Just a few notes about the Tamar and Judah story. Could be used if you wanted to teach the Tamar story in gospel doctrine
Judah, Tamar, and Joseph
Chapter 37 marks the beginning of the Joseph Narrative. Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers and his brothers deceived his father into believing that Joseph, his favorite son, is now dead. Later in chapter 39 the narrative picks up with Joseph as a slave in the house of Potiphar. The story of Judah and Tamar, contained in Genesis 38, interrupts this story.1
1.1 Interrupting the Joseph Story
One obvious question is why does the author of Genesis interrupt the flow of the Joseph narrative to tell us about Judah and Tamar?
1.2 Similarities Between the Joseph Narrative and the Tamar Narrative
1.2.1 What similarities and overlap to you find between the two narratives?
1.2.2 Are these similarities important?
1.3 Contrasting Elements in Joseph Narrative and the Tamar Narrative
1.4 Additional Thoughts
Footnotes:
1 What follows is heavily influenced by Robert Alter's commentary on the Genesis story. For more information see the Art of the Biblical Narrative, 3-12.
Judah, Tamar, and Joseph
Chapter 37 marks the beginning of the Joseph Narrative. Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers and his brothers deceived his father into believing that Joseph, his favorite son, is now dead. Later in chapter 39 the narrative picks up with Joseph as a slave in the house of Potiphar. The story of Judah and Tamar, contained in Genesis 38, interrupts this story.1
1.1 Interrupting the Joseph Story
One obvious question is why does the author of Genesis interrupt the flow of the Joseph narrative to tell us about Judah and Tamar?
- One possibility is there is no other place really to put it. It happens around this time and you can't really put it anywhere else.
- Also, maybe it is there just to show passage of time between Joseph's brothers selling him and Joseph's ultimate fate in Egypt. This delay also helps build a sense of suspense.
- While both of the preceding may be true, I think there is much more to it than that. These two stories are closely related and linked. Recognizing the intertwined nature of these stories enhances the impact of both stories.
1.2 Similarities Between the Joseph Narrative and the Tamar Narrative
1.2.1 What similarities and overlap to you find between the two narratives?
- Deception plays a prominent role in both narratives.
- Ironically, Judah is the chief deceiver in the Joseph narrative and the deceived in the Tamar narrative.
- It is the "father" that is primarily deceived in both narratives
- Ironically, Judah is the chief deceiver in the Joseph narrative and the deceived in the Tamar narrative.
- Clothing plays a critical role in the deception.
- Joseph's coat is used to deceive Jacob
- Tamar dresses as a prostitute and wears a veil to deceive Judah
- Joseph's coat is used to deceive Jacob
- The death of a son features prominently in both
- In both, primogeniture is violated.
- Goats figure prominently in both and are wrapped up in the deception in both narratives.
- Goat's blood is used to deceived Jacob
- Judah promised payment to Tamar is a goat.
- Goat's blood is used to deceived Jacob
- Sexuality is an important part of both narratives
- Both narratives are about who will rule Israel: Joseph in the short run and Judah's line in the long run.
- The heroes in both stories are for a time helpless and lack any real recourse or options. Both are able to overcome their dire circumstances they are dealt.
- Recognition is critical in each story and the triumph of the heroes.
- Joseph recognizes his brothers but they do not
- Tamar recognizes Judah but Judah doesn't recognize her
- Joseph recognizes his brothers but they do not
- The requirement to leave something to seal the deal.
- Both the heroes are foreigners. Joseph is a foreigner in a strange land and Tamar was probably a Canaanite. They are likewise both mistreated by their families.
- Joseph and Judah both "went down."
(1) And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. (Genesis 38:1)
(1) And Joseph was brought down to Egypt; and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites, which had brought him down thither. (Genesis 39:1)
1.2.2 Are these similarities important?
- What do you make of these similarities?
- Do the similarities help us understand the Joseph story better?
- Do they point us to the important elements in both stories?
- Do they give us insight into the overall theological point(s)? If so, what are the important shared theological points in the story?
1.3 Contrasting Elements in Joseph Narrative and the Tamar Narrative
- Sons of both Judah and Jacob die in the narratives. The two grieve very differently:
(33) And he knew it, and said, It is my son's coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces. (34) And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days. (35) And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him; but he refused to be comforted; and he said, For I will go down into the grave unto my son mourning. Thus his father wept for him. (Genesis 37:33-35)
(7) And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord slew him. (8) And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother. (9) And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother’s wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother. (10) And the thing which he did displeased the Lord: wherefore he slew him also. (11) 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 said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house. (Genesis 37:33-35)
- Judah is exposed because of his sexual impulsiveness and Joseph ultimately triumphs in part because of his sexual restraint. Seduction and failed seduction.
- Judah's role serves as an important contrast. Is he changed by the events of Chapter 38. Is this important to understanding Judah's later behavior in the Joseph narrative?
- There is no mention of the divine help in the Tamar narrative, but it is very prominent in the Joseph narrative. Well, the Lord is mentioned in terms of explaining the death of Judah's oldest son so the contrast is even more striking than no divine help versus divine help.
Is this an important difference? Why?
1.4 Additional Thoughts
- Deceit plays an important role in many of the narratives in the Book of Genesis. Why is deceit so important and such a prominent theme?
- Furthermore, deceit is often used to further the desires or plan of the Lord. Why?
This is not an accidental theme, it is too prominent. What does it teach us about God? What theological concepts does it hint at? How can the prominence of deceit in these narrative teach us something about God?
- Does it make you uncomfortable that deceit is so prominent? Why? On the other hand, what is the upside to the prominence of deceit?
- Why does the trickster always end up getting tricked?
- Jacob tricks his father.
- Laban tricks Jacab.
- Jacob tricks Laban.
- Judah (as the leader of the sons) tricks Jacob.
- Judah tricked by Tamar.
- Sons of Jacob tricked (mildly) by Joseph.
Is this trickster motif important? Is it just a coincidence? Does it tell us something about the human condition? Is it a completely non-spiritual motif?
- Primogeniture is violated almost all the time in Genesis (it almost seems like it is a sin to be the oldest). Why did the author of Genesis emphasize these stories? What does this pattern or theme teach us about God?
Footnotes:
1 What follows is heavily influenced by Robert Alter's commentary on the Genesis story. For more information see the Art of the Biblical Narrative, 3-12.
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