Speaker 1: Previously on the chosen people.
Speaker 2: I will name you Judah. Praise this time. I will
Speaker 2: praise God. I will praise God for you, little one.
Speaker 3: And all your brothers.
Speaker 2: You are a gift and a treasure.
Speaker 1: Ah Judah, Now there's a name. What will become of
Speaker 1: usley child?
Speaker 4: Who will you become?
Speaker 1: Jacob expanded his lineage larger than his forefathers could ever imagine,
Speaker 1: eleven sons to bear the promise given to Abraham and Isaac.
Speaker 1: Yet the house of Jacob had a foundation built on pettiness, favoritism,
Speaker 1: and jealousy. Jacob did nothing to thwart the coiling weeds
Speaker 1: of discord choking out the life of his wives and children.
Speaker 1: What's keeping us from just putting an end to him?
Speaker 1: Are we really going to wait for father to die
Speaker 1: and give his entire inheritance to the youngest?
Speaker 4: Would father real they do that? Of course he would.
Speaker 4: Father was the youngest. Remember he sympathized us with the
Speaker 4: boy Look at the coat he's wearing. When has father
Speaker 4: ever given you something of that?
Speaker 1: Much worse, they hated Joseph for his favor and were
Speaker 1: trapped in a prison of jealousy. Sensing the danger, Joseph
Speaker 1: stepped back, but the brothers had surrounded him.
Speaker 4: Where are you running off to your baby brother?
Speaker 1: Are you afraid? Tears streamed down Joseph's face. He couldn't speak,
Speaker 1: he could barely breathe. Judah threw him the gast of rocks.
Speaker 4: Tell me, Joseph, in all your dreaming, did you ever
Speaker 4: imagine this?
Speaker 1: The Ishmaelites turned their attention to Judah. He sauntered to
Speaker 1: their camels and began to stroke their noses.
Speaker 4: Lying in a just north of here, there was a
Speaker 4: young young man. He's seventeen. He's strong, lean and able
Speaker 4: to work. What will you give us for?
Speaker 5: The Bible tells us the truth, the dirty, imperfect and
Speaker 5: ugly truth, And today's stories a tale of truth and
Speaker 5: of deceit, lust and desperation. Shelloh, my friends, from here
Speaker 5: in the holy land of Israel, i'm ya l extein
Speaker 5: with the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, and you're
Speaker 5: listening to the Chosen people. Each day we'll hear a
Speaker 5: dramatic story inspired by the Bible, stories filled with timeless
Speaker 5: lessons of faith, love, and the meaning of life. Through
Speaker 5: israel story, we find this truth that we are all
Speaker 5: chosen for something great. Now let's begin. What do we
Speaker 5: do when betrayal and redemption walk hand in hand? Today
Speaker 5: we will meet Judah, the man who strayed, and Tamar,
Speaker 5: the woman who defied her Fate and the too will
Speaker 5: collide in a narrative both haunting and profound. Their choices,
Speaker 5: their struggles, their sins, and their redemption give us deeper
Speaker 5: truth about the human condition. This Bible story, inspired by
Speaker 5: Genesis thirty eight, is one of humanity. It's messy and chaotic,
Speaker 5: desperately reaching for meaning, and it's a story of our God, who,
Speaker 5: despite our failures, will bless those who seek him.
Speaker 1: This episode of The Chosen People with Yile Exstein contains
Speaker 1: explicit content that may be triggering for some listeners and
Speaker 1: inappropriate for young children. Listener discretion is advised. Judah sat
Speaker 1: on the jagged ledge of the canyons, gazing out over Dothan.
Speaker 1: Dawn painted the valleys below. The wind whispered softly, caressing
Speaker 1: his weathered face as he watched the sun ascend over
Speaker 1: the valley, casting a golden hue upon the rugged landscape.
Speaker 1: Two days had passed since he had seen his younger
Speaker 1: brother Joseph, beaten shackled and carted off like chattel to
Speaker 1: the slave markets of Egypt. Despite the object of his
Speaker 1: jealousy being gone, a profound restlessness gnawed at his soul.
Speaker 1: He was the fourth born of God's chosen people, favored
Speaker 1: among his brothers, yet an abiding shame haunted him. Joseph
Speaker 1: was gone, but his father's disdain for him persisted. He
Speaker 1: found no favor, no love, no affection to replace the dreamer.
Speaker 4: Huh, there's no place for me in the house of Jacob.
Speaker 1: As the harsh eastern sun rose, Judah turned his gaze
Speaker 1: towards the land of Tymna. Rising from his purge, he
Speaker 1: began the journey eastward, a trek he had made many times. Tymna,
Speaker 1: where he traded and grew close to a certain a
Speaker 1: Dlamite named Hera. The village lay in the midst of
Speaker 1: verdant pastures, where herds of goats and sheep grazed. Small
Speaker 1: mud brick homes dotted the landscape with wisps of smoke
Speaker 1: curling into the air. Judah neandered through the village, a
Speaker 1: place both beautiful and treacherous. Beneath its charm lurked dark
Speaker 1: rituals and sacrifices unbelownst to him. Judah was walking into
Speaker 1: a den of serpents. Yet among the Adalamites he felt
Speaker 1: a sense of belonging. They were earth bound, worshiping their
Speaker 1: immediate needs, unburdened by divine purpose. Judah felt liberated from
Speaker 1: his father's oppressive expectations and reveled in the freedom to
Speaker 1: act as he pleased. That night, he sat by the
Speaker 1: fire with Hera. The portly, wealthier Dulamie, treated Judah to
Speaker 1: a feast of meat and fine wine. Their laughter echoed
Speaker 1: into the night as they gorged themselves. Judah leaned back,
Speaker 1: tossing stones into the fire and watching them burst from
Speaker 1: the heat. Hera regarded him through the flickering frames, a
Speaker 1: smirk playing on his lips.
Speaker 6: I hear your father lost a son.
Speaker 1: Judah's eyes, glazed with wine and hatred met hearers. He scoffed,
Speaker 1: taking another swig from the jar beside him, Spitting into
Speaker 1: the fire. He watched the flames flare up.
Speaker 4: Yeah, Joseph, Ah poor boy was devoured by beasts.
Speaker 6: Oh you don't seem to grieve by us. But I
Speaker 6: suppose your father has many sons to spare and no
Speaker 6: doubt it means more inheritance for you.
Speaker 1: Judah waved a dismissive hand, scoffing once more, he rubbed
Speaker 1: his eyes, looking up at the stars. His father often
Speaker 1: spoke of Abraham's promise that his descendants would outnumber the stars.
Speaker 4: Great grandfather was chosen by God to create a legacy,
Speaker 4: and my grandfather after him, and my father after him.
Speaker 4: Me ow. However, there seemed to be no favor for
Speaker 4: any of us brothers, especially after Joseph was.
Speaker 6: Taken taken, I thought you said Joseph was devoured by beasts.
Speaker 1: Ignored the question, stumbling to grab his cloak. He regained
Speaker 1: his footing, his face flushed from over indulgence.
Speaker 4: Mark my words. I will make a name for myself
Speaker 4: and my father will bless me.
Speaker 1: He walked off into the village, dim torchlights, guiding his
Speaker 1: way to the well. He tripped, grunting as he hit
Speaker 1: the stone and leaned over to draw some water, splashing
Speaker 1: his face. He looked up at the stars, wondering if
Speaker 1: God would ever speak to him as he had to
Speaker 1: his father.
Speaker 4: Where is my favor? What is my lazy?
Speaker 1: Only silence answered him, scoffing, Judah continued down the path.
Speaker 1: He paused, seeing a young Canaanite woman leaning against her home,
Speaker 1: her hair draped seductively around her curves, her eyes shining
Speaker 1: like the moon in the darkness. Forbidden or not, Judah
Speaker 1: approached her with drunken confidence.
Speaker 4: Who are you?
Speaker 1: The woman turned with initial fear, then let her guard
Speaker 1: down once she saw Judah's face. Judah was a familiar
Speaker 1: sight in Timner. Everyone knew the sons of Jacob. They
Speaker 1: were brash, good looking, and brave young men who had
Speaker 1: slain the sons of Shechem.
Speaker 2: Either I am a daughter of shure Eva.
Speaker 4: Oh, what a beautiful name. What are you doing out this? Wait? Eva?
Speaker 2: You know what I'm doing here looking out at the sky,
Speaker 2: enjoying the last of the warm summer air, awaiting company.
Speaker 1: There was a seductive quality to her voice. Judah felt
Speaker 1: chills crawled down his spine. He looked at her with
Speaker 1: selfish longing. Suppose Judah couldn't feel the satisfaction of his
Speaker 1: father's approval or the sense of purpose from God. Perhaps
Speaker 1: a night of indulgence would fill the void. They spoke
Speaker 1: into the night and eventually were entangled in one another's arms.
Speaker 1: The next day, Judah paid for the right to take
Speaker 1: her as his wife. The two of them journeyed back
Speaker 1: to Jacob and the rest of Judah's family. As they
Speaker 1: approached the tents, the brothers could see the woman on
Speaker 1: Judah's arm. Judah looked for his father, eager to get
Speaker 1: a rise out of him.
Speaker 4: Father, I have returned from Timna with a wife. Will
Speaker 4: you throw us a feast?
Speaker 1: His brothers snickered at the sight of her. Knowing her reputation,
Speaker 1: Jacob to grieve to care dismissed Judah's announcement with a
Speaker 1: weary sigh.
Speaker 6: Congratulations, Isaac, no ruber Ah, Judah, do what you will, son.
Speaker 4: I do not care.
Speaker 6: One of the servants kill a calf in your honor,
Speaker 6: I argue in my tent.
Speaker 1: Judah's face hung low. Simeon nudge Judah.
Speaker 2: Well done, Judah, a beautiful bride from the alleys of
Speaker 2: rat country.
Speaker 1: Come, let's drink and feast. Judah felt the weight of
Speaker 1: his father's indifference, the sting of his own foolish choices.
Speaker 1: Judah was accustomed to the cold side of Jacob's shoulder,
Speaker 1: but this time the air seemed different. If Judah was
Speaker 1: to live without the light of his father's gaze. Then
Speaker 1: perhaps it was time to make his own light.
Speaker 4: Oh, make myself a great nation. Father, you'll see.
Speaker 1: Judah and his wife built their dwelling close to his
Speaker 1: family and bore a son. They named him Er. Judah
Speaker 1: looked at him as the pride of his life. He
Speaker 1: held him in his arms and looked up to the skies.
Speaker 4: This will be my legacy.
Speaker 1: There was still no voice speaking to him from the heavens,
Speaker 1: no whisper of approval or promise of prosperity, just the
Speaker 1: vast darkness staring blankly.
Speaker 4: Down at him.
Speaker 1: Judah looked down at her and stroked his little head.
Speaker 4: You will make me great. I will be even greater
Speaker 4: than my father Jacob. I will be greater than Joseph.
Speaker 1: Judah and ever had two more sons, Onan and Schella.
Speaker 1: The boys grew under the legacy of Jacob and the
Speaker 1: influence of their Canaanite mother. They heard tales of their
Speaker 1: grandfather's divine wrestling and the promise of a mighty nation.
Speaker 1: Yet their mother's earthy customs swayed them, something their father
Speaker 1: did very little to combat. As the three boys became men,
Speaker 1: their attention to honor waned and dissolved into nothing. They
Speaker 1: did as they pleased and cared very little about the
Speaker 1: legacy of their forefathers. Years passed. Judah walked with her
Speaker 1: in the coolness of dusk. It was an important night
Speaker 1: for ear. Judah regarded him, scanning him up and down.
Speaker 1: The young man, long and lean with light curls, reminded
Speaker 1: Judah painfully of Joseph.
Speaker 4: Where is he now? I wonder is he still alive?
Speaker 1: Judah shook the thoughts from his head and gestured to.
Speaker 4: Her, are you nervous? Why should I be? Doesn't mean anything.
Speaker 4: It's the beginning of your legacy.
Speaker 1: You sun like grandfather who cares about legacy. Judah rolled
Speaker 1: his eyes, frustrated. He had arranged for her to marry Tamar,
Speaker 1: a beautiful, fiery, young Canaanite woman, but ERR's interests lay
Speaker 1: elsewhere in the streets of Tymna. Judah saw his younger
Speaker 1: self in her and felt sickened.
Speaker 4: Be mindful of your purpose in this family. You have
Speaker 4: a responsibility to carry on my name.
Speaker 1: Er Apathetic shrugged off his father's words. Judah's hopes for
Speaker 1: divine favor seemed futile as his son disregarded their legacy
Speaker 1: that evening, Er and Tamar were wed under a canopy
Speaker 1: of lanterns and stars. The entire family was in attendance.
Speaker 1: They danced around the fire, laughed, and feasted into the night.
Speaker 1: Judah looked over to his father, yearning for a nod
Speaker 1: in his direction, a congratulation, a gesture of approval. However,
Speaker 1: Jacob did not pay attention to him or the celebration. Instead,
Speaker 1: he held his new born son in his arms. Jacob
Speaker 1: and Rachel had since bore another child, Benjamin. He looked
Speaker 1: at Benjamin with the same favor and love as he
Speaker 1: once did Joseph. Judah was too tired to be jealous.
Speaker 1: He had poured all of his wrath out on Joseph.
Speaker 1: When Joseph if was carted away bound by rope, a
Speaker 1: part of Judah was left with him. Now, he was
Speaker 1: weary from all the bitterness that consumed him day and night.
Speaker 1: He looked at his sons dancing by the fire with
Speaker 1: his brothers and sisters. For a brief moment, Judah was
Speaker 1: at peace, but only for a moment. Tamar watched her
Speaker 1: groom lean against the cistern of wine, scooping up another cupful.
Speaker 1: He was in a drunken stupor. She walked up to
Speaker 1: him and grabbed his hand. She tugged and forced a smirk.
Speaker 3: The guests are leaving, Shall we retreat to our bed?
Speaker 4: Go there yourself.
Speaker 1: Headed to the city, Er stumbled down the dirt path
Speaker 1: leading to the city, leaving Tamar alone on her wedding night.
Speaker 1: More wine and prostitutes awaited him. Indulgence had become a
Speaker 1: religion for her. He thrashed about in the village with
Speaker 1: little consideration for his wife or family.
Speaker 4: Not only this, but he.
Speaker 1: Would harm the people he came in contact with. He
Speaker 1: was eager for a fight and cared very little about
Speaker 1: anyone but himself. His heart was consumed by evil. Although
Speaker 1: God was silent to the family of Judah, he was
Speaker 1: still present. He was watching the family devolve into madness. However,
Speaker 1: even amid brokenness, he had a plan for Judah. This plan, however,
Speaker 1: would not be carried out by a wicked man like Earth.
Speaker 1: After a night of drunken rampaging, Er stumbled back home.
Speaker 1: He walked through the fields of grain, eager to ravage
Speaker 1: Tamar before falling asleep. He didn't get that far. Er
Speaker 1: tripped and fell into the nearby stream. He fell face
Speaker 1: down into the water. Blood dripped from his forehead. Er
Speaker 1: turned onto his back, unable to prop himself up. The
Speaker 1: liquor in his body made him warmer the inside, numbing
Speaker 1: his extremities to the freezing water. It slowly, steadily drained
Speaker 1: the life from him. Er lay there with his head
Speaker 1: dripping blood. It flowed into the water, making the stream
Speaker 1: turn red. He stared up at the stars, remembering the
Speaker 1: stories his grandfather told by the fire. He wouldn't get
Speaker 1: to hear those stories again. As blood left ERR's body,
Speaker 1: he grew colder and colder. He closed his eyes and
Speaker 1: fell asleep into the darkness. Thus Judah's legacy teetered on
Speaker 1: the brink, shrouded in silence and shadow, as the stars
Speaker 1: looked down with unfeeling indifference. Judah and his brothers labored
Speaker 1: under the harsh sun, digging a grave for earth. Their
Speaker 1: mournful chance echoed across the plains, old songs of sorrow
Speaker 1: carried by the wind. Tamar stood apart, cloaked in the
Speaker 1: black robes of widowhood. The breeze tugged at her garments.
Speaker 1: As the family gathered around HER's grave. Judah took onan aside,
Speaker 1: their steps slow and heavy as they walked away from
Speaker 1: the others.
Speaker 4: You know what the custom is, or none, you will
Speaker 4: take Tomor and de bed and give her a son
Speaker 4: on behalf of your brother. That way she does not
Speaker 4: go childless, and our legacy will continue.
Speaker 2: So I'm to marry Onan's widow, and the son she
Speaker 2: bears won't even be my own.
Speaker 4: I'll pass. You will do what you must for our
Speaker 4: family's legacy or none. Our greatness is at stake, Your greatness.
Speaker 3: You mean I'm being damned to be my dead brother's stud.
Speaker 1: Very well, father, I'll mount the mayor, as is my
Speaker 1: duty to this great legacy you talk so much about.
Speaker 1: Like his brother, Onan cared little for legacy. Yet he
Speaker 1: found Tamar's beauty eluding. Seeing her as a prize rather
Speaker 1: than a duty, he approached her with feigned gentleness, kissing
Speaker 1: her hand and whispering sweet nothings into her ear. That night,
Speaker 1: Onan took Tamar to his bed, and his initial tenderness
Speaker 1: was quickly overshadowed by lust and selfishness. When the moment came,
Speaker 1: he spilled his seed on the ground, refusing to give
Speaker 1: Tamar a child. He knew that whatever child she would
Speaker 1: bear would not be his own, but ers. He used
Speaker 1: her for his pleasure, leaving her empty and humiliated. Content
Speaker 1: with his own selfishness, Onan left Tamar alone in bed
Speaker 1: and departed to go drink. Tamar lay in bed, tears
Speaker 1: streaming down her face, her heart breaking under the weight
Speaker 1: of her unfulfilled desires. She returned to her tent, sobbing uncontrollably.
Speaker 1: God looked upon her compassionately, but his gaze upon Onan
Speaker 1: was wrathful. As Onan staggered beside the stream, a jar
Speaker 1: of wine in hand, the skies erupted in lightning.
Speaker 4: Oblivious to the.
Speaker 1: Divine fury, Onan's heel caught on a rock, and he
Speaker 1: fell backward into the stream. His head struck a stone,
Speaker 1: killing him instantly. The stream once again ran red with
Speaker 1: the blood of Judah's son. Onan's body was discovered, and
Speaker 1: Judah found himself once more surrounded by his brothers standing
Speaker 1: over a grave. Onan was buried beside earth, and Judah's
Speaker 1: head hung low in despair. His dreams of building a
Speaker 1: lasting legacy were slipping away. He had aspired to be
Speaker 1: the favored son, the bearer of God's promise, but was
Speaker 1: met with silence and death. Judah pounded his fist against
Speaker 1: the earth, rage and sorrow into England. Tamar's stood behind him.
Speaker 1: Judah had taken her from her father. He had promised
Speaker 1: her children. It was now his youngest son's responsibility to
Speaker 1: give her a child. However, Sella was young and incredibly
Speaker 1: fearful that he would meet the same death as his brother's.
Speaker 1: He saw Tamar as cursed and would not go near her.
Speaker 1: Judah could not force his son to lie with her.
Speaker 1: He too was fearful that Tamar perhaps bore a curse. However,
Speaker 1: it was Judah who had raised such wicked sons. Tamar
Speaker 1: was innocent and a victim of Judah's poor judgment as
Speaker 1: a father. Judah pulled Tamar aside and kissed her forehead.
Speaker 4: My daughter, there is very little I can do for you. Now,
Speaker 4: remain a widow and return to your father's house. If
Speaker 4: the time comes when Shalah is ready to wed you,
Speaker 4: I shall send word to bring you back.
Speaker 3: Do you expect me to believe that Sella will want
Speaker 3: anything to do with me when the time comes, even
Speaker 3: have any intention of coming back to get me. You know,
Speaker 3: even my people tell legends of your great grandfather Abraham.
Speaker 3: The word greatness is branded on his name like hot iron.
Speaker 3: He would probably be ashamed of you, Hm.
Speaker 4: You know, I fear you might be right.
Speaker 1: With those words. Tamar was sent away. Her return to
Speaker 1: her father's house a death sentence. She had been given
Speaker 1: to the sons of Judah. Remarriage outside the family was unthinkable.
Speaker 1: Her fate was to live as a widow, dependent and disgraced,
Speaker 1: a fate worse than death. Weeks passed, and tragedy struck again.
Speaker 1: Judah's wife died, leaving him a widower. He mourned deeply,
Speaker 1: lamenting the disintegration of his family and legacy. One early morning,
Speaker 1: he visited the stream where his sons had died. Staring
Speaker 1: at his reflection, he saw a man broken by ambition
Speaker 1: and failure. He sighed and turned towards the pasture, preparing
Speaker 1: to take his sheep to Tymna for shearing. Winter approached
Speaker 1: and the wool would fetch a high price. He called
Speaker 1: for his servant, instructing him to send word to Hear
Speaker 1: and the other merchants. The servant entered Tymna, spreading news
Speaker 1: of Judah's arrival. Tamar drawing water at the well. Overheard,
Speaker 1: the servant waited at her, smiling.
Speaker 6: Tamar, your father in law, Judah, would be in town
Speaker 6: soon if you desire to see him.
Speaker 1: Tamar stood, seething with anger, drawing water. She walked back
Speaker 1: to her home, ignoring the villager's whispers and stairs they
Speaker 1: thought her cursed. Ensuring no more suitors would come inside
Speaker 1: her home. She sat on her bed, eyes lingering on
Speaker 1: her wedding veil and the silk wraps Rachel had gifted her.
Speaker 1: Anger and frustrations simmered within her.
Speaker 3: He has left me alone here to write. That man
Speaker 3: promised me a family, He promised me children.
Speaker 2: He owns me.
Speaker 1: He Suddenly, a cunning idea sparked in her mind. She
Speaker 1: shed her widow's garments, standing naked in the dim room. Methodically,
Speaker 1: she wrapped the silk around her body, the fabric accentuating
Speaker 1: her curves. She placed the veil over her head, hiding
Speaker 1: her face, and smiled at her reflection. Draping a blanket
Speaker 1: over her new disguise, she walked briskly to an Aum,
Speaker 1: a stop on the way to Timna. On the side
Speaker 1: of the road was a small shrine surrounded by a
Speaker 1: group of rooms. It was a place where many prostitutes
Speaker 1: lured in weary travelers. Before Judah was married, he was
Speaker 1: a frequent customer at the temple. Tamar knew this and
Speaker 1: expected to find a weak and susceptible Judah approaching any moment.
Speaker 1: Now leaning against the shrine stone wall, Tamar awaited Judah.
Speaker 1: Soon he appeared with his flock, eyeing the veiled figure.
Speaker 4: Haha, it seems early for the harlots to be out.
Speaker 1: Judah smiled with an embarrassed excitement. He was lonely, weak
Speaker 1: and in grief. He deeply desired the warmth of a woman,
Speaker 1: so he approached the veiled figure with confidence.
Speaker 3: Hello, traveler, the day has been hot, but the coolness
Speaker 3: of night is approaching.
Speaker 4: Then perhaps we can warm each other.
Speaker 3: What will you give me in return?
Speaker 4: I will give you a goat from my flock. My
Speaker 4: flock is not far behind me. When I return, bring.
Speaker 6: It to you.
Speaker 1: Tamar breathed in deeply. She felt uncomfortable, but was determined
Speaker 1: to have a family of her own. Her plan was
Speaker 1: to lure Judah in and conceive, but she had to
Speaker 1: be careful. If she did conceive, she had to have
Speaker 1: a guarantee that the child was indeed Juda's. She grabbed
Speaker 1: Judah's belt and drew him in close. She placed her
Speaker 1: lips next to his ear and whispered.
Speaker 7: Give me a pledge so I know you will return.
Speaker 7: Give me the signet ring on your finger and the
Speaker 7: staff in your hand.
Speaker 1: Judah agreed. He took off his ring and put it
Speaker 1: in a pouch. Then he set his staff down on
Speaker 1: the side of the wall. Tamar held his belt and
Speaker 1: walked backward into the temple overhang, leading him like a
Speaker 1: dog on a leash. The two of them embraced passionately
Speaker 1: until sundown. The whole time Judah was blissfully unaware that
Speaker 1: he was with his daughter in law. As night fell,
Speaker 1: Judah slept beside her. Tamar slipped away, taking his ring
Speaker 1: and the staff. She returned to her father's house dressed
Speaker 1: again in widow's garments. Filled with a mix of shame, anger,
Speaker 1: and excitement, Judah arose. Pleased with himself, he stretched his
Speaker 1: arms and put on his tunic. He reached for his staff,
Speaker 1: then realized he had given it to the prostitute. He
Speaker 1: smiled at the thought of her. It had been a
Speaker 1: long time since feeling the warmth of a woman's touch.
Speaker 1: He turned his feet towards Tymner and met his servants,
Speaker 1: who had his flock of sheep and goats. After being sheered,
Speaker 1: Jodah took a goat and returned to the temple where
Speaker 1: he had met the veiled woman. There was no one
Speaker 1: to be seen at the temple, so Judah went into
Speaker 1: the city and asked the.
Speaker 4: Men where might I find the cult prostitute who resided
Speaker 4: outside the shrine.
Speaker 1: Then chuckled and shrugged at Judah.
Speaker 4: Hah, you got tricked me, friend. There isn't be no
Speaker 4: prossetsu there.
Speaker 6: In years, they swind along the other side of town.
Speaker 1: Judah departed to find the veiled woman. There among the
Speaker 1: other harlots, he asked, searched, and knocked to no avail.
Speaker 1: He was beginning to grow frustrated and embarrassed.
Speaker 4: Ah, let her keep their ring and staff. I'll be
Speaker 4: laughed at if I keep searching for a prost dud
Speaker 4: Us clearly tricked me.
Speaker 1: Three months passed and Judah was tending to the fields
Speaker 1: with his brothers and his remaining sons Shella. Judah and
Speaker 1: Shella had not sent for Tamar. Shella was hesitant and uncommitted,
Speaker 1: and Judah was thoughtless towards her. As Judah hauled sheaves
Speaker 1: of wheat into the silo, he spotted his servant approaching Judah.
Speaker 7: I've been sent from the father of Tay She is pregnant.
Speaker 1: Judah's eyes widened in shock, looking to Sella, who shook
Speaker 1: his head in surprise. Judah fumed Tamar belonged to his family.
Speaker 1: If she was pregnant, she had broken a sacred vow.
Speaker 1: His anger, rooted in his own failures, irrupted.
Speaker 8: Bring her to me. She will be branded for this.
Speaker 8: She has dishonored me Shallah on on an air. She's
Speaker 8: sullied the legacy. She's tarnished my chance and greatness.
Speaker 1: Judah's anger came from a deep well of shame. He
Speaker 1: had failed at building a lasting legacy, and it was
Speaker 1: easier to place the blame on Tamar. She was brought
Speaker 1: to him holding a small.
Speaker 4: Bump on her belly.
Speaker 1: Judah approached her with rage. Yet Tamar was calm and poised.
Speaker 1: She looked at Judah with confidence, not shame. This enraged
Speaker 1: Judah even more.
Speaker 8: Do you see to me and my sons, who is
Speaker 8: the man responsible for your indulgery?
Speaker 3: Interesting? You would call me a harlot, Judah coming from you?
Speaker 4: What are you getting at?
Speaker 3: Oh, my lord, please don't be angry with me. I
Speaker 3: have something to give you.
Speaker 1: Tamar reached over to the donkey she came on. On
Speaker 1: its back was a long object wrapped in a blanket.
Speaker 1: She carried it over to Judah and began slowly unwrapping it.
Speaker 3: These belong to the man responsible.
Speaker 1: She revealed the staff and signet ring lying on top
Speaker 1: of the blanket. Tamar looked up at Judah's astonishment and smiled.
Speaker 1: She lifted the staff and ring and placed them both
Speaker 1: in Judah's hands.
Speaker 3: Do you know who these belonged to?
Speaker 4: My lord?
Speaker 1: Judah looked down at the objects he used as payment
Speaker 1: for the prostitute. Then he looked up at Tamar. He
Speaker 1: scanned her body up and down. He looked at her
Speaker 1: hair and into her eyes. It was her. It was
Speaker 1: the harlot he had searched for. She had tricked him
Speaker 1: into sleeping with her. At first, Judah was angry, but
Speaker 1: he then realized his sins. He had treated Tamar poorly
Speaker 1: and left her to her father's home to die a widow.
Speaker 1: He had not pushed his son to marry her. He
Speaker 1: had not cared for her heart or considered her dreams.
Speaker 1: Judah continued to stare down at the ring and staff.
Speaker 1: Tears streamed down his face, and he looked deeply into
Speaker 1: Tamar's eyes.
Speaker 4: You you are no Harlot tomorrow sho. You are more
Speaker 4: righteous than I am. I did not give you my son, Tammar. Instead,
Speaker 4: I worft you. Why. I am truly sorry.
Speaker 1: Judah took Tamar in. He cared for her, but did
Speaker 1: not know her intimately.
Speaker 4: Again.
Speaker 1: Instead, he tended to her every need and welcomed her
Speaker 1: into his family. Months later, Tamar gave birth to twins.
Speaker 1: The first boy's hand came out and a scarlet thread
Speaker 1: was tied around his wrist to signify he was born first. However,
Speaker 1: before he could emerge fully from the womb, the other
Speaker 1: child made his way out first. The first born was
Speaker 1: named Perez, the second was named Zira. Tamar panted from fatigue,
Speaker 1: but was satisfied that her dreams of having a family
Speaker 1: were fully realized. Judah held the twins in his arms
Speaker 1: and took them out by the stream where his other
Speaker 1: sons had died. He looked up to the rising sun
Speaker 1: and smiled the river belowe had run red with the
Speaker 1: blood of his sons. However, in his arms lay a
Speaker 1: new hope for Judah's future. Despite his failures, pride, and selfishness,
Speaker 1: God would use him. For the first time in his life,
Speaker 1: he felt the presence of God upon him. He looked
Speaker 1: down at peries. Judah did not know it, but it
Speaker 1: would be through his seed that all the nations would
Speaker 1: be blessed. Her hero would emerge from the line of pees.
Speaker 1: Her son of Judah would rise up and fulfill the
Speaker 1: promises given to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. His blood would
Speaker 1: also be spilled, but this time it would not be
Speaker 1: in vain. This son of Judah would rise up as
Speaker 1: a sacrifice to redeem the entire world. He would be
Speaker 1: called the Lion from the tribe of Judah, and he
Speaker 1: would be living proof that God works in even the
Speaker 1: most broken and dysfunctional circumstances.
Speaker 5: The Bible tells us the truth, the dirty, imperfect and
Speaker 5: ugly truth, and today's stories a tale of truth and
Speaker 5: of deceit, lust and desperation. We have Judah, our ancestor,
Speaker 5: who strayed from the strong tradition of the patriarchs by
Speaker 5: marrying a Canaanite woman. And we have Tamar, who disguised
Speaker 5: herself as a harlot to secure her future and her lineage.
Speaker 5: And we have Judah's sons, Heir and Onan, who each
Speaker 5: meet tragic ends, highlighting their own failures and wrongdoings. Each
Speaker 5: character is marred by their sins, But amidst the chaos
Speaker 5: and the moral failings, we hear a whisper of divine
Speaker 5: purpose of God's plan. Tomor's actions, though questionable, ultimately preserved
Speaker 5: the line of Judah. Judah would become the most prominent
Speaker 5: tribe in Israel, giving way to King David himself. It's
Speaker 5: a stark reminder of the complexity of human nature and
Speaker 5: the mysterious ways in which God weaves his plans. Our
Speaker 5: patriarchs and matriarchs, with all of their flaws, are part
Speaker 5: of a greater story, and we too are part of
Speaker 5: this grand narrative despite our imperfections, the narrative of our God,
Speaker 5: who brings redemption out of brokenness. As always, the people
Speaker 5: we read about in the Bible make us ask ourselves
Speaker 5: what we would do in their situation. In this story,
Speaker 5: we meet Tamor, twice widowed and without a child, she
Speaker 5: stood at the brink of oblivion. What would you do
Speaker 5: in her place? How far would you go to secure
Speaker 5: your destiny? Tomorrow, driven by an unyielding sense of justice,
Speaker 5: took matters into her own hands, treating her honor for
Speaker 5: the future. But deceit, even if it's disguised, is still deceit.
Speaker 5: Though born out of necessity, Tomar's actions were wrong and
Speaker 5: shattered the bonds of trust and family. Like Loot's daughters
Speaker 5: before her, Tomor's actions sprang from a place of desperation.
Speaker 5: Both Bible stories reveal the lengths one might go to
Speaker 5: secure future, and these acts, though rooted in survival, were
Speaker 5: morally compromised. We also see the shadows of Abraham's legacy
Speaker 5: casting their long reach, his lies about Sarah and his
Speaker 5: compromise with Hagar, reminding us of the far reaching consequences
Speaker 5: of our sins. Then there's Judah, our ancestor who strayed
Speaker 5: from righteousness, who neglected his duty to Tamorrow, refusing to
Speaker 5: give her to his son Sheelah. How often do we too,
Speaker 5: fall into the snares of temptation and neglect our duties
Speaker 5: to God. Judah's moral failures were glaring. He turned his
Speaker 5: back on sacred obligations, betrayed his family, and let his
Speaker 5: desires lead him astray. But in a moment of revelation,
Speaker 5: when Tamar's pregnancy came to light, Judah confessed. He said,
Speaker 5: she is more righteous than I. This is a turning
Speaker 5: point in the story of the Chosen People. This moment
Speaker 5: right here is the first apology in the entire Bible. Yeah,
Speaker 5: you heard that right, the first apology. You don't believe me,
Speaker 5: go back and look for yourself. This is the commentary
Speaker 5: that the late Rabbi Jonathan Sachs of Blessed Memory gave
Speaker 5: to this story. This is what he said. This moment
Speaker 5: is a turning point in history. Judah is the first
Speaker 5: person in the Torah explicitly to admit that he was wrong.
Speaker 5: It is from here that we learn the principle that
Speaker 5: a penitent stands higher than even a perfectly righteous individual.
Speaker 5: Judah the penitent becomes the ancestor of Israel's kings, while
Speaker 5: Joseph the righteous is only a visceroy mish ne le mere,
Speaker 5: which means second to the pharaoh. Judah's acknowledgment of Tamar's
Speaker 5: righteousness marked a turning point, a step towards redemption. Though
Speaker 5: her methods were flawed, Tamar's motive was justice, and Judah
Speaker 5: recognized his own failures and he found the path to repentance.
Speaker 5: Judah's failings and Tomorrow's deceit stand as towering reminders of
Speaker 5: our human condition, that it's fraught with sin and in
Speaker 5: dire need of divine grace. I feel that, especially today,
Speaker 5: can we too pursue justice without falling into the snares
Speaker 5: of deceit? Can we too find the courage to repent?
Speaker 5: The story of Judah and Tomorrow calls each of us
Speaker 5: here and now to walk humbly with God. May we
Speaker 5: learn from their journey, embrace our imperfections and trust in
Speaker 5: the God who brings light from darkness, hope from despair,
Speaker 5: and redemption from the depths of our failings. Amen in
Speaker 5: an age where lineage and legacy where everything, The chosen
Speaker 5: people of God were continually working with what seemed to
Speaker 5: be a broken family tree, yet the roots were deep.
Speaker 5: Before we finish with Tamorro and Judah's story, it wanted
Speaker 5: to take another look at Judah's words. As we've seen,
Speaker 5: Judah's behavior with Tamar wasn't exemplary. But Jewish tradition teaches
Speaker 5: that with just two words in Hebrew, Judah demonstrated one
Speaker 5: of the core beliefs of the Chosen people, and that
Speaker 5: is the belief in the power of repentance. You see,
Speaker 5: when Judah was shown his seal, his cord, and his staff,
Speaker 5: he could have denied that they were his, and he
Speaker 5: could have actually gotten away with it. He knew that
Speaker 5: he could have lied, but he didn't. Judah didn't turn
Speaker 5: away from the truth. Instead, as we learned before, Judah
Speaker 5: uttered these two Hebrew words, zadi ka me many. She
Speaker 5: is more righteous than I. By saying these words, Judah
Speaker 5: took the first step towards repentance, and that is admitting
Speaker 5: his sin. Jewish tradition tells us that because of this,
Speaker 5: Judah was given the gift of leadership of the Chosen People.
Speaker 5: Even his name Judah Yehudah in Hebrew is related to
Speaker 5: the word admitting, and it's also the very name of
Speaker 5: our nation and our religion, Jews and Judaism. It comes
Speaker 5: from Judah. I like to say that we're repenting all
Speaker 5: the time, and isn't that a good thing for all
Speaker 5: of us to always be doing? Drying closer to God
Speaker 5: by admitting our mistakes.
Speaker 1: You can listen to The Chosen People with Isle Eckstein
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Speaker 1: made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Katina,
Speaker 1: Max Bard, Zach Shellabarger and Ben Gammon are the executive
Speaker 1: producers of the Chosen People with Yile Eckstein. Edited by
Speaker 1: Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by
Speaker 1: Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold,
Speaker 1: Sylvia Zaradoc and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore.
Speaker 1: Music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Bree Rosalie and
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