Judah and Tamar
Genesis 38:1-30
I. Judah Departs from His Brothers (vs. 1-6)
a. When Judah departs from his brothers to whom does he go?
b. Who does Judah take as a wife?
c. Shua the Canaanite bears Judah three sons. What are the sons’ names?
d. This passage of Scripture skips all of the children’s childhood so what is the very next thing we know about Er?
II. Judah’s Sons (vs. 7-11)
a. What happens to Er and why?
b. What does Judah instruct Onan to do that seems very peculiar to our way of thinking?
*Levirate marriage (see Deut. 25:5-10, and Ruth 1:9-11, 2:20, 3:7-13) was a custom in ancient Israel that ensured a man would not be left without an
heir. The people were to be permanently connected to the land of their inheritance.
c. Does Onan fulfill the duty of levirate marriage to raise an heir to Er?
What happens to him?
d. For whom is Tamar left in waiting?
And where does she go to wait?
III. Tamar Takes Matters into Her Own Hands (vs. 12-30)
a. After Judah’s wife dies and he is comforted where does he go?
b. What does Tamar do?
c. Why didn’t Judah recognize his daughter-in-law?
d. What security does she receive from Judah?
e. What judgment does Judah purpose for Tamar to be pregnant?
f. When all the truth is revealed what does Judah declare of Tamar then?
g. What happens when Tamar gives birth?
APPLICATION: How does this account from so long age still matter? (Matthew 1:3 and Luke 3:33 have the answer.)
