Another couple of verses....?

Question

So, if we read Genesis 38:15-30, Judah impregenates Tamar (his daughter-in-law) & then she is ordered to be burnt to death yet he is not punished??! How is that fair?

And I quote:
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.
(King James Version)

Answer 1

Who?

Answer 2

Include the whole story....
Tamar disguised herself as a harlot and deliberated seduced her father-in -law to get herself pregnant. She did so because since she had no child, she stood to lose any inheritance from the family. When her pregnancy was discovered, under the law anyone who had been a harlot was to be killed. However when she revealed who the father was, Judah repented and said that it was wrong to have denied her a place in the family and the inhertance. Judah had not been charged because until she revealed what she he did, no one (including Judah) knew that he was the father. Since Judah's actions were the cause of Tamar's situation, she was not held guilty.

Was the whole thing fair? Sounds like a reasonable compromise. Better they both forgive and live then they both be burnt to death.

But if you re-read the section please note that nowhere does it say the God told them to burn Tamar. No where does it say that God approved of their actions (rather it causes more serious problems down the road if you keep reading), and no where does it say the Judah should not have been held guilty for his actions.

This is one of many stories in the Bible where it records the sins of the people. It was needed to explain future family events and how people's actions have consequences for years to come. It is an accurate account of what happened. But no where does it say that God approved of what Judah did. Do not make the mistake of thinking that because something is in the Bible it means it was right. There are murders, lies, rapes, thefts, and more recorded in the scriptures. They are there to help show the problems that come from sin. This is one of those events.

Answer 3

The Bible does not say that she was burned. But Judah did say, "Bring her forth, and let her be burnt." (Genesis 38:24).

As for why he would say that, I can only assume it was the law at that time. Later in the Bible, it says "And the daughter of any priest, if she profane herself by playing the whore, she profaneth her father: she shall be burnt with fire." (Leviticus 21:9)

No, it doesn't seem fair. On the other hand, if this was the law then wouldn't she know the punishment for breaking the law? Assuming that this was the law (& that she knew the punishment), she probably had fair warning. Even so, I'm not sure I like that law.

edit: Please know that I'm only speaking my own thoughts here. I am, by no means, a Bible scholar.

Answer 4

Please look at the whole context. Tamar was married to Judah's son but he died young. Judah was very reluctant to give Tamar to another of his son's after he came of age to marry because he felt that the same thing would happen to his other son. Tamar was rightfully angry about this, as it was Hebrew custom at the time for Judah to give her to his other son. She disguised herself as a prostitute and made herself available to Judah. He took the bait, not knowing it was her. She had kept his staff as a pledge for him to bring the agreed upon price later. Well, he shows up to pay and she is gone. When Tamar shows up pregnant, he figures she has been playing around and making him look bad. So, he sentences her to be stoned. Well, she shows him the staff and he knows that the children are his. He repents of his sin against Tamar about letting her marry his other son and forgives her. That's it.

Remember, read the whole thing next time.

Answer 5

Judah thought Tamar had been unfaithful to their agreement. When Judah learns he the father, he declares Tamar to be more righteous than he and she is not punished.

Answer 6

Judah orders her burned to death, not God. Keep reading, Judah learns he is the father of her twin boys, and she is not punished.

25 As she was being brought out, she sent a message to her father-in-law. "I am pregnant by the man who owns these," she said. And she added, "See if you recognize whose seal and cord and staff these are."

26 Judah recognized them and said, "She is more righteous than I, since I wouldn't give her to my son Shelah." And he did not sleep with her again.

Answer 7

She was ordered to be burned for playing the role of a prostitute, but was spared for she was smart enough to get the seal of the man who impregnanted her, and he thought she was a shrine prostitute (I guess a holy woman assigned to ease the burdens of men, different from a regular prostitute). She bore two sons and I think that is the end of her story. She was never punished.

Answer 8

I thought Tamar was considered to be a prostitute, which would be punishable by death? Oh, wait or is that Rahab? I can't remember. Sorry!

Answer 9

The only one without sin is Jesus. therefore

John 14:6
Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 8:24
I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins."

Answer 10

How is it fair for Allah to blind people so that they continue to disbelieve, and then send them to hell?

The Cow 2 -

2:7 Allah hath sealed their hearing and their hearts, and on their eyes there is a covering. Theirs will be an awful doom.

Once again, pot... meet kettle. All three Abrahamic faiths have repulsive aspects to them. Arguing about who is the most repulsive is an exercise in futility.

Answer 11

And in the like manner have their associate-gods made the slaying of their children seem fair to many of the idolaters that they may ruin them and cause confusion in their religion. And if Allah had enforced His will, they would not have done this; so leave them alone with that which they invent.