Parshat Vayeshev5 min read

Tamar Knew She Was the Mother of the Messiah

Judah walked past her on the road to Timnah. She asked heaven not to send her away empty. An angel of passion turned him back.

Curated by Arthur · Told by Maggid ·
Table of Contents
  1. Two Husbands Died and Shelah Was Withheld
  2. Judah Walked Past Her
  3. The Kid Came and She Was Gone
  4. She Sent Him His Own Things
  5. Jacob Would Not Rebuke That Confession

Tamar took off the garments of her widowhood and put on a veil. Judah was going up to Timnah. The holy spirit had told her that. She sat in the gate of Abraham's tent and waited.

Tamar Knew She Was the Mother of the Messiah Click for full size

Judah had never seen her face. In all the time she lived in his house she had kept it covered. He could walk straight past his own daughter-in-law and not know her. That was the point. That was also the danger.

Two Husbands Died and Shelah Was Withheld

Judah had left his brothers after the pit. He married Bath-shua, a Canaanite, and had three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. For Er he took Tamar, a woman of proper lineage. Er never touched her. An angel killed him for wickedness that had nothing to do with the marriage. Onan took her under the law that a brother must raise seed for the dead, wasted it on purpose, and died for that.

Judah told Tamar to wait in her father's house until Shelah grew. Shelah grew. Judah did not call. Bath-shua died, and still he waited, because he feared Tamar had brought death to two husbands and would bring it to a third.

She remained a widow two years. She was not only waiting for a husband. She knew, by prophecy, that she was appointed to be the ancestress of David and of the Messiah. Judah was letting that line die in her lap.

Judah Walked Past Her

He came down the road to his shearers and passed the veiled woman without a glance. Tamar lifted her eyes.

"O Lord of the world," she said, "shall I go forth empty from the house of this pious man?"

God sent the angel appointed over the passion of love. The angel turned Judah around. He came back. He took her for a harlot, because the veil was on and her face had always been hidden from him anyway.

She named her price: a kid from the flock. He had no kid with him. She asked for a pledge against its delivery. With a caution that already knew the future, she took his signet, his mantle, and his staff. Royalty, judgeship, the Messiah's line. She held all three and gave him what he came for.

The Kid Came and She Was Gone

Judah sent the promised kid by the hand of his friend, to get the pledges back. Tamar could not be found. He was afraid to search further, lest he be put to shame in the gate. He let the signet, the mantle, and the staff stay lost.

Tamar knew she was with child. She was glad. She knew she would be the mother of kings and redeemers. The widow's clothes went back on. The pledges stayed where no one would think to look for a royal line.

Three months later Judah was told that Tamar had played the harlot and was pregnant. He ordered her brought out to be burned.

She Sent Him His Own Things

She did not denounce him in the street. She sent the signet, the cord of the mantle, and the staff, with a message: the man who owns these made me pregnant. Examine them. See whose they are.

Judah recognized the objects in his hands. The heat went out of the sentence he had just spoken.

"Tamar is more righteous than I am," he said. "Therefore let them burn her not. I did not give her my son Shelah."

He did not approach her again. She was not given to Shelah. She bore twins, Perez and Zerah. At the birth Zerah put out a hand, and the midwife tied a scarlet thread on it, then the hand drew back, and Perez broke through first. His name means breach. The Messiah would come through the one who forced his way out.

Jacob Would Not Rebuke That Confession

Years later, on his deathbed, Jacob rebuked Simeon and Levi. The other sons tried to slip away. Judah was afraid his father would taunt him with Tamar.

Jacob turned to him instead. Judah, thou dost deserve thy name. Thy brethren will praise thee. As thou didst confess thy sin openly, so will thy descendants. Thou didst save Joseph from death, and Tamar and her two sons from the flames. Rulers shall not cease from the house of Judah until his descendant Messiah come.

Tamar had known that sentence before Judah did. She had sat in Abraham's gate with a veil on and an angel turning a man who would have walked past her. She had kept the pledges until he was ready to say she was more righteous. The line he had tried to close had already opened in her.

JudahTamarMessiahProphecyRepentanceGehenna
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From the tradition

Sources

4 sources

The texts behind this telling. Some cards carry a translation of the source; others are our own retelling of it, and each card says which. Every card links out to the original.

Book of Jubilees 41:24Book of Jubilees

Retold in our words. Read the original at the link below.Sefaria Community Translation · CC-BY

Book of Jubilees turns to Judah Confesses That Tamar Is More Righteous.

Remember the story? Judah's wife dies. He’s supposed to give his youngest son, Shelah, to his widowed daughter-in-law, Tamar, to provide her with an heir. But Judah, fearing Shelah will also die, withholds him. Tamar, resourceful and determined, takes matters into her own hands. She disguises herself as a prostitute and seduces Judah himself.

The result? She becomes pregnant.

When Judah learns of Tamar's pregnancy, believing she has acted immorally, he orders her to be burned alive. But Tamar, in a stroke of brilliance, reveals the truth. She sends Judah the signet ring, cord, and staff he gave as payment, proving he is the father.

And here, in Jubilees 41, we find Judah's response. "Judah acknowledged, and said: 'Tamar is more righteous than I am. And therefore let them burn her not.'" It's a moment of profound honesty. He admits his wrongdoing. Tamar’s actions, though unconventional, were driven by a desire to uphold the law of yibbum, levirate marriage, ensuring her husband’s line continued. Judah, in his fear and selfishness, had failed her.

The verse reads, "And for that reason she was not given to Shelah, and he did not again approach her." Shelah remains unmarried to Tamar. The consequences of Judah's actions ripple outwards.

Following this dramatic confrontation, Tamar gives birth to twins: Perez and Zerah. Jubilees specifies this occurs in "the seventh year of this second week," a detail that anchors the narrative within its specific chronological framework. And this birth has huge ramifications! Perez, as we know from the Book of Ruth, becomes an ancestor of King David and, ultimately, of the Messiah. From this complicated, ethically murky situation, emerges the lineage of Jewish royalty.

The Book of Jubilees doesn't shy away from Judah's internal struggle. "And Judah acknowledged that the deed which he had done was evil, for he had lain with his daughter-in-law, and he esteemed it hateful in his eyes, and he acknowledged that he had transgressed and gone astray; for he had uncovered the skirt of his son." This isn't just a legal acknowledgement; it's a deeply personal one. He recognizes the moral weight of his actions. The phrase "uncovered the skirt of his son" is a euphemism for a grave transgression, violating the boundaries of family and lineage.

What's so compelling about this passage is its unflinching portrayal of human fallibility. Judah, a patriarch, a leader, makes a mistake. He tries to cover it up. But ultimately, he is confronted with the truth and forced to acknowledge his wrongdoing. It's evidence of the power of truth and the possibility of repentance.

This story, found in Jubilees, reminds us that even in our imperfections, even in our moments of failure, we can still contribute to something greater. Judah's mistake, and his subsequent acknowledgement of it, becomes part of a story that leads to redemption. Can good really come from such complicated beginnings?

Full source
Legends of the Jews 1:397Legends of the Jews

Retold in our words. Read the original at the link below.The Legends of the Jews by Louis Ginzberg (1909) · Public Domain

It’s a powerful theme that echoes through the Torah and the later rabbinic traditions. Take Jacob, for example, on his deathbed, surrounded by his sons. His words, according to Legends of the Jews, weren't always what you’d call sunshine and rainbows.

Readers often remember Jacob’s harsh words for Simon and Levi, particularly after their violent actions. "I will divide them in Jacob," he said. And, the prophecy was fulfilled. The tribe of Simon dwindled after the incident at Shittim, where twenty-four thousand men perished. The surviving women ended up marrying into other tribes, effectively scattering Simon's descendants.

Here's the twist, the part that often gets overlooked. Even in rebuke, there's a blessing. Jacob didn’t just dismiss them! He foresaw that the tribe of Simon would produce the teachers and beadles – the caretakers and administrators – needed by all of Israel. And Levi? They would become the scholars, the ones who would examine the Torah’s wisdom and guide the people with their rulings.

The other sons, understandably, were a bit nervous. Judah, especially, was anxious, fearing Jacob would bring up the sticky situation with Tamar.

But instead, Jacob turned to Judah with…praise? "Judah, thou dost deserve thy name," he declared. His mother Leah named him Yehudah (Judah) because she gave praise to God at his birth, and Jacob said, "So shall thy brethren praise thee, and they all will call themselves by thy name.": The very name "Jew" is derived from Judah!

And the blessings kept coming. Jacob acknowledged Judah’s confession of his sin, comparing him to future descendants like Achan, David, and Manasseh, who would also publicly confess their sins and find forgiveness. He lauded Judah's bravery, comparing him to a dog and a lion (a rather interesting combination!). And remember how Judah saved Joseph from death, and Tamar and her sons from being burned? Those acts of courage were not forgotten.

Then comes the big one, the messianic prophecy. "Rulers shall not cease from the house of Judah, nor teachers of the law from his posterity, until his descendant Messiah come, and the obedience of all peoples be unto him." The Midrash Rabbah and the Zohar are filled with similar imagery and predictions about this future ruler.

And what a picture Jacob paints! The Messiah of the House of Judah, girded for battle, invincible against his enemies. Mountains dyed red with the blood of the wicked. Even the Messiah’s garments are described with vivid detail: "The garments of Messiah will be like the garments of him that presseth wine." His eyes pure, never beholding anything unchaste or violent; his teeth whiter than milk, never biting anything obtained unjustly.

That past mistakes don't define us, and that even in the face of our shortcomings, there's the potential for greatness, for redemption, and for a future filled with hope. And perhaps most importantly, it reminds us of the enduring power of confession, of taking responsibility for our actions, and of the promise of a better world to come.

Full source
Legends of the Jews 1:65Legends of the Jews

Retold in our words. Read the original at the link below.The Legends of the Jews by Louis Ginzberg (1909) · Public Domain

Legends of the Jews turns to Kingdom of Tamar.

So, what's Tamar to do? She's stuck. Penniless, and without prospects, it seems like she'll never be able to remarry and have children.

Tamar is no ordinary woman. She's endowed with the gift of prophecy! As the verse says, she knows that she is destined to be the ancestress of David, the future king, and ultimately, of the Messiah! This isn't just about personal happiness for her; it's about fulfilling a divine purpose.

So, she takes matters into her own hands. When the ruach (spirit) hakodesh (holy spirit) reveals to her that Judah is going to Timnah, she comes up with a plan. She removes her widow's garments, veils herself, and sits at the entrance to a place we're told is Abraham's tent, waiting for Judah.

Now, here's a crucial detail: Judah has never seen Tamar's face. Throughout her time living in his household, she maintained the utmost modesty, always keeping her face covered. So, when Judah encounters her, he doesn't recognize her. This is not just a plot point; it's evidence of Tamar's virtue. It was precisely because of her modesty that God chose her to be the mother of the royal line of David. Her commitment to modesty, to personal holiness, plays a direct role in her destiny. It's a powerful idea.

What happens next is a story for another time (spoiler alert: it involves some clever bargaining and a very important signet ring!). But the setup here is crucial. Tamar’s determination, her faith in her prophetic vision, and her willingness to take a huge risk – all of these things set the stage for a truly remarkable story. She becomes not only the ancestress of David, but also of prophets like Isaiah and his father Amoz, both of whom, we're told, were of royal blood.

Tamar's story is a reminder that sometimes, destiny requires us to be bold, to step outside our comfort zones, and to trust in something larger than ourselves. It is evidence of the power of faith, prophecy, and a woman's determination to fulfill her divinely appointed role.

Full source
Legends of the Jews 1:66Legends of the Jews

Retold in our words. Read the original at the link below.The Legends of the Jews by Louis Ginzberg (1909) · Public Domain

Judah, one of the sons of Jacob, walks right past her. Doesn't even give her a second glance. Imagine! But Tamar? She’s not about to let this opportunity slip away. She looks up to the heavens and cries out, "O Lord of the world, shall I go forth empty from the house of this pious man?" (Legends of the Jews). It's a powerful moment, a plea for purpose and fulfillment.

Or, perhaps more accurately, sends down a little help. The angel appointed over passion, no less! This angel gives Judah a cosmic nudge, compelling him to turn back.

Tamar, being no fool, plays her cards right. She knows this could be big, and she wants some assurance. So, with what Ginzberg describes as “prophetic caution,” she asks Judah for a pledge: his signet, his mantle, and his staff. These aren't just random items. These are symbols. Symbols of royalty, judgeship, and Messiahship. Everything! According to Legends of the Jews, these are the three distinctions of Tamar's descendants. for a second. Tamar, in this single act, is staking a claim on the future.

Later, Judah sends his friend with a goat (the promised payment, of course) to retrieve his pledges. But Tamar is nowhere to be found. And Judah, worried about bringing shame upon himself, decides to cut his losses and not search further. Understandable, perhaps, but also… short-sighted.

Meanwhile, Tamar knows she's pregnant. And she's not just pregnant; she's pregnant with destiny. She understands the weight of what she carries. Legends of the Jews tells us that she "felt very happy and proud, for she knew that she would be the mother of kings and redeemers."

So, what do we take away from this? It's a story about seizing opportunities, about faith, and about how even seemingly small encounters can have enormous consequences. It’s about how sometimes, destiny needs a little… encouragement. And sometimes, a woman knows exactly what she's doing, even when the world around her doesn't.

Full source