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Judah and Tamar

This tale is most unusual; you may not know it well.
Seems Judah got himself a wife; her name’s not in the tell.
He knew her and she bore three sons: Shelah, Onan, and Er.
Now Er was first, the oldest son, and Shelah, the younger.

Then Judah found a gal for Er; yes Tamar was his wife.
But Er was wicked in God’s sight, so God then took Er’s life.
Now custom said that Onan would for Er produce a son
So he took Tamar as his wife, but wouldn’t get her done.

For each time they were intimate, ’twas said he spilled his seed.
So God now put Onan to death, for evil was his deed.
So Judah promises Tamar Shelah will be her mate,
But he is not yet old enough, so she will have to wait.

The years go by, but Judah has not done that which he should,
So Tamar takes things in her hands to make sure that he would.
She covers up her face one day and sits out by the gate.
When Judah sees her sitting there, “A prostitute! That’s great!”

So they begin to bargain for his right to do his thing;
The price, a goat, collateral: his staff and signet ring.
And so then Judah lays with her, and right off, she conceives.
And then the widow returns home, continuing to grieve.

Well, Judah wants his signet back and sends the goat as pledged,
But none can find this prostitute of whom he has alleged. 
When they report she can’t be found, then Judah shrugs it off,
“Just let her keep the signet ring; if word gets out, they’ll scoff.”

It seems that in a few short months, ’twas clear she was with child.
Judah demanded she be burned, a fact that’s pretty wild.
Okay for him to sleep around, but not her in her grief,
But even as they dragged her out, she worked out her relief.

“The man who got me in this way gave me this staff and ring.”
When Judah heard, he was ashamed; he knew her not again.
“For she’s more righteous than I am; I did not give my son.”
When Tamar finally gave birth, ’twas twins she had, not one.

And when the boys were born, she named them Zerah and Perez.
In Jesus’ family tree: Perez! Yes, that’s what Matthew says.

(from Genesis 38)

Copyright © Jeff Kyser | Year Posted 2022

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