Genesis 38:14

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.

And she put {H5493} her widow's {H491} garments {H899} off {H5493} from her, and covered her {H3680} with a vail {H6809}, and wrapped herself {H5968}, and sat in {H3427} an open {H5869} place {H6607}, which is by the way {H1870} to Timnath {H8553}; for she saw {H7200} that Shelah {H7956} was grown {H1431}, and she was not given {H5414} unto him to wife {H802}.

So she took off her widow's clothes, completely covered her face with her veil, and sat at the entrance to 'Einayim, which is on the way to Timnah. For she saw that Shelah had grown up, but she still was not being given to him as his wife.

she removed her widowโ€™s garments, covered her face with a veil to disguise herself, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the way to Timnah. For she saw that although Shelah had grown up, she had not been given to him as a wife.

And she put off from her the garments of her widowhood, and covered herself with her veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gate of Enaim, which is by the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she was not given unto him to wife.

Commentary

Genesis 38:14 describes a pivotal moment in the story of Tamar, Judah's daughter-in-law. After being twice widowed by Judah's sons, Er and Onan, and being withheld from marrying the third son, Shelah, Tamar takes matters into her own hands to secure her rightful lineage and inheritance within the family of Judah.

Context of Genesis 38:14

This verse is set against the backdrop of an unconventional but crucial narrative within the book of Genesis, often seen as an interlude in the larger Joseph narrative. Judah, one of Jacob's sons, had promised Tamar his youngest son, Shelah, once he was grown. However, Judah feared that Shelah, like his brothers Er and Onan, would also die, and thus he delayed fulfilling his promise (Genesis 38:11). Tamar, recognizing Judah's deceit and her precarious position as a childless widow without a male heir or a place in Judah's household, devises a plan. Her actions in this verse are a direct response to Judah's failure to uphold the ancient custom of levirate marriage, which ensured a widow's provision and the continuation of the deceased husband's lineage.

Key Themes and Messages

  • Tamar's Determination and Agency: Tamar's shedding of her widow's garments and donning a veil signifies her active pursuit of justice and her rights. She is not a passive victim but a woman who takes decisive action to ensure her future and the continuity of her deceased husband's line.
  • Deception and Righteousness: While her method involves deception (disguising herself as a harlot), the narrative ultimately presents Tamar as more righteous than Judah, who failed in his patriarchal responsibility (Genesis 38:26). Her actions, though unconventional, were driven by the desire to secure her place and lineage.
  • Levirate Marriage and Lineage: The core of this story revolves around the custom of levirate marriage, where a brother-in-law was obligated to marry his deceased brother's widow to raise up offspring for the deceased. Tamar's desperation highlights the vital importance of lineage and inheritance in ancient Israelite society, especially for women.

Linguistic Insights

The phrase "open place" (KJV) is translated from the Hebrew pethach enayim (ืคึถึผืชึทื— ืขึตื™ื ึทื™ึดื), which can also be rendered as "the entrance of Enaim" or "a crossroads." This suggests a public, visible location, indicating Tamar's deliberate choice of a place where she would be noticed by travelers, specifically Judah, who was on his way to Timnath for sheep-shearing. The "vail" (or veil) was a common garment, but in this context, it serves as a crucial element of her disguise, allowing her to be mistaken for a cultic prostitute or a common harlot, which was a strategic part of her plan.

Related Scriptures

This narrative is crucial for understanding the lineage of Judah, from whom the Messiah would eventually come. Tamar is notably listed in the genealogy of Jesus Christ in the New Testament (Matthew 1:3), underscoring God's ability to work through complex and even morally ambiguous human situations to fulfill His divine purposes. Her story also contrasts with other instances of patriarchal failure and divine intervention in Genesis, such as Abraham's deceit concerning Sarah (Genesis 20:2).

Practical Application

The story of Tamar reminds us that God's plan often unfolds through unexpected and complex human circumstances. While Tamar's methods were unconventional, her underlying desire for justice and the continuation of her family line ultimately served God's broader redemptive purposes, leading to the Messianic lineage. It challenges us to look beyond immediate appearances and recognize the deeper currents of divine providence at work, even when human actions are flawed. Her resolve to secure her rights against a neglectful patriarch also speaks to themes of justice and the importance of upholding one's responsibilities.

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Cross-References

  • Genesis 38:26

    And Judah acknowledged [them], and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.

  • Genesis 24:65

    For she [had] said unto the servant, What man [is] this that walketh in the field to meet us? And the servant [had] said, It [is] my master: therefore she took a vail, and covered herself.

  • Genesis 38:11

    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 38:13

    And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.

  • Proverbs 7:12

    Now [is she] without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)

  • Jeremiah 3:2

    Lift up thine eyes unto the high places, and see where thou hast not been lien with. In the ways hast thou sat for them, as the Arabian in the wilderness; and thou hast polluted the land with thy whoredoms and with thy wickedness.

  • Ezekiel 16:25

    Thou hast built thy high place at every head of the way, and hast made thy beauty to be abhorred, and hast opened thy feet to every one that passed by, and multiplied thy whoredoms.