Tamar Daughter of Shem and the Three Months of Her Hidden Pregnancy

Midrash Aggadah, Genesis 38:24

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And it came to pass about three months after" (Genesis 38:24) — not three complete months, but rather the greater part of the first, the greater part of the last, and the middle one complete. "Behold, she is with child by harlotry" — this teaches that she was patting her belly and saying, "I am pregnant with kings! I am pregnant with redeemers!" Tamar was the daughter of Shem, as it is said, "And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the harlot, she profaneth her father; she shall be burnt with fire" (Leviticus 21:9). And therefore Judah said, "Bring her forth, and let her be burnt."

Themes

WomenHumorWitTribesMessiah

Biblical References

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Book of JubileesJudah's Uncomfortable Encounter With His Own SinBook of Jubilees turns to Judah's Uncomfortable Encounter With His Own Sin. The passage in question, Jubilees 41, picks up after Judah’s wife has passed away. IMidrash TanchumaWhat Did the House of Amalek Do to Israel? 52 Below(Deut. 25:18, cont.) And he cut off (rt. znb) all who were lagging behind you. He smote them with a blow to the tail (rt. znb). And this agrees with what R. HanBook of JubileesAdam in Jewish TraditionBook of Jubilees turns to Adam in Jewish Tradition. The familiar version gives us (or at least, we think we know) the story of Adam and Eve, Cain and Abel, and Book of JubileesAbram and the PatriarchsWe catch glimpses of it in the text, but sometimes, we need a little help filling in the blanks. That's where texts like the Book of Jubilees come in. The Book Book of JubileesIsaac Gives Jacob Final Advice Before DyingBook of Jubilees turns to Isaac Gives Jacob Final Advice Before Dying. Here, Jacob is visiting his father, Isaac. Isaac, nearing the end of his days, gives his Book of JubileesEr's TransgressionSometimes, it's in these tiny glimpses that we catch sight of the divine hand at work. The Book of Jubilees itself. it’s a fascinating text! It's considered apo