Tamar sometimes gets a bad rap. She’s one of four women listed in Matthew’s chapter 1 geneology of Jesus. Sometimes Rahab gets a bad rap for being a prostitute. Ruth is universally recognized as a saint. It would seem these four women are listed for a reason – they’re all saints. Tamar’s ‘marriage’ to Judah seems weird and icky at first glance. Genesis 38 tells the story. For starters, Judah should’ve never married a Canaanite woman. Noah said, “Then he cursed Canaan, the son of Ham:
“May Canaan be cursed!
May he be the lowest of servants to his relatives.” Genesis 9:25
What exactly happened is not recorded, but it must have been very bad. Judah’s wife died, as did his two elder sons. Judah got a wife for Er, but evidently not from the Canaanites. After Judah instructed Tamar to go back and live with her father, it became clear that Judah would have no heirs. So Tamar came up with a plan to have children for Judah and preserve his line without Canaanite blood. This is why Tamar is a saint. She took a very awkward position to preserve the line that ultimately lead to the Messiah!
Bible Study Seattle 
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