Five Good Moms: Tamar

Five Good Moms: Tamar

In Maythew’s genealogy of Jesus, we find 5 mothers: Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Bathsheba, and Mary. Luke only gives us fathers. 

Who are these five moms? 

Tamar:

Read her story in Genesis‬ ‭38‬.

She was a Canaanite while Joseph was beginning his time in Potiphar’s house. Tamar was married to Judah’s first son Er. Er died because he was evil in the Lord’s sight. Leaving behind no heir Judah’s second son, Onan, married her. But he did what was wrong in the Lord’s sight. God killed him too. So Judah promised to her his third son, Shelah, but never fulfilled that promise. 

In the meantime, Judah’s wife died. After he was done grieving, while going up to sheer his sheep he saw what he thought was a prostitute and promised a young goat from his flock. As collateral, she took His staff, ring, and cord. As it turns out it was Tamar, but she was not a prostitute. She was waiting for Judah or Shelah. And she became pregnant by him. I believe that between Onan and Judah, she was not a prostitute but lived faithfully under her dad’s roof. 

“Then Judah identified them and said, “She is more righteous than I, since I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not know her again.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭38‬:‭26‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Tamar moved into Judah’s house and Judah raised her two sons as his own.

“When the time of her labor came, there were twins in her womb. And when she was in labor, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” But as he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out. And she said, “What a breach you have made for yourself!” Therefore his name was called Perez. Afterward his brother came out with the scarlet thread on his hand, and his name was called Zerah.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭38‬:‭27‬-‭30‬ ‭ESV‬‬

“The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan); and the sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.”

‭‭Genesis‬ ‭46‬:‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Tamar and Judah’s story does not promote prostitution and unfaithfulness, but faithfulness and keeping your word. Could we look into the story and say it should have been done differently? Yes! But God used it to bring us Jesus.