| Subject: Genesis 38 vss 12-23 Post 183 |
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Hillbilly
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Date Posted: 17:41:11 02/12/12 Sun
Genesis 38:12-23 And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. 13 And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep. 14 And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife. 15 When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face. 16 And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she was his daughter in law.) And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me? 17 And he said, I will send thee a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send it? 18 And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that is in thine hand. And he gave it her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him. 19 And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood. 20 And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman's hand: but he found her not. 21 Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Where is the harlot, that was openly by the way side? And they said, There was no harlot in this place. 22 And he returned to Judah, and said, I cannot find her; and also the men of the place said, that there was no harlot in this place. 23 And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.
All is clear in the passage as to what transpires. Judah's wife dies and he goes through his period of mourning. After his mourning time passes he decides to go up to his herd which is close to Timnath. Timnath is in the northern portion of Judah and close to the border of Dan which would be southern Lebanon today. It is sheep shearing time and he heads north with his old friend Hirah. The path taken lies close to the home of Tamar's father whom she is living with at the time until Judah calls for her to wed his youngest son Shelah who had been promised to her.
Realizing Judah did not intend to keep his promise Tamar takes off her widow's clothes and dresses herself as a harlot to set by the wayside as Judah passes. There are a few things here that are common sense things to understand. First Judah has been a while without his wife and no conjugal relationships in his life. He is longing for a woman. Nature is taking it's course on Judah. Tamar knows that Judah will have less will power than normal and he should be easy to seduce. It is noteworthy to see that harlots covered their faces with their veils in order not to be recognized. Morals were fairly loose at the time as their seems to be no fear in Tamar that she would be stoned as would happen under the future law. (Muslim women today in strict societies cover their faces when around any male other than family.) Another thing that is evident is Judah does not try to hide his actions. His friend Hirah is fully aware of what takes place and is the one Judah sends to pay for Tamar's services.
A bargain is struck between Tamar and Judah without Judah knowing the woman is his daughter in law. He will give a kid from his flock of sheep but he doesn't have it with her. She accepts his ring, staff and his bracelets as surety for the payment due. Judah consummates the deal and Tamar is left pregnant. She goes back home and puts her widow's clothes back on and Judah goes on to Timnath with Hirah. After arriving he selects a kid from the flock and sends it back with Hirah to pay for his "one night stand". The problem becomes known when Hirah can't find the woman and the men of the area tell him straight up there is no harlot around their parts.
Judah is left with the prospect of trying to recover his personal belongings at the risk of being found out as one who pays for a harlot for his personal gratification. He decides to let her keep his stuff and drop the matter all together. The problem with this idea is that these things have a way of being uncovered.
As we shall see the old scripture "be sure your sin will find you out" (Num. 32:23) will rear it's head and cause Judah to either have to face the result of his sin.
What we can see here is a fact as old as the human race itself. . Self gratification no matter the cost. Judah sin is one that has been played out millions of time. A few moments of pleasure that may result in children that will be brought up in many instance by a single parent without the means of supporting that child. Pure selfish lust satisfied without thought of the consequences.
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