Dear Reader,
Welcome to the second installment of Toldot Consequences, where we continue exploring the masterful weave of Biblical stories, this time centering on Judah and Tamar, to demonstrate Hashem’s ongoing role as the author of history. Look to Israel today for proof of His presence—we stand as His witnesses in the present, not just the past.
Amidst the turmoil from Gog and Magog, as prophesied by the Zohar and Chazal from Iran, our cries resonate globally. Yet, why hasn’t your Messianic Rabbi, Pastor, Scientologist, Jehovah’s Witness, Mormon, or any of the 33,000 Christian denominations addressed these links in sermons or podcasts? This series unveils the path to knowing Hashem truly, echoing Aleinu: “And you shall know today and take it to heart” (Deuteronomy 4:39).
Building on our start in Genesis 4:3, we now delve into the Judah-Tamar narrative, where the consequences of choices echo through toldot (generations). These aren’t standalone; they’re fused in divine design—no mere human could engineer this.
This chapter spotlights Judah Tamar, inspired by Rabbi David Fohrman’s podcast “The Unity of Biblical Text: Refuting the Theory of Multiple Authorship”, from “go on offense” to 38:58, highlighting chiastic ties in Joseph, Judah, Tamar, and kin.
Judah Tamar Book 1: Judah – The Acknowledger Who Led
Judah, the fourth son of Jacob and Leah, bore a name of gratitude: “Yehudah” from “odeh” – “I will thank” (Genesis 29:35). Leah praised Hashem for this son, hoping Jacob’s affection would follow. Judah’s life embodied “hoda’ah” – acknowledgment, confession, praise. But true leadership demands recognizing the truth, even when painful, and his story charts a path from complicity to kingship.
In youth, Judah joined the Joseph betrayal. As brothers seethed at Joseph’s dreams, Judah suggested: “What profit is it if we kill our brother… Come, let us sell him to the Ishmaelites” (Genesis 37:26-27). He acknowledged the value of life, but only for gain. Joseph vanished into Egypt, coat bloodied to deceive Jacob: “Haker na” (recognize please).
Post-betrayal, Judah “went down” from brothers (Genesis 38:1)
Post-betrayal, Judah “went down” from brothers (Genesis 38:1), marrying a Canaanite’s daughter. Sons: Er, Onan, Shelah. Er wed Tamar, but wicked, Hashem slew him. Judah commanded Onan: “Perform the duty of a husband’s brother” (yibum, levirate marriage). Onan spilled seed, displeasing Hashem, and died. Judah, fearing loss, told Tamar: Wait for Shelah, but sent her home widowed.
Time passed; Shelah grew, but there was no call. Judah’s wife died; he sought comfort with friend Hirah in Timnah. Tamar, veiled as a prostitute at Enaim crossroads, negotiated with Judah: “What will you give me?” Judah pledged a kid goat, a seal, a cord, and a staff as eravon (pledge). They united; she conceived.
Months later, Tamar was accused of harlotry. Judah decreed, “Bring her out and let her be burned.” Tamar sent pledges: “Haker na” – recognize whose these are. Judah acknowledged: “She is more righteous than I” (Genesis 38:26), sparing her. Twins Perez (breach) and Zerah (scarlet thread) were born—Perez’s ancestor to David, the Messiah.
Judah’s arc peaked in Egypt. Famine sent brothers to buy grain from unrecognized Joseph. Joseph jailed Simeon and demanded Benjamin. Back home, Jacob resisted; Reuben’s pledge failed, but Judah vowed: “I myself will be surety (arven) for him… if I do not bring him back, I shall bear the blame” (Genesis 43:9). Jacob relented.
Judah Went Down
In Egypt, Joseph framed Benjamin with a cup. Brothers tore clothes; Judah pleaded: “How shall we clear ourselves?… Let your servant remain instead” (Genesis 44:16,33). His hoda’ah—acknowledging past, offering self—moved Joseph to reveal: “I am Joseph” (Genesis 45:3).
Jacob blessed Judah: “Judah, your brothers shall praise you… The scepter shall not depart from Judah” (Genesis 49:8-10). The tribe led Israel and birthed a monarchy.
Deep dive on “hoda’ah” (הודה): Root for thank, confess, acknowledge—over 100 uses. Chemically, like a catalyst: speeds reactions without consuming itself. In Judah, bonds with actions: thanks at birth, confesses to Tamar, praises in blessing. Reacts variably: Psalm 100 “hodu” praises; Leviticus confessions. Judah’s hoda’ah fuses failure to redemption—no human layers this so.
Judah Tamar Book 2: Tamar – The Righteous Deceiver
Tamar, daughter-in-law to Judah, name evoking “tamar” – palm tree: upright, fruitful amid barrenness. Her tale is one of resilience, marked by deception as she seeks justice in a world that denies her rights. Widowed twice, promised but denied, she risks all for legacy, embodying tzedakah (righteousness).
Married to Er, Judah’s firstborn, Tamar faced his evil; Hashem struck him down (Genesis 38:7). Custom demanded yibum: brother-in-law fathers a child for the deceased, preserving the name. Onan wed her but refused, spilling seed “lest he give offspring to his brother” (Genesis 38:9). Hashem slew him. Judah, anxious, said: “Remain a widow… till my son Shelah grows up” (Genesis 38:11). Tamar returned to father’s house, waiting.
Shelah matured; no wedding. Judah’s wife died; he went to shear sheep in Timnah. Tamar heard, shed her widow’s garb, veiled, sat at petach enayim (the opening of the eyes/roadside). Judah, mistaking for a zonah (prostitute), approached: “Let me come in to you.” She asked: “What pledge (eravon) will you give?” He gave a signet, a cord, a staff; promised kid. They lay together; she conceived, departed with pledges.
Three Month
Three months on, “Tamar has played the harlot; she is with child” (Genesis 38:24). Judah: “Burn her.” En route, Tamar messaged: “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child. Haker na – recognize please.” Judah recognized and declared: “Tzadkah mimeni – she is more righteous than I,” admitting withheld Shelah.
Labor came; twins struggled. One hand emerged, scarlet thread tied: “This came out first.” Hand withdrew; other breached: Perez. Then Zerah with a thread. Tamar’s line through Perez led to Boaz, David, Messiah—righteousness birthing royalty.
Tamar’s deception mirrors family patterns: like Rebekah/Jacob tricking Isaac, but for justice. Her veiling echoes Joseph’s coat deception. She forces acknowledgment, securing the future.
In the broader saga, Tamar’s act interrupts Joseph’s descent to Egypt, highlighting themes: descent (yerida), recognition, and pledges. Her righteousness contrasts with her brothers’ sins, foreshadowing redemption.
Deep dive on “tzedakah” (צדקה): Righteousness, justice, charity—root tzedek. Chemically, like a noble gas: stable, illuminating. In Tamar, bonds with actions: her tzedakah trumps Judah’s failure. Reacts: Genesis 18, Abraham’s justice; Deuteronomy alms. Tamar’s usage of explosive deception yields a messianic line. Divine chemistry: no coincidence.
What Do These Judah Tamar Stories Have to Do with Each Other?
Reader, reflect: Judah’s journey of acknowledgment and Tamar’s quest for justice appear as a father-in-law/daughter-in-law drama. Separate arcs? What binds them in Judah Tamar?
The Judah Tamar Interconnections: No One Could Have Written This
The reveal: Interwoven inextricably, as Fohrman asserts. One impossible sans other—divine unity. 30 links:
- Narrative interrupt: Judah Tamar (Gen 38) splits Joseph’s story (37/39).
- Descent motif: Judah “goes down” (38:1); Joseph “brought down” (37:28).
- Deception/clothes: Tamar veils; brothers dip coat.
- Haker na: Jacob’s coat (37:32); Tamar’s pledges (38:25).
- Goat kid: Promised to Tamar (38:17); blood for coat (37:31).
- Pledges: Eravon to Tamar; Reuben’s later (42:37).
- Righteousness: Tamar’s tzadkah; Joseph’s resistance (39:9).
- Twins: Tamar’s Perez/Zerah; Jacob/Esau echo.
- Scarlet thread: Zerah’s; Rahab’s cord (Joshua 2).
- Levirate: Onan refuses; precursor to Ruth/Boaz.
- Burning: Judah threatens; Potiphar imprisons Joseph.
- Recognition: Judah acknowledges; Joseph reveals.
- Surety: Judah for Benjamin (43:9); echoes Tamar’s eravon.
- Fruitfulness: Tamar’s twins; Joseph’s blessing (49:22).
- Kingship: Perez to David; Judah’s scepter.
- Eyes opening: Petach enayim; Joseph’s dream interpretation.
- Roadside: Tamar sits; Joseph is sold by the road.
- Three months: Tamar’s pregnancy; Joseph’s prison wait?
- Confession: Judah’s hoda’ah; brothers’ guilt (42:21).
- Widowhood: Tamar; Israel in exile.
- Messianic line: Tamar’s Perez; Joseph’s Ephraim unite.
- Chemistry: Hoda’ah + tzedakah react to redemption.
- Chiastic: Descent/ascent in both.
- Midrash: Tamar, descendant of Shem; ties to Joseph.
- Tribal: Judah leads; Tamar ensures continuity.
- Gog link: Messianic from Tamar; end-days unity.
- Veil: Tamar’s; Joseph’s hidden identity.
- Staff: Judah’s; Moses’ rod from Judah?
- Seal: Signet; covenant signs.
- Unity: Judah/Ephraim one—Christians to Judah today.
Who could? No one but Hashem.
The World Sees and Hears Today: End-of-Days List
As Chazal and the Zohar foretold, Iran spearheads Gog/Magog. Fulfilled prophecies:
- Covid Pandemic (Year 2: Arrows of Famine/Plague): March 2020 start. NYT article.
- Hyperinflation/Abundance Paradox: 2021-2023 peak 9.1% June 2022. CNN report.
- Mass Migration/Refugees: 2015-2021 Syria; 2021 Afghan; 2022+ Latin. BBC coverage.
- Sea of Galilee Drying: 2018-2022 lows. Reuters story.
- Gablan/Damascus Destruction: Sep 27, 2024 strike. Al Arabiya news.
- Wars/Rumors (Year 6-7): 2022 Russia-Ukraine; Oct 7, 2023 Israel-Hamas; Sep 2024 Hezbollah, Nasrallah Sep 27. Al Jazeera timeline; Wikipedia details.
- Hutzpah/Moral Decay: 2010s-2020s cancel culture.
Where were Christian prophets?
- Where on Oct 7, 2023 (Hamas attack)?
- Where on Sep 27, 2024 (Damascus strike, Nasrallah)?
- Where is your Messianic Rabbi or Priest?
Not from Torah like Chazal. Hashem shows through Israel. Next: Joseph. Judah/Ephraim unite—Christians to older brother.
Shalom, Gavriel (@huniarch)