“He said: What is the collateral that I should give you? She said: Your signet, and your belt, and your staff that is in your hand. He gave them to her and consorted with her, and she conceived by him” (Genesis 38:18). “What is the collateral that I should give…” – Rabbi Ḥuneya said: The divine spirit flashed in her.
“Your signet [ḥotamekha]” – this is kingship, just as it says: “Set me as a seal [khaḥotam] upon your heart” (Song of Songs 8:6);43This verse is taken as an allusion to the kingship (see Shir HaShirim Rabba 8:6:2; Nezer HaKodesh, based on Zohar). “for if Konya, son of Yehoyakim king of Judah, would be a signet ring [ḥotam] upon My right hand” (Jeremiah 22:24). “And your belt [uftilekha]” – this is the Sanhedrin, which is identifiable by a thread, just as it says: “a thread of sky-blue wool” (Exodus 39:31).44The members of the Sanhedrin would always be wearing a tallit with sky-blue ritual fringes (Matnot Kehuna).
Alternatively, they would wear special clothing as a sign of honor (see Rabbi David Luria; Rashash). “And your staff” – this is the messianic king, just as it says: “A staff will emerge from the stump of Yishai” (Isaiah 11:1); “the Lord will send your staff of strength from Zion” (Psalms 110:2). “He gave them to her…and she conceived by him” – mighty like him and righteous like him. “Judah sent the goat kid in the hand of his friend the Adulamite, to take the collateral from the woman, but he did not find her” (Genesis 38:20).
“Judah sent…” – Yehuda bar Naḥman in the name of Reish Lakish: “Playing [mesaḥeket] in the world of His earth” (Proverbs 8:31), “playing [mesaḥeket] before Him at all times” (Proverbs 8:30). This is the Torah, which makes a mockery [mesaḥeket] of people.45People who seek to avoid the Torah’s judgment. The Holy One blessed be He said to Judah: ‘You deceived your father with a goat kid; as you live, Tamar will deceive you with a goat kid.’