Topical Encyclopedia
Judah's PledgeThe account of Judah's pledge is found in
Genesis 38, a chapter that provides a detailed narrative of Judah, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, and his interactions with his daughter-in-law, Tamar. This account is significant in the lineage of the tribe of Judah and the genealogy of Jesus Christ.
After the death of his wife, Judah went up to Timnah to shear his sheep. Tamar, who had been widowed by Judah's sons Er and Onan, realized that Judah had not fulfilled his promise to give her his third son, Shelah, as a husband. In response, Tamar disguised herself as a prostitute and positioned herself along Judah's path to Timnah.
Judah, not recognizing her, solicited her services. As a pledge for payment, since he did not have the agreed-upon young goat with him, Judah gave Tamar his seal, cord, and staff. These items were personal and identifiable, serving as a guarantee of future payment.
Genesis 38:18 records this transaction: "He asked, 'What pledge should I give you?' She answered, 'Your seal and cord, and the staff in your hand.' So he gave them to her and slept with her, and she conceived by him."
Tamar's PregnancyTamar's actions resulted in her becoming pregnant by Judah. When Judah later sent the young goat to retrieve his pledge, the woman was nowhere to be found, and the men of the area claimed no prostitute had been there. Judah decided to let the matter rest to avoid public disgrace.
Three months later, Judah was informed that Tamar was pregnant, and he initially reacted with indignation, demanding that she be brought out and burned for her perceived immorality. However, Tamar sent Judah the seal, cord, and staff, revealing the identity of the father. Confronted with the evidence, Judah acknowledged his wrongdoing, saying in
Genesis 38:26 , "She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah."
Tamar gave birth to twins, Perez and Zerah. Perez would become an ancestor of King David and, ultimately, Jesus Christ, as noted in the genealogies of
Matthew 1:3 and
Luke 3:33. This account highlights themes of justice, repentance, and the sovereignty of God in using flawed individuals to fulfill His divine purposes.
