In spite of their age difference, Tamar and Judah had a sexual relationship since the common habit of that time was that Tamar should produce children for her dead husband, Er. For that alone, Tamar, as a widow, resolved to have children from Er’s father, Judah. Disguised as a whore, Tamar seduced Judah to become the father of her offsprings. She consequently gave birth to twins from him and they were called Perez and Zerah.
The narrative is fraught with many sexual morality issues like prostitution, sexual seduction and harlotry. Incest is so conspicuous in the narrative as Tamar had been married to Judah even though his son had already touched her. Also, selling one’s honor is something prominent as Tamar were not used to practicing harlotry for free; rather, she would get recompenses for that. What is more is that Judah is portrayed as a man who is incapable of implementing his promises to Tamar.
On the whole, the narrative teaches us many moral lessons. Besides staying faithful to one’s life-partner, one ought to keep the promises one makes, especially to his / her loved ones. Honestly, this story shall make me abide by the teachings of the Scripture, help me fulfill all my responsibilities towards my family members and never dare immerse myself into harlotry so long as it is something forbidden almost in all faiths.
Consisting of only four chapters, the book of Ruth is considered to be one of the Historical Books of the Old Testament. Ruth is in fact the leading figure in this book and this is why the book was named after her. Having its setting in the days when the judges governed with much depravity and corruption and when famine was spreading widely in Israel, the book of Ruth put into questions several characters and themes. Sin, repentance, crying to God and punishment are at work in this narrative account.
Remarkable is that the characters in Ruth were depicted as faithful and responsible for their own fate.