Reference: Tamar (2)
Fausets
("a palm".) (See THAMAR.)
1. (See JUDAH.) Her importance in the narrative (Ge 38:6-30) lies in her being the instrument (though in an incestuous way) of saving from extinction the family and tribe from which Messiah was to spring. Er and Onan were dead; and Judah's wife Bathshun. Shelab alone remained; and Judah's parental fears for him, lest if joined to Tamar he too like his brothers should die, were preventing Judah from giving him as the tribe law required (De 25:5; Mt 22:24) to Tamar. She took the desperate measure of helping herself by incest. Pharez and Zarah were her sons by Judah; and a fruitful race followed, God not sanctioning but overruling evil to His own good purpose (Ro 3:5-8; Ru 4:12,22; Mt 1:3).
2. Daughter of David and Maacah; the handsome Absalom's beautiful sister; forced by Amnon at his bad friend Jonadab's abominable suggestion (2 Samuel 13; 1Ch 3:9). (See ABSALOM; AMNON; JONADAB.) Beauty is a snare unless grace accompany and guard it (Pr 31:30). Tamar excelled in baking palatable cakes (lebibah, "heartcakes," with spices as "cordials".) Amnon availed himself of this to effect his design, as if he wished to see the exquisite grace with which she baked before his eyes.
She remonstrated at his force, dwelling twice on such baseness being wrought "in Israel," where a higher law existed than in pagandom. Yet such was the low opinion she, in common with the rest of David's children, formed of the king's foolish fondness for his offspring that she believed it would outweigh his regard for the law of God against incest (Le 18:9,11). Amnon was his oldest, son, from whom he would not withhold even a half sister! Each prince, it appears, had his own establishment, and princesses were not above baking; the king's daughters in their virginity were distinguished by "garments of divers colours."
3. Absalom's sole surviving child, beautiful as her aunt and father; married Uriel of Gibeah, and bore Maachah, wife of Rehoboam king of Judah (1Ki 15:2; 2Ch 11:20-22; 13:2), and mother of Abijah (2Sa 14:7).
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And Judah gave Er, his eldest son, a wife whose name was Tamar. But this Er, Judah's eldest son, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; wherefore the LORD slew him. read more. Then said Judah unto Onan, go in to thy brother's wife and marry her, and stir up seed unto thy brother. And when Onan perceived that the seed should not be his: therefore when he went into his brother's wife, he spilled it on the ground, because he would not give seed unto his brother. And the thing which he did, displeased the LORD, wherefore he slew him also. Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter-in-law, "Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown." For he feared lest he should have died also, as his brethren did. Thus went Tamar and dwelt in her father's house. And in process of time, the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died. Then Judah, when he had left mourning, went unto his sheep shearers to Timnath with his friend Hirah of Adullam. And one told Tamar, saying, "Behold, thy father-in-law goeth up to Timnath, to shear his sheep." And she put her widow's garments off from her and covered her with a cloak, and disguised herself: And sat her down at the entering of Enaim which is by the high way's side to Timnath, for because she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife. When Judah saw her, he thought it had been an whore, because she had covered her face. And turned to her unto the way and said, "Come, I pray thee, let me lie with thee." For he knew not that it was his daughter-in-law. And she said, "What wilt thou give me, for to lie with me?" Then said he, "I will send thee a kid from the flock." She answered, "Then give me a pledge till thou send it." Then said he, "What pledge shall I give thee?" And she said, "Thy signet, thy necklace, and thy staff that is in thy hand." And he gave it her and lay by her, and she was with child by him. And she gat her up and went and put her mantle from her, and put on her widow's raiment again. And Judah sent the kid by his neighbour of Adullam, for to fetch out his pledge again from the woman. But he found her not. Then asked he the men of the same place saying, "Where is the whore that sat at Enaim in the way?" And they said, "There was no whore here." And he came to Judah again, saying, "I cannot find her, and also the men of the place said that there was no whore there." And Judah said, "Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: for I sent the kid and thou couldest not find her." And it came to pass that after three months, one told Judah, saying, "Tamar thy daughter-in-law hath played the whore, and with playing the whore is become great with child." And Judah said, "Bring her forth and let her be burnt." And when they brought her forth, she sent to her father-in-law saying, "By the man unto whom these things pertain, am I with child." And said also, "Look whose are this seal, necklace, and staff." And Judah knew them, saying, "She is more righteous than I, because I gave her not to Shelah my son." But he lay with her no more. When time was come that she should be delivered, behold there was two twins in her womb. And as she travailed, the one put out his hand and the midwife took and bound a red thread about it, saying, "This will come out first." But he plucked his hand back again, and his brother came out. And she said, "Wherefore hast thou rent a rent upon thee?" And called him Perez. And afterward came out his brother that had the red thread about his hand, which was called Zerah.
Thou shalt not uncover the privities of thy sister, the daughter of thy father or of thy mother: whether she be born at home or without.
Thou shalt not uncover the privities of thy father's wife's daughter, which she bare to thy father, for she is thy sister: thou shalt therefore not uncover her privities.
When brethren dwell together and one of them die and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not be given out unto a stranger: but her brother-in-law shall go in unto her and take her to wife and marry her.
and that thine house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bare unto Judah, even of the seed which the LORD shall give thee of this young woman."
And behold, the whole kindred arose against thy handmaid and said, 'Deliver us him that smote his brother, that we may kill him for the soul of his brother whom he slew: for he will destroy the heir also.' And so they shall quench my sparkle which is left that he shall stir up neither name or issue upon the earth unto my husband."
and ruled three years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Maacah, the daughter of Abishalom.
These all are the sons of David, beside the sons of his concubines and Tamar their sister.
Favour is a deceitful thing, and beauty is vanity; but a woman that feareth God, she shall be praised.
saying, "Master, Moses bade, if a man die having no children, that the brother marry his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother.
If our unrighteousness make the righteousness of God more excellent: what shall we say? Is God unrighteous which taketh vengeance? I speak after the manner of men. God forbid. For how then shall God judge the world? read more. If the verity of God appear more excellent through my lie, unto his praise, why am I henceforth judged as a sinner? And say not rather - as men evil-speak of us, and as some affirm that we say - "Let us do evil, that good may come thereof." Whose damnation is just.