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[[Category: Publishing]]
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It is clear the gospel message is hidden in the Old Testament. The author of Hebrews declares: “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets...” <ref>He 1:1, KJV</ref>. It seems these “divers manners” include what one might call “dinner theater.” Shakespeare quipped “all the world’s a stage” <ref>“As You Like It” Act 2.7</ref>. This notion human drama and theatrical precedence is seen early in biblical literature. One example of the hidden gospel is in the story of Tamar in Genesis 38, where we have, it seems, a cast of characters acting out a play within the play as it were, as the Gospel story metaphorically hidden, can be revealed in the narrative.
The account of Judah and Tamar has been called the worst chapter in the Bible. <ref>"This is another chapter that seems to be about as necessary as a fifth leg on a cow. After you have read the story, you may wish that it had been left out of the Bible. Many people have asked me why this chapter is in the Word of God. I agree that it is one of the worst chapters in the Bible,..." J. Vernon McGee ,''Thru the Bible: Genesis through Revelation'', Chapter 38.</ref> <ref>https://books.google.com/books?id=CeHUIpZMtQ0C&pg=PT351&lpg=PT351&dq=worst+chapter+of+the+bible+tamar&source=bl&ots=qVmaXDcdPv&sig=ACfU3U0HFRgO4iUAFMvufZJ9AMUz7fvnvw&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjP3O6NgKHjAhUOHc0KHU23C544ChDoATAAegQICRAB#v=onepage&q=worst%20chapter%20of%20the%20bible%20tamar&f=false</ref> Perhaps the salacious details have distracted many from the intended meaning of the scripture. Often this chapter is skipped over quickly in the surveys of the Bible and Pastors arrange their sequential preaching plans to conveniently break for Christmas topical sermons instead.
=Brief comment on the literal account=
Many Bible commentators wonder why this chapter is inserted in the middle of the account of Joseph. Close reading tells us that this event caused the change in Judah from being the jealous, murderous liar who tricked his father, Jacob, to believing Joseph was dead<ref>Ge 37:32 And they sent the coat of [many] colours, and they brought [it] to their father; and said, This have we found: know now whether it [be] thy son’s coat or no.</ref>, into the repentant, self-sacrificing brother who would give himself in place of his younger brother Benjamin<ref>Ge 44:33 Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren.</ref>. The key to understanding his transformation is the word הכר, loosely translated: "Do you recognize these?" It is the word Judah used when he presented Jacob with Joseph's bloody coat, and he is being confronted by his daughter-in-law with the same word. It is made more poignant because she took an action to give Judah an heir, and Judah used the word to deprive his father of a son.
The key to understanding his transformation is Judah says that Tamar was more honorable than he. This makes no sense in the word הכר, loosely translated: "Do you recognize these?" transaction of prostitution. It is made clear when the word Judah used when he presented Jacob with Joseph's bloody coat, deception and he is being confronted by his daughter-in-law with the same word. It purpose of it is made more poignant clear. She was betrothed to Shelah, but because she took an action of Judah's refusal to give him <ref>Ge 38:11 Then said Judah an heir, and Judah used the word to deprive Tamar his father of daughter in law, Remain a widow at thy father’s house, till Shelah my sonbe grown: for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren [did]. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house.</ref>, he was effectively dead. The only one left to produce the heir for Judah, was more honorable than heJudah.
The chapter is exactly where it needs to be to explain Judah's transformation.
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