Still More Righteous

Starting in verse 3, we start learning about the four women listed in Jesus' genealogy.  These were not good upstanding women.  They came with a tainted history.

Matthew 1:3- Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram.

Tamar was most likely a Canaanite and she was Judah's daughter- in- law.  She was married to Judah's oldest son, but he died.  According to custom, she then married the next oldest.  It was his duty to provide a child to carry on his brother's name.  But he refused, so he too died.  Judah's youngest son was too young to marry, so he told Tamar to return to her father's house and when the youngest son was old enough to marry, he would marry Tamar.

But this never happened.  So Tamar dressed herself as a prostitute to trap Judah.  Before he left her, she got him to promise that he would return for his staff, his ring and his sash.  Three months later, Judah heard that his daughter- in- law had been playing the harlot and was pregnant as a result.  When he called her before him to accuse her, she presented his belongings and said she was pregnant by the man who owned the items.

A foreigner and an adulteress?  But, she was still considered more righteous than Judah.  

Genesis 38:25-26-When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.” And she said, “Please determine whose these are—the signet and cord, and staff.” So Judah acknowledged them and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he never knew her again.

Why would she be considered more righteous than Judah?

She was considered more righteous because Judah neglected to fulfill his vow and left her in her father's house.  Now, instead of accusing her, he is taking the blame for what had happened.

I have more to say about Tamar, but I want to introduce the next two women first.  Stay tuned for next week!