Book of Jubilees turns to Tamar Disguises Herself and Confronts Judah.
Judah's life wasn't easy. He had just lost his wife. According to Jubilees, after the mourning period, Tamar took matters into her own hands. She removed her widow's garments, veiled herself, and positioned herself at the entrance to Timnah.
Then Judah appears. He sees her, but doesn't recognize her, believing her to be a zonah, a prostitute. He says to her, "Let me come in unto thee."
She agrees, but, being no fool, immediately asks for her payment. Judah, caught a bit off guard, responds, "I have nothing in my hand save my ring that is on my finger, and my necklace, and my staff which is in my hand." A ring, a necklace, a staff. These weren't just objects; they were symbols of his identity, his authority, his lineage.
Tamar, ever resourceful, says, "Give them to me until thou dost send me my hire." Judah agrees, promising to send a young goat, a "kid of the goats," as payment and hands over the items.
What's going on here? Why this elaborate charade? The Book of Jubilees fills in some gaps, offering a perspective on Tamar’s motivations and the cultural context of the time. This was a society deeply concerned with lineage and continuation. The stakes were high, and Tamar was playing for keeps. The stories are far from straightforward. And there are layers upon layers of meaning embedded within them.