Knowing The Word in Genesis 38:12-23, Judah Knows Tamar

12 In the course of time the wife of Judah, Shua's daughter, died. When Judah was comforted, he went up to Timnah to his sheepshearers [a time of year with a lively festival with lots of wine], he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. 13 And when Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep,” 14 she took off her widow's garments and covered herself with a veil, wrapping herself up, and sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. [The text suggests that after taking off her robes of mourning, she dressed as a prostitute.] For she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she had not been given to him in marriage. [Acknowledging Judah’s deception with her, she will be deceptive with him.] 15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face. 16 He turned to her at the roadside and said, “Come, let me come in to you,” [“Let’s have sex”] for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. She said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?” 17 He answered, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” And she said, “If you give me a pledge, until you send it—” 18 He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” She replied, “Your signet and your cord and your staff [which represent his identity and authority as a passport or security ID badge would] that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him. 19 Then she arose and went away, and taking off her veil she put on the garments of her widowhood. [Her goal was not to live the life of a prostitute but to tie herself permanently to Judah.]

20 When Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite to take back the pledge from the woman's hand, he did not find her. [Why did he send a friend and not go himself? Perhaps he felt shame or did not trust himself not to have sex with her again or because he wanted to hide his identity.] 21 And he asked the men of the place, “Where is the cult prostitute who was at Enaim at the roadside?” And they said, “No cult prostitute has been here.” 22 So he returned to Judah and said, “I have not found her. Also, the men of the place said, ‘No cult prostitute has been here.’” 23 And Judah replied, “Let her keep the things as her own, or we shall be laughed at. You see, I sent this young goat, and you did not find her.” [Judah sends a friend rather than taking responsibility himself, showing how dishonorable he is. He ends his pursuit, thinking his honor is still intact and that the cost to himself is minimal.]