Story · 22 · The Matriarch
Tamar: patriarchy with its pants off
Widowed and denied her rights by Judah's family, Tamar disguises herself, conceives by Judah himself, and keeps his seal and staff as proof.
An underdog's daring saved a dynasty.
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Judah publicly declares, 'She is more righteous than I.' Without Tamar, the tribe of Judah would have died out, and there would be no King David. She's the first woman named in Jesus' genealogy in Matthew.
Bible reference: Genesis 38; Matthew 1:3
Source: Why the Bible Began, pp. 362–363
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