STUDY GUIDE Study Guide 3 of 4 The Power of Women in Scripture A 4-part Study Taught by Dr. Anne Davis Session 3: Tamar: A Godly Choice A BibleInteract Production
SUMMARY: Tamar is a key figure in the biblical narrative. She is one of only three women listed in the genealogy of the Messiah, and her twin sons carried on the line of Judah through her clever deceit that nevertheless was directed by God. Although Judah appears as an unworthy son in this narrative of Tamar, his later life at the time of the Joseph story finds that he has finally become worthy to inherit the birthright. WORDS TO BE DEFINED 1. Birthright 2. Paratz 3. Signet ring QUESTIONS FOR COMPREHENSION 1. Tamar is one of three women listed in the genealogy of the Messiah. Who are the other two? 2. How did Reuben defile his father s bed that led to the loss of his inheritance of the birthright? You will find the answer in the middle margin note of your Bible for 1 Chronicles 5:1. 3. Why did Tamar play the role of a prostitute? QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION Read Genesis 38:1-30. The following discussion questions relate to that chapter. 1. Find all the places in the chapter that convey going up or going down, and discuss their symbolic imagery in the context of each passage. Session 3: Tamar: A Godly Choice Page 1
2. What is levirate marriage, and how does this custom relate to the story of Tamar? 3. How did the signet ring and the staff signify authority? What was the authority that Judah gave to Tamar, both literally and figuratively? 4. How was Tamar more righteous than Judah? 5. How does the Hebrew word paratz convey prophetic information in the Hebrew Scriptures? Session 3: Tamar: A Godly Choice Page 2
Practical Application 1. Give an example from your own life of when it might be acceptable in the eyes of God to act in a way that is not in alignment with biblical law. 2. We read in 2 Timothy 1:7 that God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and love and discipline. Assuming that the theory of the pre-tribulation rapture is wrong, what do you know about the coming Great Tribulation that all of God s children will have to live through? a. Does this understanding stimulate fear in your mind and heart? b. How does the pre-tribulation theory erase that fear? c. How many times in the Bible are we told to fear God? (you will need to use a concordance to answer this question) d. You will find that the purpose of fearing God is to fear His coming judgment. How is this a form of loving instruction from God? Session 3: Tamar: A Godly Choice Page 3
e. If we are not supposed to fear the coming Great Tribulation because a spirit of fear is from Satan, how will God s power and love and discipline help us face both suffering in our lives today and also the Great Tribulation that is to come? Digging Deeper 1. Read Genesis 49:22-26, which is Jacob s prophecy of the descendants of Joseph. a. Look up the Hebrew words that have been translated in the NASB in verse 22 as bough and branches. What do you think is the meaning of the verse if the common usage of these words is applied? b. What is the prophetic symbolism of the following? Fruitful by spring Run over a wall (you will need to look up the meaning of the Hebrew for this verb) Archers harassed him Blessings of heaven above Blessings of the deep that lies beneath Session 3: Tamar: A Godly Choice Page 4
Blessings of the breasts and the womb Blessings of your father (find the verses and be specific) Blessing of my ancestors (find the verses and be specific) 2. Read Genesis 49:8-12, which is Jacob s prophecy of the descendants of Judah. a. What is the prophetic symbolism of the following? Neck of your enemies A lion s whelp Tying a foal to a vine Eyes dull from wine Teeth white from milk (you will need to look up the meaning of the Hebrew for milk ) b. Biblical scholars suggest that Shiloh in verse 10 is a Messianic title. With this in mind, what do you think is the prophetic meaning of verse 10? Session 3: Tamar: A Godly Choice Page 5