One of the more dramatic stories in the Bible appears in Genesis 38. It tells of the relationship between the patriarch Judah and his widowed daughter-in-law Tamar. Following the death of her husband, and after her hopes of being redeemed from widowhood by levirate marriage are disappointed by none other than Judah himself, Tamar takes the bold initiative of disguising herself as a harlot sitting by the roadside. Ironically, she seduces Judah into having sexual relations with her, thereby fulfilling his promise that she would be wed to a member of Judah’s family. As part of their pre-deed agreement, […]
