Judah, one of Jacob's sons, married a Canaanite woman, and their firstborn was named Er, which poignantly means "the childless." As fate would have it, Er’s name was a prophecy. He married Tamar, a daughter of Aram, son of Shem – and right away, we see some tension brewing. According to the text in Legends of the Jews, Judah's wife didn't approve of Tamar, as she wasn’t a Canaanite. She used all sorts of tricks, artifices, to keep Er and Tamar apart. And tragically, before their marriage could be consummated, an angel of the Lord struck Er down, just three days after the wedding. Can you imagine the sorrow?
So, following the custom of the time, Judah instructed his second son, Onan, to marry Tamar. This practice was known as yibbum, or levirate marriage, designed to continue the line of the deceased brother. The wedding took place quickly, before the week of Er's wedding festivities even ended. But here's where things get even more complicated.
For a whole year, Onan lived with Tamar, but he refused to father a child with her. The text tells us he listened to his mother's instructions and prevented conception. Why? Perhaps he didn't want to share his inheritance with a child who would legally be considered Er's heir. Whatever his reasons, this act was seen as a grave sin. And so, Onan, too, met an untimely end. His name, ironically, means "mourning," and indeed, his father was soon called upon to mourn him.
Now, Judah had a third son, Shelah. He planned for Shelah to marry Tamar, but his wife, Bath-shua, wouldn't allow it. She still harbored resentment toward Tamar for not being Canaanite. While Judah was away, Bath-shua arranged for Shelah to marry a Canaanite woman instead.
Judah was furious, but according to Legends of the Jews, God's wrath also fell upon Bath-shua. Her wickedness, her prejudice, ultimately led to her demise. She died a year after her two sons.
What a tragic story! It's a reminder of the consequences of prejudice, the importance of family obligations, and the belief that divine justice will eventually prevail. It also makes you think: what role did fate play, and what role did the characters' choices play, in this cascade of misfortune? A lot to chew on, isn't it?