Genesis 38:11
French (La Bible expliquée)
Juda dit alors à sa belle-fille Tamar: « Puisque tu es veuve, va habiter chez ton père en attendant que mon fils Chéla soit devenu adulte. » Il se disait en effet: « Il ne faut pas que Chéla meure lui aussi comme ses frères. » Tamar s'en alla donc habiter chez son père. Ce récit interrompt l'histoire de Joseph. Avec d'autres, il rappelle les règles matrimoniales, non par des édits législatifs mais par des narrations exemplaires, à suivre ou à ne pas suivre: mariage, inceste, et ici, loi du lévirat. Cette règle est formulée en Deut 25.5-10: le plus proche parent d'un homme qui meurt sans enfant mâle doit épouser la veuve et donner un fils au disparu (Deut 25.6). Onan refuse à Tamar cette possibilité (v. 9). Juda promet à Tamar que Chéla la rendra enceinte lorsqu'il sera devenu adulte.
What Does This Mean?
Judah tells Tamar, his daughter-in-law, to remain a widow at her father's house until his son Shelah is old enough. He fears Shelah might die like his brothers did if he marries Tamar. Tamar agrees and moves to her father's house.
Explained for Children
Imagine if your dad told you to stay at grandma's house until your cousin is older. He's worried you might not be a good match, just like your other cousins didn't work out. So, you stay at grandma's until it's safe.
Historical Background
Genesis was written by Moses around 1400 BC, documenting early Israelite history. This verse deals with the cultural norms of the time, where a widow was often cared for by her husband's family.
Living It Out Today
In modern times, consider how we make decisions based on fear. Judah was cautious, but sometimes fear can prevent us from taking necessary risks. Think about a time when fear kept you from doing something important.
Topics
fearfamilymarriagewidowhoodprotectiondecision-making
Related Verses
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Judah fear Shelah would die?
Judah feared Shelah would die like his other sons because he associated their deaths with Tamar's marriage, believing it might bring misfortune.
What was the cultural significance of Tamar staying in her father's house?
In ancient times, a widow staying in her father's house was a cultural norm, providing her protection and support until a suitable marriage could be arranged.
How does this verse relate to decision-making?
This verse shows how fear can influence decisions. Judah made a cautious decision based on past experiences, reflecting how we often make choices based on our fears.
What can we learn from Tamar's response?
Tamar's compliance shows patience and trust in the plan, even when faced with an uncertain future, teaching us the importance of patience and trust in difficult situations.