Show Don't Tell: Genesis 38:1-30

Instead of saying "Judah fathered children through his daughter-in-law," untangle this dark story. Judah leaves his brothers, marries a Canaanite, has three sons. The first son marries Tamar, but God puts him to death for wickedness. The second son refuses to give Tamar children—struck dead too. Judah promises his third son when he's older, but never delivers. Tamar waits. And waits. Then she removes her widow's clothes, covers her face, sits by the road. Judah sees a prostitute and propositions her. His pledge: signet, cord, staff. Three months later: "Your daughter-in-law is pregnant by prostitution!" Judah's verdict: "Burn her!" Then she sends the pledge items. "Whose are these?" Watch Judah's face: "She is more righteous than I." Through this tangled, shameful union, the line of David continues.