Tamar hears that Judah is heading to Timnah to shear his sheep, and this information sets the stage for her daring plan to ensure her place in his household.
“It was told to Tamar, ‘Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.’” (v.13). This verse follows the tragic losses of Judah’s two sons, Er and Onan, who had both been married to Tamar in succession according to the custom of levirate marriage (Genesis 38:6-10). Tamar was now living in her father’s house, bound by tradition and waiting for Judah’s third son to come of age. When we read, It was told to Tamar, we see that she was actively receiving news about her extended family and circumstances, indicative of her ongoing concern for her future and inheritance. The words, Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep, establish Judah’s immediate plans and location, signifying an opportunity for Tamar to take matters into her own hands. Timnah was a town in the southwestern hill country later associated with the tribe of Judah, making it a familiar place for Judah to travel and conduct seasonal work.
Sheep-shearing in ancient times was not only a time of labor but also a festive, social event. Because of the public nature of shearing, Tamar’s awareness of Judah’s trip provided her with an avenue to initiate a plan that would safeguard her rights under the family line. Judah, the fourth son of Jacob (renamed Israel), had become Tamar’s father-in-law through the marriages to his sons. Historically, this places him in the early 19th or late 18th century BC, during the era of the patriarchs (Genesis 29-38). Tamar, as a Canaanite woman, would have had limited options after being denied Judah’s youngest son, and so this moment—him going to Timnah—became the catalyst for her to secure her rightful place in the family lineage (Genesis 38:11-14).
In the larger biblical narrative, Tamar’s actions lead to the birth of Perez, who is named in the genealogy of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:3), underscoring God’s pattern of redeeming difficult and broken circumstances for His purposes. Despite the seemingly desperate and unconventional strategy Tamar uses (Genesis 38:14-26), the outcome highlights God’s commitment to preserving the messianic line through the tribe of Judah. Tamar’s role foreshadows the truth that God often uses unexpected people and means to accomplish His plans, as seen repeatedly throughout Scripture.
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Genesis 38:13 meaning
“It was told to Tamar, ‘Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.’” (v.13). This verse follows the tragic losses of Judah’s two sons, Er and Onan, who had both been married to Tamar in succession according to the custom of levirate marriage (Genesis 38:6-10). Tamar was now living in her father’s house, bound by tradition and waiting for Judah’s third son to come of age. When we read, It was told to Tamar, we see that she was actively receiving news about her extended family and circumstances, indicative of her ongoing concern for her future and inheritance. The words, Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep, establish Judah’s immediate plans and location, signifying an opportunity for Tamar to take matters into her own hands. Timnah was a town in the southwestern hill country later associated with the tribe of Judah, making it a familiar place for Judah to travel and conduct seasonal work.
Sheep-shearing in ancient times was not only a time of labor but also a festive, social event. Because of the public nature of shearing, Tamar’s awareness of Judah’s trip provided her with an avenue to initiate a plan that would safeguard her rights under the family line. Judah, the fourth son of Jacob (renamed Israel), had become Tamar’s father-in-law through the marriages to his sons. Historically, this places him in the early 19th or late 18th century BC, during the era of the patriarchs (Genesis 29-38). Tamar, as a Canaanite woman, would have had limited options after being denied Judah’s youngest son, and so this moment—him going to Timnah—became the catalyst for her to secure her rightful place in the family lineage (Genesis 38:11-14).
In the larger biblical narrative, Tamar’s actions lead to the birth of Perez, who is named in the genealogy of Jesus Christ (Matthew 1:3), underscoring God’s pattern of redeeming difficult and broken circumstances for His purposes. Despite the seemingly desperate and unconventional strategy Tamar uses (Genesis 38:14-26), the outcome highlights God’s commitment to preserving the messianic line through the tribe of Judah. Tamar’s role foreshadows the truth that God often uses unexpected people and means to accomplish His plans, as seen repeatedly throughout Scripture.