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 subsequent interpretive history of this verse, coupled w...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Huddlestun, John R. (Author)
Format: Electronic Article
Language:English
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Published: The National Library of Canada 2001
In: The journal of Hebrew scriptures
Year: 2001, Volume: 3, Pages: 1-25
IxTheo Classification:HB Old Testament
Further subjects:B Tamar Daughter-in-law of Judah
B Bible. Genesis 38,15
Online Access: Volltext (kostenfrei)
Description
Summary: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.
ISSN:1203-1542
Contains:Enthalten in: The journal of Hebrew scriptures
Persistent identifiers:DOI: 10.5508/jhs.2001.v3.a7