Deceit
(1-minute read)
In a tumultuous tale of love, betrayal, and divine retribution, Judah’s life takes a fateful turn when he chooses a wife for his firstborn, Er, from the daughters of Aram. Yet, Er’s wickedness leads to his untimely demise, and Judah commands his brother Onan to fulfill a duty to raise offspring in Er’s name, only for Onan to meet a similar tragic fate. Amidst the chaos, Tamar, left without hope, disguises herself to seduce Judah, igniting a scandal that threatens to consume them both. When Tamar reveals her pregnancy, Judah is forced to confront his own moral failings, leading to a moment of reckoning that not only reshapes his legacy but also echoes through the generations to come. As twins emerge from Tamar’s travail, the seeds of redemption and judgment are sown, challenging the very fabric of familial loyalty and divine command.
Major Characters
Minor Characters
Insignificant Characters
GENESIS
41%
JASHER
18%
JUBILEES
41%
Exposition
J: 46 | Y: 2236 | Er marries Tamar
Genesis 38:6, Jasher 45:23, Jubilees 41:1
Rising Action
Er refuses to sleep with his wife Tamar and dies
Genesis 38:7, Jasher 45:24, Jubilees 41:2-3
Onan refuses to sleep with his wife Tamar and dies
Genesis 38:8-10, Jasher 45:25-26, Jubilees 41:4-5
Judah asks Tamar to remain a widow until Shelah becomes old enough to marry her
Genesis 38:11, Jasher 45:27-28, Jubilees 41:6
Y: 2239 | Aliyath (Betasu’el) died
Genesis 38:12a, Jasher 45:29a, Jubilees 41:7
Manasseh and Ephraim are born
Genesis 41:50-52, Jasher 50:15-17
Climax
Y: 2240 | Judah and Hirah go to Timnah to shear their sheep
Genesis 38:12b, Jasher 45:29b, Jubilees 41:8a
Tamar is told what Judah is doing
Genesis 38:13, Jasher 45:30, Jubilees 41:8b
Tamar replaces her widow’s garments with a vail and covers herself
Genesis 38:14, Jasher 45:31, Jubilees 41:9
Judah thinks she is a harlot and wants to sleep with her
Genesis 38:15-16, Jubilees 41:10
Jacob offers her several items as a pledge
Genesis 38:17-18, Jubilees 41:11-12
They depart ways
Genesis 38:19, Jubilees 41:13
Falling Action
Judah tries to retrieve his pledge with payment
Genesis 38:20-23, Jubilees 41:14-16a
Judah finds out what Tamar did
Genesis 38:24, Jubilees 41:16b-17
Tamar reveals the pledge that she kept
Genesis 38:25-26, Jubilees 41:18-20
Resolution
Y: 2241 | Pharez and Zarah born
Genesis 38:27-30, Jasher 45:32, Jubilees 41:21
Judah laments what he did and is forgiven
Jubilees 41:22-25a
The uncleanness of incest
Jubilees 41:25b-28
Jubilee: 46
Year: 2236
Er marries Tamar
Genesis 38:6
6 And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar.
Jasher 45:23
23 And in those days Judah went to the house of Shem and took Tamar the daughter of Elam, the son of Shem, for a wife for his first born Er.
Jubilees 41:1
1 And in the forty-fifth jubilee, in the second week, (and) in the second year, [2165 A.M.] Judah took for his first-born Er, a wife from the daughters of Aram, named Tamar.
Er refuses to sleep with his wife Tamar and dies
Jubilees 41:2
2 But he hated, and did not lie with her, because his mother was of the daughters of Canaan, and he wished to take him a wife of the kinsfolk of his mother, but Judah, his father, would not permit him.
Genesis 38:7
7 And Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him.
Jasher 45:24
24 And Er came to his wife Tamar, and she became his wife, and when he came to her he outwardly destroyed his seed, and his work was evil in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord slew him.
Jubilees 41:3
3 And this Er, the first-born of Judah, was wicked, and the Lord slew him.
Onan refuses to sleep with his wife Tamar and dies
Genesis 38:8-10
8 And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother’s wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.
9 And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother’s wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother.
10 And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.
Jasher 45:25-26
25 And it was after the death of Er, Judah’s first born, that Judah said unto Onan, go to thy brother’s wife and marry her as the next of kin, and raise up seed to thy brother.
26 And Onan took Tamar for a wife and he came to her, and Onan also did like unto the work of his brother, and his work was evil in the sight of the Lord, and he slew him also.
Jubilees 41:4-5
4 And Judah said unto Onan, his brother ‘Go in unto thy brother’s wife and perform the duty of a husband’s brother unto her, and raise up seed unto thy brother.’
5 And Onan knew that the seed would not be his, (but) his brother’s only, and he went into the house of his brother’s wife, and spilt the seed on the ground, and he was wicked in the eyes of the Lord, and He slew him.
Judah asks Tamar to remain a widow until Shelah becomes old enough to marry her
Genesis 38:11
11 Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father’s house, till Shelah my son be grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house.
Jasher 45:27-28
27 And when Onan died, Judah said unto Tamar, Remain in thy father’s house until my son Shiloh shall have grown up, and Judah did no more delight in Tamar, to give her unto Shiloh, for he said, Peradventure he will also die like his brothers.
28 And Tamar rose up and went and remained in her father’s house, and Tamar was in her father’s house for some time.
Jubilees 41:6
6 And Judah said unto Tamar, his daughter-in-law: ‘Remain in thy father’s house as a widow till Shelah my son be grown up, and I shall give thee to him to wife.’
Year: 2239
Aliyath (Betasu’el) died
Genesis 38:12a
12a And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah’s wife died;
Jasher 45:29a
29a And at the revolution of the year, Aliyath the wife of Judah died;
Jubilees 41:7
7 And he grew up; but Bedsu’el, the wife of Judah, did not permit her son Shelah to marry. And Bedsu’el, the wife of Judah, died [2168 A.M.] in the fifth year of this week.
Manasseh and Ephraim are born
Genesis 41:50-52
50 And unto Joseph were born two sons before the years of famine came, which Asenath the daughter of Potipherah priest of On bare unto him.
51 And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house.
52 And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction.
Jasher 50:15
15 And Joseph’s wife Osnath the daughter of Potiphera bare him two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, and Joseph was thirty-four years old when he begat them.
Jasher 50:16-17
16 And the lads grew up and they went in his ways and in his instructions, they did not deviate from the way which their father taught them, either to the right or left.
17 And the Lord was with the lads, and they grew up and had understanding and skill in all wisdom and in all the affairs of government, and all the king’s officers and his great men of the inhabitants of Egypt exalted the lads, and they were brought up amongst the king’s children.
Year: 2240
Judah and Hirah go to Timnah to shear their sheep
Genesis 38:12b
12b and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.
Jasher 45:29b
29b and Judah was comforted for his wife, and after the death of Aliyath, Judah went up with his friend Hirah to Timnah to shear their sheep.
Jubilees 41:8a
8a And in the sixth year Judah went up to shear his sheep at Timnah. [2169 A.M.]
Tamar is told what Judah is doing
Genesis 38:13
13 And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.
Jasher 45:30
30 And Tamar heard that Judah had gone up to Timnah to shear the sheep, and that Shiloh was grown up, and Judah did not delight in her.
Jubilees 41:8b
8b And they told Tamar: ‘Behold thy father-in-law goeth up to Timnah to shear his sheep.’
Tamar replaces her widow’s garments with a vail and covers herself
Genesis 38:14
14 And she put her widow’s garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.
Jasher 45:31
31 And Tamar rose up and put off the garments of her widowhood, and she put a vail upon her, and she entirely covered herself, and she went and sat in the public thoroughfare, which is upon the road to Timnah.
Jubilees 41:9
9 And she put off her widow’s clothes, and put on a veil, and adorned herself, and sat in the gate adjoining the way to Timnah.
Judah thinks she is a harlot and wants to sleep with her
Genesis 38:15-16
15 When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.
16 And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she was his daughter in law.) And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me?
Jubilees 41:10
10 And as Judah was going along he found her, and thought her to be an harlot, and he said unto her: ‘Let me come in unto thee’; and she said unto him Come in,’ and he went in.
Jacob offers her several items as a pledge
Genesis 38:17-18
17 And he said, I will send thee a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send it?
18 And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that is in thine hand. And he gave it her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.
Jubilees 41:11-12
11 And she said unto him: ‘Give me my hire’; and he said unto her: ‘I have nothing in my hand save my ring that is on my finger, and my necklace, and my staff which is in my hand.’
12 And she said unto him ‘Give them to me until thou dost send me my hire’, and he said unto her: ‘I will send unto thee a kid of the goats’; and he gave them to her, and he went in unto her, and she conceived by him.
They depart ways
Genesis 38:19
19 And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.
Jubilees 41:13
13 And Judah went unto his sheep, and she went to her father’s house.
Judah tries to retrieve his pledge with payment
Genesis 38:20-23
20 And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand: but he found her not.
21 Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Where is the harlot, that was openly by the way side? And they said, There was no harlot in this place.
22 And he returned to Judah, and said, I cannot find her; and also the men of the place said, that there was no harlot in this place.
23 And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.
Jubilees 41:14-16a
14 And Judah sent a kid of the goats by the hand of his shepherd, an Adullamite, and he found her not; and he asked the people of the place, saying: ‘Where is the harlot who was here?’ And they said unto him; ‘There is no harlot here with us.’
15 And he returned and informed him, and said unto him that he had not found her: ‘I asked the people of the place, and they said unto me: “There is no harlot here.” ‘
16a And he said: ‘Let her keep (them) lest we become a cause of derision.’
Judah finds out what Tamar did
Genesis 38:24
24 And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.
Jubilees 41:16b-17
16b And when she had completed three months, it was manifest that she was with child, and they told Judah, saying: ‘Behold Tamar, thy daughter-in-law, is with child by whoredom.’
17 And Judah went to the house of her father, and said unto her father and her brothers: ‘Bring her forth, and let them burn her, for she hath wrought uncleanness in Israel.’
Tamar reveals the pledge that she kept
Genesis 38:25-26
25 When she was brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff.
26 And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.
Jubilees 41:18-20
18 And it came to pass when they brought her forth to burn her that she sent to her father-in-law the ring and the necklace, and the staff, saying: ‘Discern whose are these, for by him am I with child.’
19 And Judah acknowledged, and said: ‘Tamar is more righteous than I am.
20 And therefore let them burn her not’ And for that reason she was not given to Shelah, and he did not again approach her.
Year: 2241
Pharez and Zarah born
Genesis 38:27-30
27 And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.
28 And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.
29 And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out: and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez.
30 And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.
Jasher 45:32
32 And Judah passed and saw her and took her and he came to her, and she conceived by him, and at the time of being delivered, behold, there were twins in her womb, and he called the name of the first Perez, and the name of the second Zarah.
Jubilees 41:21
21 And after that she bare two sons, Perez [2170 A.M.] and Zerah, in the seventh year of this second week.
Judah laments what he did and is forgiven
Jubilees 41:22-25a
22 And thereupon the seven years of fruitfulness were accomplished, of which Joseph spake to Pharaoh.
23 And Judah acknowledged that the deed which he had done was evil, for he had lain with his daughter-in-law, and he esteemed it hateful in his eyes, and he acknowledged that he had transgressed and gone astray, for he had uncovered the skirt of his son, and he began to lament and to supplicate before the Lord because of his transgression.
24 And we told him in a dream that it was forgiven him because he supplicated earnestly, and lamented, and did not again commit it.
25a And he received forgiveness because he turned from his sin and from his ignorance, for he transgressed greatly before our God;
The uncleanness of incest
Jubilees 41:25b-28
25b and every one that acts thus, every one who lies with his mother-in-law, let them burn him with fire that he may burn therein, for there is uncleanness and pollution upon them, with fire let them burn them.
26 And do thou command the children of Israel that there be no uncleanness amongst them, for every one who lies with his daughter-in-law or with his mother-in-law hath wrought uncleanness; with fire let them burn the man who has lain with her, and likewise the woman, and He will turn away wrath and punishment from Israel.
27 And unto Judah we said that his two sons had not lain with her, and for this reason his seed was stablished for a second generation, and would not be rooted out.
28 For in singleness of eye he had gone and sought for punishment, namely, according to the judgment of Abraham, which he had commanded his sons, Judah had sought to burn her with fire.
No notes.
(12-minute read)
Exposition
J: 46 | Y: 2236 | Er marries Tamar
Genesis 38:6, Jasher 45:23, Jubilees 41:1
In the 45th jubilee, during the 2nd week and 2nd year, Judah went to the house of Shem and arranged for his firstborn, Er, to marry a woman named Tamar, who was from the daughters of Aram (Elam).
Rising Action
Er refuses to sleep with his wife Tamar and dies
Genesis 38:7, Jasher 45:24, Jubilees 41:2-3
But Er hated Tamar and refused to sleep with her because his mother was a Canaanite, and he wanted to marry someone from his mother’s family instead. However, Judah wouldn’t allow it.
Er still took Tamar as his wife, but when he came to her, he deliberately wasted his seed. What he did was evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord struck him down.
Onan refuses to sleep with his wife Tamar and dies
Genesis 38:8-10, Jasher 45:25-26, Jubilees 41:4-5
Then Judah told Onan, “Go sleep with your brother’s wife, marry her, and raise up children for your brother.” But Onan knew the child wouldn’t be considered his. So when he slept with her, he spilled his seed on the ground to avoid giving offspring to his brother. What he did displeased the Lord, so the Lord also struck him down.
Judah asks Tamar to remain a widow until Shelah becomes old enough to marry her
Genesis 38:11, Jasher 45:27-28, Jubilees 41:6
After Onan died, Judah said to Tamar, “Stay at your father’s house until my son Shelah (Shiloh) is grown.” But Judah no longer desired to give Tamar to Shelah, thinking, “He might die like his brothers.”
So Tamar returned and stayed in her father’s house for some time.
Y: 2239 | Aliyath (Betasu’el) died
Genesis 38:12a, Jasher 45:29a, Jubilees 41:7
At the end of the year, in the 5th year of that week, Aliyath (Bedsu’el), Judah’s wife, passed away.
Manasseh and Ephraim are born
Genesis 41:50-52, Jasher 50:15-17
Before the famine years began, Joseph had 2 sons by Asenath (Osnath), daughter of Potipherah, the priest of On.
Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, saying, “God has made me forget all my hardship and all my father’s house.”
He named the second Ephraim, saying, “God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”
Joseph was 34 years old when his sons were born.
The boys grew up following his ways and teachings, never straying from what he taught them. The Lord was with them, and they grew in wisdom and skill in all matters of government. All the king’s officials and nobles in Egypt admired them, and they were raised alongside the king’s children.
Climax
Y: 2240 | Judah and Hirah go to Timnah to shear their sheep
Genesis 38:12b, Jasher 45:29b, Jubilees 41:8a
In the 6th year, Judah was comforted after the death of his wife, Aliyath. He went with his friend Hirah the Adullamite to Timnah to shear his sheep.
Tamar is told what Judah is doing
Genesis 38:13, Jasher 45:30, Jubilees 41:8b
Tamar heard that Judah had gone to Timnah to shear his sheep, and that Shelah was now grown, yet Judah had no intention of giving her to him.
Tamar replaces her widow’s garments with a vail and covers herself
Genesis 38:14, Jasher 45:31, Jubilees 41:9
Tamar took off her widow’s clothes, covered herself with a vail, wrapped herself, and sat at a public place along the road to Timnah. She had seen that Shelah was grown, but had not been given to him as a wife.
Judah thinks she is a harlot and wants to sleep with her
Genesis 38:15-16, Jubilees 41:10
When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute because her face was covered. He approached her and said, “Please, let me sleep with you,” not realizing she was his daughter-in-law.
She replied, “What will you give me to sleep with me?”
Jacob offers her several items as a pledge
Genesis 38:17-18, Jubilees 41:11-12
He said, “I’ll send you a young goat from the flock.”
She said, “Will you give me something as a pledge until you send it?”
He asked, “What pledge should I give you?”
She answered, “Your signet, your bracelets, and the staff in your hand.”
So he gave them to her, slept with her, and she became pregnant by him.
They depart ways
Genesis 38:19, Jubilees 41:13
Then she got up, left, removed her veil, and put her widow’s garments back on. Judah returned to his sheep, and Tamar went back to her father’s house.
Falling Action
Judah tries to retrieve his pledge with payment
Genesis 38:20-23, Jubilees 41:14-16a
Judah sent the goat with his friend the Adullamite to get his pledge back from the woman, but he couldn’t find her. He asked the locals, “Where is the prostitute who was by the roadside?”
They replied, “There was no prostitute here.”
So he returned to Judah and said, “I couldn’t find her. The men of the place said there was no prostitute around.”
Judah said, “Let her keep the pledge, or we’ll be embarrassed. I sent the goat, and you couldn’t find her.”
Judah finds out what Tamar did
Genesis 38:24, Jubilees 41:16b-17
Three months later, it became clear that Tamar was pregnant. They told Judah, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar is pregnant by prostitution.”
Judah went to her father’s house and said to her family, “Bring her out, and let her be burned, for she has committed a disgrace in Israel.”
Tamar reveals the pledge that she kept
Genesis 38:25-26, Jubilees 41:18-20
As she was being brought out, she sent word to her father-in-law, saying, “I’m pregnant by the man who owns these items.”
She added, “Please see whose they are—the signet, the bracelets, and the staff.”
Judah recognized them and said, “She’s more righteous than I am, because I didn’t give her to my son Shelah. Do not burn her.”
He never slept with her again.
Resolution
Y: 2241 | Pharez and Zarah born
Genesis 38:27-30, Jasher 45:32, Jubilees 41:21
In the 7th year of that 2nd week, Tamar went into labor, and she was carrying twins. As she gave birth, one baby put out his hand. The midwife tied a scarlet thread around it and said, “This one came out first.”
But then he pulled his hand back, and his brother came out instead. She said, “How did you break out first? This breach is on you.”
So he was named Pharez (Perez). Then his brother with the scarlet thread came out, and he was named Zarah.
Judah laments what he did and is forgiven
Jubilees 41:22-25a
By then, the 7 years of plenty that Joseph had predicted to Pharaoh were complete. Judah acknowledged that what he had done was wrong—he had slept with his daughter-in-law. He found it detestable and admitted he had sinned and gone astray, because he had uncovered the nakedness of his son. He began to weep and plead before the Lord because of his sin.
In a dream, it was revealed to him that he was forgiven because he sincerely repented, mourned, and did not repeat the sin. He was granted forgiveness because he turned away from his sin and ignorance, for his transgression had been great before God.
The uncleanness of incest
Jubilees 41:25b-28
Anyone who does such a thing—sleeping with a mother-in-law—must be burned with fire, because it brings uncleanness and pollution. Burn them with fire. Command the children of Israel to avoid all such impurity, for anyone who sleeps with a daughter-in-law or mother-in-law has committed uncleanness. Burn both the man and the woman with fire, and the Lord will turn His wrath and punishment away from Israel.
As for Judah, we told him that his 2 sons had not slept with Tamar, and for this reason, his lineage was preserved for a second generation and not cut off. Because he sought punishment sincerely, following the judgment of Abraham which he had commanded his sons—Judah had sought to have Tamar burned.
This chart shows who was alive in the years 2236-2241.