias and descends to it from Kefar Shuvti.