Genesis 38:12 Commentary and Bible Study

Time went by and Judah who was responsible for these things, failed to arrange for Shelah to be given to Tamar. She was still until now at her father’s house. This is consistent with the view that in delaying the marriage Judah had no serious intention of going through with it. Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died and he did not marry again or have any further children by her. The only hope of descendants would come through Shelah. Scripture does not record whether he ever married or had children, but they certainly do not come into the record of Judah’s descent. Tamar observed all these things and was determined to have a child. She formed a plan and was astute enough to know that Judah would behave in an abominable way, allowing her plan to be implemented successfully. She gathered intelligence about Judah’s movements and saw that he had got over his wife’s death and was now in a state to be tempted. Although she would have preferred to have a child in a legitimate way – through Shelah – this was denied her. That, as Calvin says, does not excuse what she did, for we can never allow circumstances to compel us to do evil, and she certainly knew – even as a Canaanite – that incest was evil and forbidden by natural law. She disguised herself and sat by the roadside where she knew he would pass by. This plan would obviously have failed with any man of principal in whose heart was the fear of the Lord, but she knew Judah not to be such a man, so there was a good chance the plan would work. Up till then she had behaved herself in an honourable way and worn widow’s garment to indicate to all that she was still mourning and not seeking a new husband. This, again, was proper behaviour since she had been promised Judah’s youngest son, and reserved herself for him.