#103 A Pledge Genesis 38

It came to pass at that time that Judah departed from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite whose name was Hirah. And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and went in to her. So she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. And she conceived yet again and bore a son, and called his name Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him. Then judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord killed him. And Judah said to Onan, "go to your brother's wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother." But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother's wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother. And the thing which he did displeased the Lord; therefore He killed him also. Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, "remain a widow in your father's house till my son Shelah is grown." For he said, "lest he also die like his brothers." and Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house. Now in the process of time the daughter of Shua, Judah's wife, died; and Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheep-shearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. And it was tole Tamar, saying, "look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep." So she took off her widow's garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife. When judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face. The he turned to her by the way, and said, "please let me come in to you"; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. So she said, what will you give me that you may come in to me?" And he said, "I will send a young goat from the flock." So she said, "will you give me a pledge till you send it?" Then he said, "what pledge shall I give you?" So she said, "your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand." Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him. So she arose and went away, and laid aside her vie and put on the garments of her widowhood. And Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman's hand, but he did not find her. Then he asked the men of the place, saying, "where is the harlot who was openly by the roadside?" And they said, "there was no harlot in this place."

A strange break in the story of Joseph, but with Joseph being gone and Reuben having slept with his stepmother, and this being known to Israel, Reuben is probably not looked upon as the heir. Simeon and Levi have most likely forfeited in causing Israel to stink amongst the other inhabitants of the land. So Judah, you're up. 

Judah takes a wife of the Canaanites and has a son named Er. It states that he was wicked and that God killed him, but it does not specify the infraction. He had a wife named Tamar, who was next given by levirate marriage to his brother Onan. Onan was now, by custom, responsible to raise an heir to his brother. He does not like this idea and so spreads his seed outside of Tamar. God kills him also. Judah then promises Tamar her right by the youngest of his sons, but she must wait till he is of age. She takes her father in law at his word and returns to her father's house in widow's garment. 

The levirate marriage, while not very romantic, was provisional. Even if the brother did not want her for a wife; he was providing an heir that could look after the woman in her old age. The things of her original husband would transfer to her firstborn son. Judaic law expresses this between brothers, but the practice is older still. In Hittite tradition, the father in law himself, could be brought in to this agreement for the widow to obtain her right. This is not prescribed later in Mosaic law, and apparently not traditional with Israel at this time, but Tamar is a Canaanite, and Shelah is now grown. Judah does not bring Tamar to his third son, to fulfill his word, so she pursues her right through Judah. She disguises her self as a prostitute and he not only lays with her, but also leaves her with child. She holds his signet, cord and staff as a pledge. When Judah's friend returns with a goat to receive the pledged items, the harlot cannot be found. 

In those days when the number of disciples was increasing, the Hellenistic Jews among them complained against the Hebraic Jews because their widows were being overlooked in the daily distribution of food. Acts 6:1

If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless. 27Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. James 1:27