Unveiling the Versions: The Tactics of Tamar in Genesis 38:15
Modern interpretations of Tamar’s actions in Genesis 38:15 fall into two groups: those who maintain that the veil indicated her prostitute status and those who counter that it only concealed her identity. I argue that the expansion to and...
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
University of Alberta Library
2001-12-01
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| Series: | Journal of Hebrew Scriptures |
| Online Access: | https://jhsonline.org/index.php/jhs/article/view/5966 |
| _version_ | 1797860473063866368 |
|---|---|
| author | John R. Huddlestun |
| author_facet | John R. Huddlestun |
| author_sort | John R. Huddlestun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Modern interpretations of Tamar’s actions in Genesis 38:15
fall into two groups: those who maintain that the veil indicated her prostitute
status and those who counter that it only concealed her identity. I argue that
the expansion to and subsequent interpretive history of this verse, coupled with
the lack of correlation between veil and prostitution historically, suggest that
the first mentioned interpretation - Judah believed her to be a prostitute
because of the veil - should be reconsidered. Rather, the separation of shroud
from profession, both exegetically and historically, provides a compelling
historical precedent for the second view, namely, that Tamar’s veil concealed
more than it revealed. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-09T21:46:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-35d7cb512480403a862708340aea510f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1203-1542 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-09T21:46:26Z |
| publishDate | 2001-12-01 |
| publisher | University of Alberta Library |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Hebrew Scriptures |
| spelling | doaj.art-35d7cb512480403a862708340aea510f2023-03-24T20:46:52ZengUniversity of Alberta LibraryJournal of Hebrew Scriptures1203-15422001-12-01310.5508/jhs.2001.v3.a7Unveiling the Versions: The Tactics of Tamar in Genesis 38:15John R. Huddlestun Modern interpretations of Tamar’s actions in Genesis 38:15 fall into two groups: those who maintain that the veil indicated her prostitute status and those who counter that it only concealed her identity. I argue that the expansion to and subsequent interpretive history of this verse, coupled with the lack of correlation between veil and prostitution historically, suggest that the first mentioned interpretation - Judah believed her to be a prostitute because of the veil - should be reconsidered. Rather, the separation of shroud from profession, both exegetically and historically, provides a compelling historical precedent for the second view, namely, that Tamar’s veil concealed more than it revealed. https://jhsonline.org/index.php/jhs/article/view/5966 |
| spellingShingle | John R. Huddlestun Unveiling the Versions: The Tactics of Tamar in Genesis 38:15 Journal of Hebrew Scriptures |
| title | Unveiling the Versions: The Tactics of Tamar in Genesis 38:15 |
| title_full | Unveiling the Versions: The Tactics of Tamar in Genesis 38:15 |
| title_fullStr | Unveiling the Versions: The Tactics of Tamar in Genesis 38:15 |
| title_full_unstemmed | Unveiling the Versions: The Tactics of Tamar in Genesis 38:15 |
| title_short | Unveiling the Versions: The Tactics of Tamar in Genesis 38:15 |
| title_sort | unveiling the versions the tactics of tamar in genesis 38 15 |
| url | https://jhsonline.org/index.php/jhs/article/view/5966 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT johnrhuddlestun unveilingtheversionsthetacticsoftamaringenesis3815 |