Tamar's faith (Gen 38q)

She is more righteous than I

Gen 38:1-30

Key verse 26a

1.     [1-11]What happened before and after this event? (ch 37, 39) Where did Judah go and whom did he marry? Why do you think did he?  What happened to his first  son? What solution did Judah take? (ref. Deut 25:5-7) What was the purpose of this? What happen to the second son?  How did Judah understand the tragic deaths of his two sons?  (11b) What did Judah tell Tamar to do? 

2.     [12] When did his wife die? After all, who was left to him after her death?  What might be the significance of her death to Judah's life?

3.     [13-19] What did Tamar do? (14-19) What were the risks and challenges to this action? (24; Ref. Deut 22:23-24)  What was the primary motive of doing this? (14b)  What pledge did he give to her? What did she demand as token of his pledge? What does this tell about Judah's way of thinking? (cf. 39:8-9)

4.     [20-23] What did Judah do to meet his pledge?  Why could he not fulfill his pledge? Why could Judah have been a laughingstock?

5.     [24-30] When Tamar was found to be pregnant, what did Judah do? When she sent seal, cord and staff to Judah, what did Judah say? (26) In what sense did Judah think that she was more righteous than he? What were the names of two boys that she delivered? ( ref Gen 46:12 Matt 1:3) 
6. What similarity can you find in the spirit of Judah with Tamar's? (Gen 44:16,32-34) What does this allude to us?