Tamar at the Gate and the Modesty That Births Kings

"For he said, Lest he also die like his brothers" (Genesis 38:11). Although there is no divination, there is an omen. "And the days were multiplied" — twelve months. "And the daughter of Shua, Judah's wife, died" (Genesis 38:12). Wherever "shearing" is mentioned it leaves a mark. It is written, "Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah" (Genesis 38:13), and it is written, "And Samson went down to Timnah" (Judges 14:1). Of Samson, who was disgraced through it, "going down" is written; of Judah, who was exalted through it, "going up" is written. Rabbi Samuel bar Nachman said: there were two Timnahs, one in a descent and one in an ascent. Rav Pappa said: there was one Timnah; whoever came from this side went up to it, and whoever came from that side went down to it. "And she sat at the entrance of Enaim" (Genesis 38:14). This teaches that she went and sat at the doorway of Abraham our father, a place to which all eyes [einayim] look up. Rabbi Chanan said: it is a place whose name is Enaim, as it is said, "Tappuah and Enam" (Joshua 15:34). Rabbi Samuel bar Nachmani said: that she gave eyes to her words. When he solicited her, he said to her: Perhaps you are a gentile? She said to him: I am a convert. Perhaps you are a married woman? She said to him: I am unmarried. Perhaps your father has accepted betrothal for you? She said to him: I am an orphan. Perhaps you are ritually impure? She said to him: I am pure. "And Judah saw her, and thought her to be a harlot, for she had covered her face" (Genesis 38:15). Because she had covered her face he thought her a harlot? Rabbi Eliezer said: because she had covered her face in the house of her father-in-law. For Rabbi Samuel bar Nachmani said in the name of Rav Yonatan: any bride who is modest in the house of her father-in-law merits that kings and prophets come forth from her. From where do we know this? From Tamar. Kings — from David. Prophets — as it is written, "The vision of Isaiah son of Amoz" (Isaiah 1:1); and Rabbi Levi said: it is a tradition in our hands from our fathers that Amoz and Amaziah were brothers. "And she sent to her father-in-law" — but let her say it to him directly! Rav Zutra bar Tuvyah said: it is better for a person to throw himself into a fiery furnace than to shame his fellow in public. From where do we know this? From Tamar. "Discern, please" (Genesis 38:25): with "discern" Judah had brought tidings to his father, "Discern, please, whether it is your son's coat" (Genesis 37:32); with "discern" tidings were brought to him, "Discern, please, whose signet this is." "Discern, please" — "please" is only a word of entreaty: I beg of you, recognize the face of your Creator and do not hide your eyes from me. "And Judah recognized them and said, She is more righteous than I" (Genesis 38:26). How did he know? A heavenly voice went forth and said: from Me went forth these hidden things. "And he knew her again no more" (Genesis 38:26): once he knew her, he never ceased from her. It is written here "and he knew her again no more," and it is written there "a great voice, and it did not cease" (Deuteronomy 5:19).