Tamar³

Trivia question: How many Tamars are mentioned in the Bible? The answer is three (in case you didn't notice the title of today's story). And if those three aren't enough to keep track of, there were also a few towns named Tamar.

Tamar means "date" in ancient Hebrew, like the fruit - "date," "date palm," or "palm tree," are all acceptable meanings for Tamar.

Not much is mentioned about Tamar #3, except that she was the daughter of Absalom (King David's son) and that she was beautiful. We can assume that Tamar #3 was named in honor of Absalom's "sister," also named Tamar, who was raped by Absalom's brother Amnon. Absalom killed his brother because of this.

"Three sons and a daughter were born to Absalom. His daughter’s name was Tamar, and she became a beautiful woman." - 2 Samuel 14:27

The story of Tamar #2 is found in 2 Samuel 13. Like I said, she was raped by Amnon. An ugly and sad story to be sure. Yet, it is in the Bible. We must learn from it.

"Tamar lived in her brother Absalom’s house, a desolate woman." - 2 Samuel 13:20

Tamar #1's story is found in Genesis 38. She was the daughter-in-law of Judah - one of the 12 patriarchs. It is she who is mentioned in Matthew's lineage of Jesus.

"Abraham was the father of Isaac, Isaac the father of Jacob, Jacob the father of Judah and his brothers, Judah the father of Perez and Zerah, whose mother was Tamar." - Matthew 1:2-3

That sounds all nice and clean, but Tamar #1 had to dress up like a prostitute and have sex with her father-in-law in order to keep the line to Jesus alive. 

So, what do we learn from all of this? The lineage of Jesus passes through a wide variety of humans, often by detestable and disgusting events. Murderers, adulterers, incestuous relationships, "there is no one good, no not one."

All of Jesus' relatives were sinners, just like us. Yet Jesus was "the spotless lamb." How could that even be possible? The answer is found in the Bible. Imagine that!

"Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit." - Matthew 1:18

The Seed of God!! God, The Father! The Christmas story!

He really DOES make all things, ALL THINGS, new. May His name be forever praised! Amen!!