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Speaker 1: When she was brought forth, she sent to her father

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Speaker 1: in law, saying, by the man whose these are am

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Speaker 1: I with child? Then he said, discern, I pray thee

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Speaker 1: whose these are the signet and bracelets and staff Genesis

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Speaker 1: thirty eight twenty five. Heavenly Father, As I move closer

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Speaker 1: and closer to my destiny, I will not sign away

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Speaker 1: my integrity for moments of pleasure. I will stand strong

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Speaker 1: even when the temptations of monetary pleasure try to lure

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Speaker 1: me off my God given assignment. I will not make

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Speaker 1: the mistake ju to made and give away the gifts

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Speaker 1: in my life that validate my identity. For I know

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Speaker 1: that I can only walk in my power when I

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Speaker 1: am unapologetically me. So God, to day, I choose to

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Speaker 1: tap into your unlimited power that gives me the ability

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Speaker 1: to conquer the mistakes of my past. Then step into

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Speaker 1: the glorious future you have for me. Thank you, Lord

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Speaker 1: for redeeming my life and giving me hope for brighter days.

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Speaker 1: In Jesus's name, Amen, stay tuned to immerse yourself in

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Speaker 1: the greatest stories ever told from pray Do dot COM's podcast,

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Speaker 1: Heroes in the Bible.

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Speaker 2: Welcome Back. Thank you for joining me for this series

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Speaker 2: of podcasts on the life of Joseph. I call him Joe,

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Speaker 2: one of the most christ Like figures in all the

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Speaker 2: Old Testament. The life of Joseph gives us a wonderful,

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Speaker 2: magnificent example of what it means to follow God and

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Speaker 2: trust Him in every circumstance of life, in times of

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Speaker 2: prosperity and fame, as well as times of adversity, trial

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Speaker 2: and suffering. And today's story, we'll take what may initially

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Speaker 2: appear to be a detour to explore the life of Judah,

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Speaker 2: one of Joseph's brothers. In the prelude that begins this episode,

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Speaker 2: we'll learn about Samson and just how his lust for

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Speaker 2: the beautiful Delilah led to his downfall when God had

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Speaker 2: a great dream for this gifted individual. Now, how are

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Speaker 2: these stories relevant to the study of Joseph. I believe,

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Speaker 2: In fact, I know they provide an excellent contrast to

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Speaker 2: the account of Joseph years in the household of Potiphar

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Speaker 2: in Egypt and his faithfulness to God despite the sexual

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Speaker 2: advantags of Potiphar's wife. But we'll save that story for

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Speaker 2: the next podcast in our series. For now, let's discover

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Speaker 2: what God has to teach us, demonstrate to us through

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Speaker 2: the life of Samson and Judah, two flawed and imperfect

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Speaker 2: individuals who missed God's best.

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Speaker 3: Prelude to chapter three. Samson sighed in the arms of Delilah.

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Speaker 3: The two of them were interwoven under the soft blankets,

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Speaker 3: enjoying the pleasure of one another's company. Ignoring his responsibilities

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Speaker 3: as a hero of God, Samson lost himself in the

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Speaker 3: arms of the philistine Harlot. The two of them embraced

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Speaker 3: long into the night, talking very little under the lamplight.

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Speaker 3: Delilah lay on Samson's chest, stroking his hair. Samson did

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Speaker 3: not know it, but she had been paid by his

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Speaker 3: enemies to find his weakness. They lurked in the shadows

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Speaker 3: outside her home, waiting for the moment to strike. She

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Speaker 3: leaned forward and kissed him seductively. He smiled and closed

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Speaker 3: his eyes. Delilah leaned in close and said.

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Speaker 4: You are a mighty warrior. Is there any weakness you have?

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Speaker 3: Samson peeked one eye open, thinking she was playing a

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Speaker 3: game with him. He yawned and held her hips close

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Speaker 3: to his. If anyone ties me with seven bow strings,

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Speaker 3: I lose all my power and become like any other man.

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Speaker 3: The Philistines, listening through the window, gathered some bow strings

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Speaker 3: and placed them outside Delilah's door. She smiled and winked

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Speaker 3: at Samson.

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Speaker 4: Well, let us put that to the test, shall we.

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Speaker 3: She said playfully. She left the room and gathered the

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Speaker 3: bow strings. She tied them tightly around Samson's chiseled frame.

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Speaker 3: Samson simply smirked. Amused by Delilah's efforts, Delilah left the

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Speaker 3: room and looked through the window. She placed a finger

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Speaker 3: over her lips and gestured for the Philistine men to hide, Samson.

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Speaker 4: The Philistines are here.

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Speaker 3: She shouted, as if the strings were held under a flame.

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Speaker 3: Samson snapped the bow strings with ease. He leaped out

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Speaker 3: off his chair and burst into the room. Delilah recoiled,

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Speaker 3: surprised that he broke free so easily. You lie to me,

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Speaker 3: she shouted.

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Speaker 4: How can I share my bed with someone who lies

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Speaker 4: to me? Tell me what is the secret to taking

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Speaker 4: away your strength?

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Speaker 3: Samson shrugged. There is no way, he said, wrapping his

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Speaker 3: arms around her waist. Delilah stepped back and wagged her finger.

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Speaker 4: Tell me, now, what is the secret?

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Speaker 3: Samson chuckled. If anyone ties me with new ropes that

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Speaker 3: have never been news, I become as weak as a

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Speaker 3: suckling child. So Delilah acquired new rope and tied Samson up.

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Speaker 3: She stroked his hair and kissed his cheek.

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Speaker 4: I will return shortly, my love.

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Speaker 3: She whispered. Samson watched her exit wearing a coy smile.

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Speaker 3: Then from the other room, he heard Delilah scream, they.

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Speaker 4: Are here, Samson, please help.

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Speaker 3: Samson launched himself forward with the force of a wild animal.

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Speaker 3: The ropes snapped as if they were spiderwebs. This time,

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Speaker 3: Samson broke down the wood door, ready to fight. However,

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Speaker 3: he saw no philistine, only Delilah with her arms crossed.

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Speaker 3: You lied again, she said, in a coarse tone. This

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Speaker 3: time she would not flirt. She needed Samson to reveal

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Speaker 3: his secret.

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Speaker 4: You say that you love me, you say you would

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Speaker 4: give anything to me. Why won't you trust me.

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Speaker 3: Delilah spent most of the night poking and prodding him.

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Speaker 3: She begged, she yelled, and she chided him for his secrets. Samson, finally,

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Speaker 3: at his wits end, sighed and threw his hands up

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Speaker 3: into the air. Ah, the secret lies within my hair,

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Speaker 3: he shouted. He grabbed one of his dreads and showed

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Speaker 3: it to her. I have taken a vow before God

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Speaker 3: to never cut my hair. Delilah smiled and brought Samson

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Speaker 3: into bed. They lay together again, and Samson fell asleep

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Speaker 3: in her lap. She stroked his forehead and sang a lullaby. Then,

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Speaker 3: as the night drew to an end, she took a

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Speaker 3: razor to his head. Seven locks were removed, and Samson's

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Speaker 3: mighty strength left him. Delilah smiled, stroked his cheek, and

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Speaker 3: yelled again. Samson well here. Samson rose to his feet,

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Speaker 3: ready for a fight, but his arms felt heavier, his

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Speaker 3: legs were shaky, and his chest seemed deflated. Lethargic, Samson

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Speaker 3: fell to his knees. When the Philistines saw this through

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Speaker 3: the window, they burst through and subdued him. They beat him,

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Speaker 3: chained him, and carted him off to be embarrassed in

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Speaker 3: front of Philistine nobility. God's chosen hero of the generation

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Speaker 3: had lost his strength. However, it was not the lack

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Speaker 3: of hair that made him weak. His willingness to throw

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Speaker 3: away his devotion to God for the sake of a

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Speaker 3: woman was his ultimate downfall. He forsook his duty to

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Speaker 3: the people of Israel, all for one more moment of pleasure. However,

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Speaker 3: Samson's weakness and disobedience would not thwart the purposes of God.

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Speaker 3: God was the true hero. He would use Samson despite

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Speaker 3: his single heart. Through Samson, God would liberate the nation.

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Speaker 3: No sin can bind the faithfulness of the Lord Almighty,

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Speaker 3: Chapter three, The Prison of Judah. Judah sat on the

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Speaker 3: edge of the canyons overlooking Dothan. The gentle wind grazed

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Speaker 3: his face as he watched the sunrise over the valley.

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Speaker 3: It had only been two days since he watched his

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Speaker 3: younger brother beaten, chained up, and carted off like an

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Speaker 3: animal through the slave trades in Egypt. A restlessness dwell

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Speaker 3: deep within his head. So the object of his jealousy

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Speaker 3: was gone, yet the dissatisfaction of life remained. He was

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Speaker 3: the fourth born of God's chosen people. He held the

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Speaker 3: favor of his brothers, yet there was an abiding shame

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Speaker 3: he had yet to deal with. Although Joseph was gone,

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Speaker 3: his father's contempt for him remained. He found no favor,

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Speaker 3: no love, no affection towards him in replacement of the dreamer.

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Speaker 3: There is no place for me among my father's people,

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Speaker 3: Judah said to himself. As the harsh eastern sun rose,

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Speaker 3: Judah turned his face towards the Canaanite land of Timnah.

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Speaker 3: He got up from where he sat and walked down

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Speaker 3: a few miles east. He would often visit there to trade,

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Speaker 3: and had grown close with a certain Adulamite named Hira.

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Speaker 3: Judah made his way into the small town. Herds of

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Speaker 3: goats and sheep were grazing in the periphery of town.

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Speaker 3: Small homes built from mud bricks stood scattered with smoke

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Speaker 3: rising from the center. Judah meandered through the village. Timna

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Speaker 3: was a luscious and beautiful place, yet within its borders

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Speaker 3: were dark rituals and sacrifices. Judah was unknowingly walking into

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Speaker 3: a den of snakes. Judah felt more at home with

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Speaker 3: Hera and the Adlamites. They were people of the world.

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Speaker 3: They worshiped the earth and had no purpose beyond their

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Speaker 3: own needs. Judah felt at ease without the pressures of

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Speaker 3: his father's rule. He felt free to do as he pleased,

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Speaker 3: and so he did. He sat by the fire with Hira. Hira,

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Speaker 3: a portly man with a great deal of wealth, treated

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Speaker 3: Judah to a large meal and good wine. The two

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Speaker 3: of them spoke into the night, laughing and gorging themselves.

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Speaker 3: Judah leaned back, tossing stones into the fire and watching

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Speaker 3: them pop from the heat. Hira looked at Judah through

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Speaker 3: the fire with a smirk. I hear your father lost

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Speaker 3: a son, he said, nonchalantly. Judah peered up at Hira.

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Speaker 3: His drunken eyes were filled with hatred. He scoffed and

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Speaker 3: took another sip from the jar next to him. He

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Speaker 3: spat into the fire, causing it to rise. Judah leaned

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Speaker 3: his head back and sighed, yeh, Joseph, poor boy was

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Speaker 3: devoured by beasts. Hira chuckled subtly and nodded.

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Speaker 5: You don't seem too grieved.

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Speaker 3: By it, he said, But I suppose your father has

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Speaker 3: many sons to spare, and no doubt it means more

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Speaker 3: inheritance for you. Hira knew how to prod Judah. Judah

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Speaker 3: waved his hands and scoffed again. He rubbed his eyes

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Speaker 3: and looked up at the stars above. He recalled how

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Speaker 3: often his father would speak of Abraham's promise, how his

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Speaker 3: descendants would outnumber the stars. My great grandfather was chosen

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Speaker 3: by God to create a legacy, Judah slurred, and my

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Speaker 3: grandfather after him, and my father after him. Judah rose

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Speaker 3: from his feet and stretched However, there seems.

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Speaker 5: To be no favor for any of us brothers, specially

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Speaker 5: after Joseph was taken Takenhira asked, incredulously, I thought you

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Speaker 5: said Joseph was killed.

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Speaker 3: Judah ignored hera and stumbled to grab his cloak. Mark

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Speaker 3: my words, he said, fumbling to put his cloak on.

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Speaker 3: I will make a name for myself, and my father

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Speaker 3: will bless me. Judah regained balance and walked off into

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Speaker 3: the village. It was dark and dim. Torchlights illuminated the

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Speaker 3: small path leading up to the well. Judah tripped on

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Speaker 3: to the side of the stone wah. He grunted from

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Speaker 3: the blow to his hip and keeled over. He leaned

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Speaker 3: over and drew some water. He splashed his face and

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Speaker 3: took the sip, spitting some of the water out on

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Speaker 3: to the ground. He looked back up to the stars.

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Speaker 3: He pondered where he was. For a moment, he wondered

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Speaker 3: if God would speak to him as he did to

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Speaker 3: his father. Where is my favor, he whispered, Where is

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Speaker 3: my legacy? There was no response from above, only silence.

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Speaker 3: Judah made his way down the path. He stopped for

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Speaker 3: a moment and saw a young Canaanite woman leaning against

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Speaker 3: her home under the torchlight. Her hair was long and

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Speaker 3: draped around the curves of her body. Even in the

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Speaker 3: darkness of night, Judah could see her bright eyes shining

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Speaker 3: like the moon. It was forbidden for he and his

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Speaker 3: brothers to have dealings with the Canaanite women. However, that

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Speaker 3: did not stop them before he approached her with drunken confidence.

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Speaker 3: Who are you, Judah asked. The woman turned with initial fee,

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Speaker 3: then let her guard down once she saw Judah's face.

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Speaker 3: Judah was a familiar sight in Timna. Everyone knew the

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Speaker 3: sons of Jacob. They were brash, good looking, and brave

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Speaker 3: young men who had slain the sons of Shechem.

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Speaker 4: I am a daughter of Shua.

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Speaker 3: The woman said gently. There was a seductive quality to

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00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:46,040
Speaker 3: her voice. Judah felt chills crawl down his spine. He

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00:16:46,080 --> 00:16:51,040
Speaker 3: looked at her with longing and lust. The two of

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00:16:51,080 --> 00:16:55,560
Speaker 3: them spoke into the night and eventually found themselves entangled

216
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Speaker 3: in one another's arms. The next day, Judah paid for

217
00:17:00,760 --> 00:17:04,320
Speaker 3: the right to take her as his wife. The two

218
00:17:04,359 --> 00:17:06,680
Speaker 3: of them journeyed back to Jacob and the rest of

219
00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:11,760
Speaker 3: Judah's family. As they approached the tents, the brothers could

220
00:17:11,760 --> 00:17:16,080
Speaker 3: see the woman on Judah's arm. They snickered at the

221
00:17:16,119 --> 00:17:20,440
Speaker 3: sight of her. They knew her reputation in Timna, as

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00:17:20,560 --> 00:17:25,440
Speaker 3: did Jacob. However, Jacob was too grieved to pay attention.

223
00:17:26,320 --> 00:17:29,560
Speaker 3: He dismissed Judah's new marriage and returned to his work

224
00:17:29,720 --> 00:17:35,120
Speaker 3: with an impassive energy. Judah still longed for the regard

225
00:17:35,200 --> 00:17:39,000
Speaker 3: of his father. However, he knew it was time for

226
00:17:39,119 --> 00:17:42,679
Speaker 3: him to begin a family of his own. He and

227
00:17:42,760 --> 00:17:47,320
Speaker 3: his wife built their dwelling close to his family, made love,

228
00:17:48,240 --> 00:17:54,440
Speaker 3: and bore a son. They named him Er. Judah looked

229
00:17:54,440 --> 00:17:57,800
Speaker 3: at him as the pride of his life. He held

230
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Speaker 3: him in his arms and looked up to disguise. This

231
00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:07,080
Speaker 3: will be my legacy, he whispered. There was still no

232
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Speaker 3: voice speaking to him from the heavens, no whisper of

233
00:18:10,960 --> 00:18:16,200
Speaker 3: approval or promise of prosperity, just the vast darkness staring

234
00:18:16,240 --> 00:18:21,240
Speaker 3: blankly down at him. Judah looked down at her and

235
00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:28,680
Speaker 3: stroked his little head. You will make me great, Judah said,

236
00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:34,359
Speaker 3: I will be even greater than my father Jacob, I

237
00:18:34,600 --> 00:18:41,480
Speaker 3: will be greater than Joseph. Judah and his wife continued

238
00:18:41,480 --> 00:18:45,160
Speaker 3: to grow their family. They bore another son and named

239
00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:51,280
Speaker 3: him Onan, and then another called Shella. The three boys

240
00:18:51,320 --> 00:18:55,359
Speaker 3: grew up together under the legacy of Jacob. However, the

241
00:18:55,480 --> 00:19:00,520
Speaker 3: Canaanite practices of their mother also influenced them. They grew

242
00:19:00,640 --> 00:19:04,760
Speaker 3: up by fire, hearing their grandfathers speak of the God

243
00:19:04,760 --> 00:19:08,480
Speaker 3: of promises. They heard about his wrestling with God and

244
00:19:08,600 --> 00:19:14,200
Speaker 3: the promise of a mighty nation springing forth from his offspring. However,

245
00:19:14,880 --> 00:19:18,840
Speaker 3: their mother's ties to her pagan country were still deep

246
00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:23,479
Speaker 3: and powerful. The boys also grew up with a sense

247
00:19:23,520 --> 00:19:28,840
Speaker 3: of lawlessness and lewdness, something their father did very little

248
00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:33,480
Speaker 3: to combat. For years, they lived in a household of duality.

249
00:19:34,320 --> 00:19:38,600
Speaker 3: Because of this, they became apathetic to the things of God.

250
00:19:39,640 --> 00:19:43,439
Speaker 3: As the three boys became men, their attention to honor

251
00:19:43,640 --> 00:19:49,320
Speaker 3: waned and dissolved into nothing. They did as they pleased

252
00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:53,720
Speaker 3: and cared very little about the legacy of their forefathers.

253
00:19:55,280 --> 00:19:58,159
Speaker 3: Years had passed and Judah was tending his flock with

254
00:19:58,240 --> 00:20:02,720
Speaker 3: his sons turned to her. He was a long and

255
00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:07,040
Speaker 3: lean young man. His shoulders were broad and the curls

256
00:20:07,040 --> 00:20:11,080
Speaker 3: of his hair fell over his eyes. Judah could not

257
00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:16,280
Speaker 3: help but be reminded of his youngest brother, Joseph. Where

258
00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:22,120
Speaker 3: is he now? Was he still alive? He thought? Judah

259
00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:25,439
Speaker 3: shook the thoughts from his head and gestured to her.

260
00:20:26,520 --> 00:20:31,359
Speaker 3: Are you anxious? Judah asked. Er looked up from his

261
00:20:31,520 --> 00:20:37,160
Speaker 3: work and shrugged. Judah rolled his eyes. He had arranged

262
00:20:37,240 --> 00:20:40,920
Speaker 3: for her to be married to a woman named Tamar.

263
00:20:42,240 --> 00:20:47,080
Speaker 3: She was a beautiful, young Canaanite woman. She was gentle, clever,

264
00:20:47,560 --> 00:20:53,119
Speaker 3: and filled with fire. However, Er seemed more preoccupied with

265
00:20:53,240 --> 00:20:56,040
Speaker 3: the women of the Knight who walked the streets of Timnah.

266
00:20:57,920 --> 00:21:00,639
Speaker 3: This is your chance to carry out our legacy. Er,

267
00:21:01,760 --> 00:21:06,560
Speaker 3: be mindful of your purpose in this family. Judah's words

268
00:21:06,600 --> 00:21:10,200
Speaker 3: fell on deaf ears, as Er could care less about

269
00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:14,080
Speaker 3: the honor and legacy of his family. He had seen

270
00:21:14,240 --> 00:21:20,640
Speaker 3: their hypocrisy. Judah held his head low. He felt ashamed

271
00:21:20,880 --> 00:21:23,199
Speaker 3: that he could not seem to build a family that

272
00:21:23,240 --> 00:21:28,000
Speaker 3: would gain the favor of God. Every night he would

273
00:21:28,000 --> 00:21:31,879
Speaker 3: look up to the heavens and be met with silence.

274
00:21:34,160 --> 00:21:39,159
Speaker 3: The next day Er and Tamar were wed. The entire

275
00:21:39,320 --> 00:21:44,080
Speaker 3: family was in attendance. They danced around the fire, laughed,

276
00:21:44,200 --> 00:21:50,440
Speaker 3: and feasted into the night. Judah looked over to his father, However,

277
00:21:50,560 --> 00:21:55,119
Speaker 3: Jacob paid no attention to him or the celebration. Instead,

278
00:21:55,880 --> 00:22:00,439
Speaker 3: he held his new born son in his arms. Jacob

279
00:22:00,560 --> 00:22:06,879
Speaker 3: and Rachel had since bore another child, Benjamin. He looked

280
00:22:06,880 --> 00:22:10,040
Speaker 3: at Benjamin with the same favor and love as he

281
00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:15,679
Speaker 3: once did Joseph. However, Judah was no longer angry, He

282
00:22:15,760 --> 00:22:21,240
Speaker 3: was no longer overwhelmed with jealousy. Instead, he was tired.

283
00:22:22,400 --> 00:22:25,920
Speaker 3: He was weary from all the bitterness that consumed him

284
00:22:26,040 --> 00:22:30,480
Speaker 3: day and night. He looked at his sons dancing by

285
00:22:30,560 --> 00:22:34,359
Speaker 3: the fire with his brothers and sisters. For a brief moment,

286
00:22:35,119 --> 00:22:41,160
Speaker 3: Judah was at peace, but only for a moment. That night,

287
00:22:41,880 --> 00:22:46,359
Speaker 3: er found himself in a drunken stupor. Instead of going

288
00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:49,760
Speaker 3: to bed with his new bride, he stumbled into the

289
00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:54,600
Speaker 3: nearby city to find more wine and prostitutes. It was

290
00:22:54,640 --> 00:22:58,600
Speaker 3: a familiar practice for Ear and had become a religion

291
00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:02,719
Speaker 3: for him. He thrashed about in the village with little

292
00:23:02,760 --> 00:23:07,520
Speaker 3: consideration for his wife or family. Not only this, but

293
00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:10,360
Speaker 3: he would harm the people he came in contact with.

294
00:23:11,560 --> 00:23:15,399
Speaker 3: He was eager for a fight and cared very little

295
00:23:15,440 --> 00:23:21,480
Speaker 3: about anyone. To himself, his heart was consumed by evil.

296
00:23:23,119 --> 00:23:26,960
Speaker 3: Although God was silent to the family of Judah, he

297
00:23:27,040 --> 00:23:34,000
Speaker 3: was still present. He was watching the family devolve into madness. However,

298
00:23:34,800 --> 00:23:38,159
Speaker 3: even in the midst of brokenness, he had a plan

299
00:23:38,400 --> 00:23:42,600
Speaker 3: for Judah. However, this plan would not be carried out

300
00:23:42,720 --> 00:23:47,600
Speaker 3: by a wicked man like Er. After a night of

301
00:23:47,720 --> 00:23:53,040
Speaker 3: drunken rampaging, Er stumbled back home. He walked through the

302
00:23:53,080 --> 00:23:59,119
Speaker 3: fields of grain, eager to ravage Tamar before falling asleep. However,

303
00:23:59,400 --> 00:24:03,119
Speaker 3: he did not get that far. He tripped and fell

304
00:24:03,240 --> 00:24:07,840
Speaker 3: into the nearby stream. He fell face down into the water.

305
00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:14,520
Speaker 3: Blood dripped from his forehead. Er turned on to his back,

306
00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:18,639
Speaker 3: unable to prop himself up. The liquor in his body

307
00:24:18,720 --> 00:24:22,679
Speaker 3: made him warm on the inside. However, he was not

308
00:24:22,960 --> 00:24:26,160
Speaker 3: able to feel the cold water, removing all the heat

309
00:24:26,280 --> 00:24:31,359
Speaker 3: from his body. Er lay there with his head dripping blood.

310
00:24:32,200 --> 00:24:36,720
Speaker 3: It slowly flowed into the water, making the stream turn red.

311
00:24:37,800 --> 00:24:41,199
Speaker 3: He stared up at the stars, remembering the stories his

312
00:24:41,359 --> 00:24:45,520
Speaker 3: grandfather told him by the fire. He would not get

313
00:24:45,560 --> 00:24:51,199
Speaker 3: to hear those stories again. Slowly, as blood left ERR's body,

314
00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:56,879
Speaker 3: he grew colder, and colder. He closed his eyes and

315
00:24:57,040 --> 00:25:04,000
Speaker 3: fell asleep into the darkness. Judah awoke the next morning

316
00:25:04,040 --> 00:25:07,640
Speaker 3: and walked out to the fields. He watched the new

317
00:25:07,720 --> 00:25:12,159
Speaker 3: light shine over the green pastures where his flock grazed peacefully.

318
00:25:13,359 --> 00:25:17,040
Speaker 3: Judah kissed his wife, splashed his face with water, and

319
00:25:17,160 --> 00:25:23,000
Speaker 3: grabbed his staff onan and Shella walked behind him. The

320
00:25:23,040 --> 00:25:27,879
Speaker 3: air was cooler than normal, and dark clouds shrouded the skies.

321
00:25:29,160 --> 00:25:32,600
Speaker 3: Judah pulled his cloak in closer and made his way

322
00:25:32,680 --> 00:25:36,080
Speaker 3: up to the hills where his brothers were working the fields.

323
00:25:37,000 --> 00:25:40,359
Speaker 3: At the bottom of the hill, near the stream, Judah

324
00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:44,560
Speaker 3: could see his brothers huddled together, looking down at the water.

325
00:25:45,680 --> 00:25:49,680
Speaker 3: He came in closer. His brothers looked back at him

326
00:25:50,080 --> 00:25:55,320
Speaker 3: with grim expressions. Judah broke through the group and looked down.

327
00:25:56,960 --> 00:26:03,439
Speaker 3: There lying in the stream laid Herr's pale and lifeless body.

328
00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:09,040
Speaker 3: Judah fell to his knees and laid his hand on earth.

329
00:26:10,160 --> 00:26:13,240
Speaker 3: His eyes welled up with tears, but he held them back.

330
00:26:14,400 --> 00:26:19,040
Speaker 3: He closed his eyes and furrowed his brow without a word.

331
00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:22,879
Speaker 3: Judah picked up his son in his arms and made

332
00:26:22,920 --> 00:26:27,280
Speaker 3: his way back to the tents. He knew in his

333
00:26:27,440 --> 00:26:32,120
Speaker 3: heart of hearts, that Er was a wicked man. He

334
00:26:32,200 --> 00:26:35,520
Speaker 3: knew that his death was his own doing and allowed

335
00:26:35,560 --> 00:26:41,080
Speaker 3: by God, and he knew deep down that he was

336
00:26:41,119 --> 00:26:46,320
Speaker 3: a failure as a father. Judah and his brothers dug

337
00:26:46,359 --> 00:26:50,840
Speaker 3: a grave for earth. They mourned and sang old songs

338
00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:56,880
Speaker 3: of sadness. Their voices bellowed across the plains. Behind them

339
00:26:57,040 --> 00:27:01,879
Speaker 3: stood Tamar, wearing widow's roads. The wind blew against the

340
00:27:01,960 --> 00:27:06,720
Speaker 3: family as they stood over ER's grave. Judah pulled his

341
00:27:06,840 --> 00:27:12,320
Speaker 3: second born Onan aside. Together they walked, talking about Er

342
00:27:12,560 --> 00:27:17,640
Speaker 3: and lamenting his death. Judah stopped and gestured to Tamar.

343
00:27:19,920 --> 00:27:25,000
Speaker 3: You know what the custom is. Onan, he said, you

344
00:27:25,400 --> 00:27:28,879
Speaker 3: will take Tamar into bed and give her a son

345
00:27:28,960 --> 00:27:33,280
Speaker 3: on behalf of your brother. That way she does not

346
00:27:33,520 --> 00:27:40,960
Speaker 3: go childless, and our legacy will continue. Onan, much like

347
00:27:41,040 --> 00:27:46,240
Speaker 3: his brother, did not care much about legacy, however, he

348
00:27:46,400 --> 00:27:51,240
Speaker 3: did see Tamar's beauty. To him, it was an ample

349
00:27:51,359 --> 00:27:56,320
Speaker 3: opportunity to get a beautiful woman in his bed. Onan

350
00:27:56,680 --> 00:28:00,919
Speaker 3: nodded and then left his father's side to go comfort Tamar.

351
00:28:02,080 --> 00:28:05,520
Speaker 3: He kissed her hand and spoke gently in her ear.

352
00:28:07,000 --> 00:28:14,200
Speaker 3: That night, Onan took Tamar into his bed, Onan began gently,

353
00:28:14,680 --> 00:28:19,800
Speaker 3: but was soon overcome with lust and selfishness. He had

354
00:28:19,880 --> 00:28:23,520
Speaker 3: his way with Tamar, giving no care to her heart.

355
00:28:24,040 --> 00:28:27,640
Speaker 3: He used her for pleasure, and when the time came

356
00:28:27,680 --> 00:28:31,000
Speaker 3: for him to give her his seed, he came out

357
00:28:31,040 --> 00:28:35,280
Speaker 3: of her and on to the ground. Onan would not

358
00:28:35,520 --> 00:28:39,800
Speaker 3: give Tamar a child. He knew that whatever child she

359
00:28:39,840 --> 00:28:44,920
Speaker 3: would bear would not be his own, but ers. He

360
00:28:45,080 --> 00:28:48,720
Speaker 3: used Tamar for his own pleasure, but would not give

361
00:28:48,760 --> 00:28:54,840
Speaker 3: her the one thing she desired, a family. Content with

362
00:28:54,960 --> 00:29:00,120
Speaker 3: his own selfishness, Onan left Tamar alone in bed and

363
00:29:00,160 --> 00:29:06,280
Speaker 3: departed to go drink. Tamar lay in bed with tears

364
00:29:06,320 --> 00:29:10,640
Speaker 3: in her eyes. She held her face in shame, weeping

365
00:29:10,800 --> 00:29:15,800
Speaker 3: bitterly into the night. She dressed herself and retreated back

366
00:29:15,960 --> 00:29:19,560
Speaker 3: to her tent. She fell on to the floor, sobbing

367
00:29:19,600 --> 00:29:25,560
Speaker 3: with the deep well of sadness, loss, and shame. God

368
00:29:25,600 --> 00:29:29,400
Speaker 3: looked upon her with compassion, but he looked upon Onan

369
00:29:29,520 --> 00:29:33,800
Speaker 3: with rage. Onan walked beside the stream with a jar

370
00:29:33,880 --> 00:29:37,080
Speaker 3: of wine in hand. He looked down at the water.

371
00:29:37,840 --> 00:29:42,040
Speaker 3: The flashes of lightning cracked up in the skies. Onan

372
00:29:42,080 --> 00:29:45,520
Speaker 3: looked up with awe. He could not see that the

373
00:29:45,560 --> 00:29:51,280
Speaker 3: god of all creation was raging against him. As Onan

374
00:29:51,360 --> 00:29:54,640
Speaker 3: looked up to the heavens, his heel caught on a

375
00:29:54,800 --> 00:30:00,480
Speaker 3: rock and he fell backwards into the stream, hit the

376
00:30:00,520 --> 00:30:05,400
Speaker 3: back of his head, and was killed instantly. As the

377
00:30:05,520 --> 00:30:09,640
Speaker 3: lightning tore open the skies, the stream was once again

378
00:30:09,720 --> 00:30:14,680
Speaker 3: made red with the blood of a son of Judah.

379
00:30:14,760 --> 00:30:20,240
Speaker 3: Onan's body was found, and Judah once again found himself

380
00:30:20,320 --> 00:30:24,000
Speaker 3: surrounded by his brothers over the grave of his son.

381
00:30:25,520 --> 00:30:32,000
Speaker 3: Onan was buried beside her. Judah held his head low.

382
00:30:32,280 --> 00:30:36,200
Speaker 3: Yet another one of his sons had fallen, and his

383
00:30:36,360 --> 00:30:41,600
Speaker 3: dreams of building a legacy were slowly fading. Judah had

384
00:30:41,680 --> 00:30:44,760
Speaker 3: longed for a family that would carry on the glory

385
00:30:44,840 --> 00:30:49,080
Speaker 3: of Jacob. He wanted to be the favored son that

386
00:30:49,280 --> 00:30:53,680
Speaker 3: held the promise of God. However, he was met with

387
00:30:53,880 --> 00:30:59,880
Speaker 3: silence and death. Judah pounded his fist against the ground

388
00:31:00,080 --> 00:31:05,880
Speaker 3: of his son's grave. Tamar stood beside him. Judah had

389
00:31:05,920 --> 00:31:09,800
Speaker 3: taken her from her father, He had promised her children.

390
00:31:11,080 --> 00:31:15,360
Speaker 3: It was now his youngest son's responsibility to give her

391
00:31:15,400 --> 00:31:21,040
Speaker 3: a child. However, Sella was young and incredibly fearful that

392
00:31:21,160 --> 00:31:24,880
Speaker 3: he would meet the same death as his brother's. He

393
00:31:24,920 --> 00:31:28,400
Speaker 3: saw Tamar as cursed and would not go near her.

394
00:31:29,640 --> 00:31:32,480
Speaker 3: Judah could not force his son to lie with her.

395
00:31:33,480 --> 00:31:38,800
Speaker 3: He too was fearful that Tamar perhaps bore a curse. However,

396
00:31:39,240 --> 00:31:43,480
Speaker 3: it was Judah who had raised such wicked sons. Tamar

397
00:31:43,680 --> 00:31:47,360
Speaker 3: was innocent and a victim to Judah's poor judgment as

398
00:31:47,400 --> 00:31:52,960
Speaker 3: a father. Judah pulled Tamar aside and kissed her forehead.

399
00:31:55,040 --> 00:32:00,680
Speaker 3: My daughter, there is very little like an do for you.

400
00:32:00,800 --> 00:32:05,480
Speaker 3: Now remain a widow and return to your father's house.

401
00:32:06,440 --> 00:32:10,360
Speaker 3: If the time comes when Sella is ready to wed you,

402
00:32:11,760 --> 00:32:16,360
Speaker 3: I shall send word to bring you back. So Judah

403
00:32:16,480 --> 00:32:20,880
Speaker 3: sent Tamar away back to her father's home. To Tamar,

404
00:32:21,680 --> 00:32:25,520
Speaker 3: this was a death sentence. She had already been given

405
00:32:25,560 --> 00:32:29,240
Speaker 3: to the sons of Judah. There would be no remarrying

406
00:32:29,280 --> 00:32:31,960
Speaker 3: for her, unless it was to someone in the family.

407
00:32:33,200 --> 00:32:35,840
Speaker 3: She would return to her family as a widow and

408
00:32:35,920 --> 00:32:40,280
Speaker 3: eventually be forced to fend for herself. It was a

409
00:32:40,360 --> 00:32:45,240
Speaker 3: fate worse than death, and Tamar wept at the apathy

410
00:32:45,320 --> 00:32:51,440
Speaker 3: of Judah. Weeks had passed, and yet another tragedy befell

411
00:32:51,560 --> 00:32:56,200
Speaker 3: the family of Judah. His wife had passed away and

412
00:32:56,320 --> 00:33:01,840
Speaker 3: he was left a widower. He mourned for weeks, lamenting

413
00:33:01,880 --> 00:33:05,840
Speaker 3: his lost legacy. He had lost all hope of a

414
00:33:05,920 --> 00:33:10,560
Speaker 3: family like his father's. Judah arose early in the morning

415
00:33:10,920 --> 00:33:14,880
Speaker 3: and visited the stream where his sons had fallen. He

416
00:33:15,000 --> 00:33:18,880
Speaker 3: looked at his reflection in the water, Disgusted with what

417
00:33:19,040 --> 00:33:24,520
Speaker 3: he saw, all his ambition had died. He looked up

418
00:33:24,560 --> 00:33:29,000
Speaker 3: at the fields where his brothers worked. He sighed and

419
00:33:29,160 --> 00:33:33,320
Speaker 3: walked to the pastures where the flocks gazed. It was

420
00:33:33,440 --> 00:33:35,959
Speaker 3: time for him to take the sheep to Timna to

421
00:33:36,000 --> 00:33:40,520
Speaker 3: be sheared. Winter was approaching and the wool would sell

422
00:33:40,600 --> 00:33:44,840
Speaker 3: for a high price. Judah was eager to visit his

423
00:33:44,920 --> 00:33:48,960
Speaker 3: old friend Heira. He called for his servant and asked

424
00:33:49,040 --> 00:33:52,080
Speaker 3: him to send word to Hira and all other merchants

425
00:33:52,080 --> 00:33:56,040
Speaker 3: in the area. The servant did as Judah asked and

426
00:33:56,200 --> 00:34:01,480
Speaker 3: left for Timna while Judah gathered the flock. The servant

427
00:34:01,680 --> 00:34:05,560
Speaker 3: entered Timna, he alerted the traders in town that Judah

428
00:34:05,640 --> 00:34:09,200
Speaker 3: was on his way with sheep and goats. By the

429
00:34:09,239 --> 00:34:14,600
Speaker 3: well in the center of town, Tamar stood listening. The

430
00:34:14,680 --> 00:34:20,120
Speaker 3: servant passed by her and waved Tamar. He yelled, your

431
00:34:20,200 --> 00:34:22,880
Speaker 3: father in law, Judah will be in town soon if

432
00:34:22,920 --> 00:34:27,360
Speaker 3: you desire to see him. The servant smiled and continued

433
00:34:27,440 --> 00:34:32,320
Speaker 3: on his way. However, Tamar did not return his gesture.

434
00:34:33,280 --> 00:34:36,880
Speaker 3: She stood there by the well, seething with anger.

435
00:34:37,840 --> 00:34:40,839
Speaker 4: He has left me alone here to rot as a widow.

436
00:34:41,200 --> 00:34:45,200
Speaker 3: She whispered. She drew the water from the well and

437
00:34:45,320 --> 00:34:50,600
Speaker 3: began walking back to her home. Villagers whispered and pointed

438
00:34:50,640 --> 00:34:54,160
Speaker 3: as she passed by. She wore the black robes of

439
00:34:54,200 --> 00:34:59,120
Speaker 3: a widow. There were rumors that she was cursed. This

440
00:34:59,280 --> 00:35:02,160
Speaker 3: assured no no more suitors would give her a family.

441
00:35:03,560 --> 00:35:08,200
Speaker 3: Tamar ignored their stairs and continued to her home. She

442
00:35:08,360 --> 00:35:12,120
Speaker 3: emptied the water into a trough and went into her home.

443
00:35:13,320 --> 00:35:16,720
Speaker 3: As she sat on her bed, she saw the veil

444
00:35:16,880 --> 00:35:20,839
Speaker 3: she wore on her wedding day. It was long and

445
00:35:21,000 --> 00:35:25,560
Speaker 3: draped over her face elegantly. She then looked to see

446
00:35:25,680 --> 00:35:28,760
Speaker 3: silk wraps that had been given to her by Rachel.

447
00:35:30,120 --> 00:35:33,480
Speaker 3: She ran her fingers through the silk and then picked

448
00:35:33,560 --> 00:35:38,640
Speaker 3: up her veil. It was at that moment Tamar had

449
00:35:38,640 --> 00:35:43,960
Speaker 3: a brilliantly malicious idea. She took off her widow's garments.

450
00:35:44,840 --> 00:35:48,360
Speaker 3: Her naked body stood in the middle of the room.

451
00:35:48,760 --> 00:35:54,279
Speaker 3: Slowly and methodically, Tamar began to wrap the silk around her.

452
00:35:55,440 --> 00:36:00,840
Speaker 3: The lightweight fabric hugged her body, accentuating her curves. She

453
00:36:01,000 --> 00:36:05,360
Speaker 3: then placed the veil over her head, covering her face completely.

454
00:36:06,320 --> 00:36:09,920
Speaker 3: She looked at her reflection in the water and smiled.

455
00:36:11,040 --> 00:36:14,040
Speaker 3: She put a long blanket on top of her, hiding

456
00:36:14,080 --> 00:36:19,880
Speaker 3: her new disguise, and walked briskly to a Name. A

457
00:36:20,000 --> 00:36:22,680
Speaker 3: Name was a small stop on the way to Timna.

458
00:36:23,520 --> 00:36:26,440
Speaker 3: Tamar knew Judah would need to pass by there on

459
00:36:26,600 --> 00:36:29,759
Speaker 3: his way. On the side of the road was a

460
00:36:29,800 --> 00:36:34,360
Speaker 3: small shrine surrounded by a group of rooms. It was

461
00:36:34,400 --> 00:36:40,320
Speaker 3: a place where many prostitutes lured in weary travelers. Before

462
00:36:40,440 --> 00:36:44,200
Speaker 3: Judah was married. He was a frequent customer at the temple.

463
00:36:45,000 --> 00:36:49,279
Speaker 3: Tamar knew this and expected to find a weak and

464
00:36:49,400 --> 00:36:54,920
Speaker 3: susceptible Judah approaching any moment. Now the sun was beginning

465
00:36:54,920 --> 00:37:00,520
Speaker 3: to descend. Her timing needed to be perfect. Tamar leaned

466
00:37:00,560 --> 00:37:04,560
Speaker 3: against the stone wall and took off the blanket, revealing

467
00:37:04,640 --> 00:37:10,319
Speaker 3: her new costume. Just as expected, Judah arrived with his

468
00:37:10,480 --> 00:37:15,239
Speaker 3: flock moments later. He looked at the figure dressed in

469
00:37:15,280 --> 00:37:20,400
Speaker 3: red silk leaning against the temple wall. It seems early

470
00:37:20,560 --> 00:37:24,160
Speaker 3: for the harlots to be out, Judah thought to himself.

471
00:37:25,320 --> 00:37:30,400
Speaker 3: Judah smiled with an embarrassed excitement. He was lonely, weak,

472
00:37:30,880 --> 00:37:35,160
Speaker 3: and in grief. He deeply desired the warmth.

473
00:37:34,760 --> 00:37:35,320
Speaker 1: Of a woman.

474
00:37:36,000 --> 00:37:41,400
Speaker 3: So he approached the veiled figure with confidence. Hello, traveler,

475
00:37:41,920 --> 00:37:46,359
Speaker 3: the veiled woman said. Her voice was soft and seductive.

476
00:37:47,320 --> 00:37:50,120
Speaker 3: Tamar did her best to disguise her voice.

477
00:37:50,600 --> 00:37:53,200
Speaker 4: The day has been hot, but the coolness of night

478
00:37:53,360 --> 00:37:54,000
Speaker 4: is approaching.

479
00:37:55,280 --> 00:38:02,440
Speaker 3: Judah came in closer. Come me live with you, he whispered.

480
00:38:04,840 --> 00:38:06,359
Speaker 4: What will you give me in it a turne?

481
00:38:06,800 --> 00:38:13,239
Speaker 3: She said playfully. I will give you a goat from

482
00:38:13,280 --> 00:38:17,600
Speaker 3: my flock. He responded, My flock is not far behind.

483
00:38:18,680 --> 00:38:23,880
Speaker 3: When I return, I will bring it to you. Tamar

484
00:38:24,040 --> 00:38:29,200
Speaker 3: breathed in deeply. She felt uncomfortable, but was determined to

485
00:38:29,239 --> 00:38:32,520
Speaker 3: have a family of her own. Her plan was to

486
00:38:32,600 --> 00:38:37,520
Speaker 3: lure Judah in and conceive, but she had to be careful.

487
00:38:38,280 --> 00:38:42,320
Speaker 3: If she did conceive, she had to have a guarantee

488
00:38:42,360 --> 00:38:48,160
Speaker 3: that the child was indeed Judah's. She grabbed Judah's belt

489
00:38:48,280 --> 00:38:52,040
Speaker 3: and drew him in close. She placed her lips next

490
00:38:52,080 --> 00:38:54,839
Speaker 3: to his ear and whispered.

491
00:38:54,960 --> 00:38:58,080
Speaker 4: Give me a pledge so I know you will return.

492
00:38:59,400 --> 00:39:02,240
Speaker 4: Give me the signing on your finger and a staff

493
00:39:02,280 --> 00:39:02,960
Speaker 4: in your hand.

494
00:39:04,440 --> 00:39:07,960
Speaker 3: Judah agreed. He took off his ring and put it

495
00:39:08,000 --> 00:39:11,640
Speaker 3: in a pouch. Then he set his staff down on

496
00:39:11,719 --> 00:39:16,279
Speaker 3: the side of the wall. Tamar held his belt and

497
00:39:16,520 --> 00:39:20,760
Speaker 3: walked backwards into the room, leading him like a dog

498
00:39:20,880 --> 00:39:27,000
Speaker 3: on a leash. The two of them embraced passionately until sundown.

499
00:39:27,800 --> 00:39:33,200
Speaker 3: The whole time Judah was blissfully unaware that he was

500
00:39:33,280 --> 00:39:38,000
Speaker 3: with his daughter in law. The sun set gently over

501
00:39:38,040 --> 00:39:43,000
Speaker 3: the horizon, and Judah fell into a deep sleep beside Tamar.

502
00:39:44,040 --> 00:39:47,880
Speaker 3: As he laid sprawled out on the bed, She slowly

503
00:39:47,920 --> 00:39:52,640
Speaker 3: got out and covered herself up. Under the guise of night.

504
00:39:53,320 --> 00:39:56,839
Speaker 3: She took Judah's ring and staff and returned to her

505
00:39:56,840 --> 00:40:01,360
Speaker 3: father's house. She dressed herself in her widow's garments and

506
00:40:01,520 --> 00:40:08,960
Speaker 3: laid in her own bed. Ashamed, angry, and excited, Judah

507
00:40:09,040 --> 00:40:13,640
Speaker 3: arose the next morning. Pleased with himself, he stretched his

508
00:40:13,920 --> 00:40:17,880
Speaker 3: arms and put on his tunic. He reached for his staff,

509
00:40:18,160 --> 00:40:22,719
Speaker 3: then realized he had given it to the prostitute. He

510
00:40:22,920 --> 00:40:25,759
Speaker 3: smiled at the thought of her. It had been a

511
00:40:25,800 --> 00:40:29,280
Speaker 3: long time since feeling the warmth of a woman's touch,

512
00:40:30,440 --> 00:40:34,040
Speaker 3: he turned his feet towards Tymna and met his servants,

513
00:40:34,200 --> 00:40:38,400
Speaker 3: who had his flock of sheep and goats. After being sheered,

514
00:40:39,040 --> 00:40:42,400
Speaker 3: Judah took a goat and returned to the temple where

515
00:40:42,440 --> 00:40:46,480
Speaker 3: he had met the veiled woman. There was no one

516
00:40:46,520 --> 00:40:50,080
Speaker 3: to be seen at the temple, so Judah went into

517
00:40:50,120 --> 00:40:54,000
Speaker 3: the city and asked the men, where might I find

518
00:40:54,040 --> 00:40:58,439
Speaker 3: the cult prostitute who resided outside the temple. The men

519
00:40:58,640 --> 00:41:03,000
Speaker 3: chuckled and shrugged at Judah, there is no prostitute. There

520
00:41:03,520 --> 00:41:06,799
Speaker 3: hasn't been for quite some time. They now swindle on

521
00:41:06,840 --> 00:41:10,400
Speaker 3: the other side of town. So Judah departed to find

522
00:41:10,400 --> 00:41:16,000
Speaker 3: the veiled woman there among the other harlots. He asked, searched,

523
00:41:16,360 --> 00:41:20,720
Speaker 3: and knocked to no avail. He was beginning to grow

524
00:41:20,880 --> 00:41:26,040
Speaker 3: frustrated and embarrassed. Let her keep the ring and staff

525
00:41:26,080 --> 00:41:30,279
Speaker 3: as her own, Judah whispered to himself, I will be

526
00:41:30,440 --> 00:41:33,799
Speaker 3: laughed at if I keep searching for a prostitute who

527
00:41:33,840 --> 00:41:40,840
Speaker 3: has clearly tricked me. So Judah departed back home. Three

528
00:41:40,920 --> 00:41:44,480
Speaker 3: months had passed and Judah was tending to the fields

529
00:41:44,520 --> 00:41:49,480
Speaker 3: with his brothers and his remaining son, Shella Judah and

530
00:41:49,600 --> 00:41:54,920
Speaker 3: Shella had not sent for Tamar. Shella was hesitant and uncommitted,

531
00:41:55,239 --> 00:42:00,360
Speaker 3: and Judah was thoughtless towards her. As Judah hauled eaves

532
00:42:00,400 --> 00:42:05,960
Speaker 3: of wheat into the silo, he spotted his servant approaching Judah.

533
00:42:06,880 --> 00:42:11,560
Speaker 3: He shouted, I have been sent from the father of Tamar.

534
00:42:12,200 --> 00:42:18,799
Speaker 3: She is pregnant. Judah's eyes widened. He looked to Shella,

535
00:42:19,000 --> 00:42:22,600
Speaker 3: wondering if it was his doing. Shella shook his head

536
00:42:22,600 --> 00:42:28,520
Speaker 3: in surprise. Judah fumed with anger. Tamar belonged to him

537
00:42:28,640 --> 00:42:32,880
Speaker 3: and his sons. If she was pregnant, she had broken

538
00:42:32,920 --> 00:42:39,239
Speaker 3: a sacred vow. Judah writhed with unwarranted indignation. He was

539
00:42:39,320 --> 00:42:42,319
Speaker 3: angry at her forgiving herself to a man other than

540
00:42:42,360 --> 00:42:45,759
Speaker 3: his son. However, he had not kept his promise to

541
00:42:45,840 --> 00:42:49,279
Speaker 3: marry her to him. When the time came, bring her

542
00:42:49,320 --> 00:42:54,040
Speaker 3: to me, Judah shouted, throwing a sickle at a nearby tree.

543
00:42:54,719 --> 00:42:58,960
Speaker 3: She will burn for this she had dishonored me Shalla

544
00:42:59,160 --> 00:43:03,919
Speaker 3: onan and Er. Judah's anger came from a deep well

545
00:43:03,960 --> 00:43:07,680
Speaker 3: of shame. He had failed at building a lasting legacy,

546
00:43:08,320 --> 00:43:12,200
Speaker 3: and it was easier to place the blame on Tamar.

547
00:43:13,480 --> 00:43:16,200
Speaker 3: She was brought to him, holding a small bump on

548
00:43:16,280 --> 00:43:21,920
Speaker 3: her belly. Judah approached her with rage. However, Tamar was

549
00:43:22,040 --> 00:43:26,799
Speaker 3: calm and poised. She looked at Judah with confidence and

550
00:43:26,880 --> 00:43:34,040
Speaker 3: not shame. This enraged Judah even more, You harlot, he shouted,

551
00:43:34,880 --> 00:43:38,640
Speaker 3: You have shamed me and my sons. Who is the

552
00:43:38,640 --> 00:43:44,799
Speaker 3: man responsible for your adultery? Tamar grinned and held up

553
00:43:44,840 --> 00:43:45,400
Speaker 3: her finger.

554
00:43:46,960 --> 00:43:50,120
Speaker 4: My lord, please do not be angry with me. I

555
00:43:50,280 --> 00:43:51,399
Speaker 4: have something for you.

556
00:43:52,360 --> 00:43:56,319
Speaker 3: Tamar reached over the donkey she came on. On its

557
00:43:56,360 --> 00:44:01,040
Speaker 3: back was a long object wrapped in a blanket. She

558
00:44:01,239 --> 00:44:04,520
Speaker 3: carried it over to Judah and began slowly unwrapping it.

559
00:44:05,160 --> 00:44:07,799
Speaker 4: The man who is responsible for this baby within me

560
00:44:08,480 --> 00:44:09,960
Speaker 4: is the owner of this.

561
00:44:11,120 --> 00:44:15,000
Speaker 3: She revealed, the staff and signet ring laying on top

562
00:44:15,080 --> 00:44:20,840
Speaker 3: of the blanket. Tamar looked up at Judah's astonishment and smiled.

563
00:44:21,920 --> 00:44:25,400
Speaker 3: She lifted the staff in ring and placed them both

564
00:44:25,640 --> 00:44:26,960
Speaker 3: in Judah's hands.

565
00:44:27,640 --> 00:44:29,359
Speaker 4: Do you know who these belonged to? My lord?

566
00:44:29,840 --> 00:44:34,360
Speaker 3: She asked coyly. Judah looked down at the objects he

567
00:44:34,520 --> 00:44:39,160
Speaker 3: used as payments for the prostitute. Then he looked up

568
00:44:39,200 --> 00:44:43,480
Speaker 3: at Tamar. He scanned her body up and down. He

569
00:44:43,520 --> 00:44:47,560
Speaker 3: looked at her hair and into her eyes. It was her.

570
00:44:48,760 --> 00:44:52,279
Speaker 3: It was the harlot he had searched for. She had

571
00:44:52,320 --> 00:44:57,120
Speaker 3: tricked him into sleeping with her. At first, Judah was angry,

572
00:44:57,719 --> 00:45:02,120
Speaker 3: but he then realized his sins. He had treated Tamar

573
00:45:02,239 --> 00:45:05,359
Speaker 3: poorly and left her to her father's home to die

574
00:45:05,360 --> 00:45:09,320
Speaker 3: a widow. He had not pushed his son to marry her.

575
00:45:10,440 --> 00:45:14,320
Speaker 3: He had not cared for her heart or considered her dreams.

576
00:45:14,960 --> 00:45:18,280
Speaker 3: Judah continued to stare down at the ring and staff.

577
00:45:19,360 --> 00:45:23,800
Speaker 3: Tears streamed down his face, and he looked deeply into

578
00:45:23,800 --> 00:45:31,240
Speaker 3: Tamar's eyes. You are no harlot, he whispered. His bottom

579
00:45:31,320 --> 00:45:36,799
Speaker 3: lip quivered, and he took a deep breath. You are

580
00:45:36,840 --> 00:45:45,080
Speaker 3: more righteous than I. I did not give you my son, Shellah. Instead,

581
00:45:46,600 --> 00:45:53,560
Speaker 3: I left you. I am sorry. Judah took Tamar in.

582
00:45:54,200 --> 00:45:58,640
Speaker 3: He took care of her, but did not know her intimately. Again. Instead,

583
00:45:59,040 --> 00:46:02,520
Speaker 3: he tended to her every need and welcomed her into

584
00:46:02,560 --> 00:46:07,520
Speaker 3: his family. Months later, before the dawn had welcomed the horizon,

585
00:46:08,200 --> 00:46:12,640
Speaker 3: Tamar gave birth to twins. The first boy's hand came

586
00:46:12,680 --> 00:46:15,720
Speaker 3: out and a scarlet thread was tied around his wrist

587
00:46:15,920 --> 00:46:20,240
Speaker 3: to signify he was born first. However, before he could

588
00:46:20,239 --> 00:46:23,759
Speaker 3: emerge fully from the womb, the other child made his

589
00:46:23,800 --> 00:46:28,719
Speaker 3: way out first. The first born was named Perez, the

590
00:46:28,760 --> 00:46:34,279
Speaker 3: second was named Zarah. Tamar panted from fatigue, but was

591
00:46:34,400 --> 00:46:38,520
Speaker 3: satisfied that her dreams of having a family were fully realized.

592
00:46:39,719 --> 00:46:42,520
Speaker 3: Judah held the twins in his arms and took them

593
00:46:42,560 --> 00:46:45,200
Speaker 3: out by the stream where his other sons had died.

594
00:46:46,320 --> 00:46:50,520
Speaker 3: He looked up to the rising sun and smiled. The

595
00:46:50,640 --> 00:46:54,760
Speaker 3: river below had run red with the blood of his son's. However,

596
00:46:54,960 --> 00:46:58,800
Speaker 3: in his arms lied a new hope for Judah's future.

597
00:47:00,000 --> 00:47:05,880
Speaker 3: Despite his failures, pride and selfishness, God would use him.

598
00:47:06,280 --> 00:47:09,200
Speaker 3: For the first time in his life, he felt the

599
00:47:09,280 --> 00:47:13,720
Speaker 3: presence of God upon him. He looked down at Perez.

600
00:47:14,480 --> 00:47:16,919
Speaker 3: Judah did not know it, but it would be through

601
00:47:17,040 --> 00:47:21,719
Speaker 3: his seed that all the nations would be blessed. A

602
00:47:21,840 --> 00:47:25,560
Speaker 3: hero would emerge from the line of pees, A son

603
00:47:25,640 --> 00:47:29,120
Speaker 3: of Judah would rise up and fulfill the promises given

604
00:47:29,160 --> 00:47:34,480
Speaker 3: to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. His blood would also be spilled,

605
00:47:34,920 --> 00:47:38,719
Speaker 3: but this time it would not be in vain. This

606
00:47:38,880 --> 00:47:41,680
Speaker 3: son of Judah would rise up as a sacrifice to

607
00:47:41,719 --> 00:47:46,800
Speaker 3: redeem the entire world. He would be called the lion

608
00:47:46,920 --> 00:47:50,480
Speaker 3: from the tribe of Judah, and he would be living

609
00:47:50,560 --> 00:47:55,200
Speaker 3: proof that God works in even the most broken and

610
00:47:55,360 --> 00:47:58,640
Speaker 3: disfunctional circumstances.

611
00:48:00,120 --> 00:48:03,440
Speaker 2: Samson's story is one of the most intriguing accounts in

612
00:48:03,480 --> 00:48:07,359
Speaker 2: the Old Testament. From his birth, Samson had been set

613
00:48:07,400 --> 00:48:11,760
Speaker 2: apart by God and uniquely gifted to begin to deliver

614
00:48:12,040 --> 00:48:18,160
Speaker 2: Israel from the deadly Philistines. But despite his incredible physical strength,

615
00:48:18,920 --> 00:48:23,680
Speaker 2: he was morally weak. That weakness compromised his devotion to

616
00:48:23,760 --> 00:48:28,279
Speaker 2: God and led to his undoing. However, listen, if you

617
00:48:28,360 --> 00:48:31,719
Speaker 2: know the rest of the story of Samson, you know

618
00:48:31,840 --> 00:48:35,960
Speaker 2: that in his death he killed more Philistines than he

619
00:48:36,040 --> 00:48:40,360
Speaker 2: had throughout his life and therefore fulfilled the purpose God

620
00:48:40,480 --> 00:48:44,600
Speaker 2: had for him from the very beginning. Now, I wonder

621
00:48:44,680 --> 00:48:47,319
Speaker 2: what did you think about the story of Judah. The

622
00:48:47,440 --> 00:48:50,640
Speaker 2: fact that is recording the Bible in such detail is

623
00:48:51,200 --> 00:48:55,440
Speaker 2: I think one of the many proofs evidences that God's

624
00:48:55,480 --> 00:48:58,520
Speaker 2: word is real and be trusted to be what I

625
00:48:58,640 --> 00:49:04,160
Speaker 2: referred to as true truth. It is also a reminder

626
00:49:04,239 --> 00:49:08,440
Speaker 2: that God's perfect plan will be fulfilled through even the

627
00:49:08,480 --> 00:49:14,080
Speaker 2: most flawed of individuals. While Joseph is a principal figure

628
00:49:14,160 --> 00:49:17,759
Speaker 2: in the final chapters of Genesis. We also learned what

629
00:49:18,000 --> 00:49:22,160
Speaker 2: messed up individuals he had as brothers. Reuben, the oldest,

630
00:49:22,200 --> 00:49:26,520
Speaker 2: committed incest with one of his father's concubines, and Simeon

631
00:49:26,600 --> 00:49:30,400
Speaker 2: and Levi were guilty of genocide. Judah, we learned in

632
00:49:30,480 --> 00:49:33,719
Speaker 2: our last podcast, was the brother who suggested that they

633
00:49:33,760 --> 00:49:37,000
Speaker 2: sell Joseph to the merchants the slave traders in the

634
00:49:37,080 --> 00:49:42,719
Speaker 2: Midianite caravan, stating ironically, for he is our brother, our

635
00:49:42,760 --> 00:49:46,880
Speaker 2: own flesh, can you believe it now? Judah was the

636
00:49:47,000 --> 00:49:50,920
Speaker 2: fourth son of Jacob, and his story is especially relevant

637
00:49:51,200 --> 00:49:53,880
Speaker 2: because we know that he is one of the ancestors

638
00:49:53,920 --> 00:49:57,680
Speaker 2: of our savior Jesus, through whom God would bring about

639
00:49:57,960 --> 00:50:02,160
Speaker 2: the redemption of the world. Judah's first mistake was to

640
00:50:02,200 --> 00:50:06,560
Speaker 2: marry a Canaanite woman, and her pagan influence on their

641
00:50:06,640 --> 00:50:11,239
Speaker 2: sons contributed to God's declaration that they were wicked in

642
00:50:11,320 --> 00:50:14,960
Speaker 2: the sight of the Lord. Judah and his wife had

643
00:50:14,960 --> 00:50:19,400
Speaker 2: three sons in time their range for the oldest er

644
00:50:19,640 --> 00:50:24,120
Speaker 2: to marry a young woman named Tamar. When Er died

645
00:50:24,160 --> 00:50:28,680
Speaker 2: without an heir, Tamar to the tradition of Levite marriage

646
00:50:28,840 --> 00:50:31,720
Speaker 2: in which the brother deceased man would father a child

647
00:50:32,120 --> 00:50:35,719
Speaker 2: with the brother's widow to preserve the family, lying inheritance,

648
00:50:36,120 --> 00:50:40,759
Speaker 2: became the wife of the second son. His refusal to

649
00:50:40,840 --> 00:50:45,400
Speaker 2: impregnate Tamar so displeased God that he died as well.

650
00:50:46,200 --> 00:50:49,680
Speaker 2: By law, Tamar should then become the wife of the

651
00:50:49,760 --> 00:50:54,479
Speaker 2: third son, Sheilah, but Judah had failed to follow through

652
00:50:54,680 --> 00:50:59,919
Speaker 2: on that obligation. What happened next almost defives our comprehension.

653
00:51:00,600 --> 00:51:05,400
Speaker 2: In that day, Tamar's situation was a desperate one. She

654
00:51:05,560 --> 00:51:09,760
Speaker 2: was a widow, had no children, was unable by law

655
00:51:09,840 --> 00:51:15,520
Speaker 2: to marry anyone other than Sheilah, Judah's remaining son. Tamar,

656
00:51:15,719 --> 00:51:19,160
Speaker 2: in desperation, came over the plan to become pregnant by

657
00:51:19,239 --> 00:51:24,000
Speaker 2: Judah himself, and the plan worked. When Judah became informed

658
00:51:24,040 --> 00:51:28,239
Speaker 2: of Tamar's pregnancy, he threatened to have her killed, but

659
00:51:28,400 --> 00:51:32,319
Speaker 2: she presented proof that Judah was indeed the father, and

660
00:51:32,440 --> 00:51:35,880
Speaker 2: he ignowledged that she was more righteous than he because

661
00:51:36,160 --> 00:51:39,160
Speaker 2: he had not honored his commitment to let her marry

662
00:51:39,280 --> 00:51:43,799
Speaker 2: his third son. A few months later, Tamar gave birth

663
00:51:43,840 --> 00:51:48,319
Speaker 2: to twin sons, Perez and Zira. When you read the

664
00:51:48,440 --> 00:51:52,959
Speaker 2: genealogy of Jesus. You discover that Jesus was descended from

665
00:51:53,040 --> 00:51:58,000
Speaker 2: Judah through the line of Perez. In addition, Tamar herself

666
00:51:58,120 --> 00:52:00,960
Speaker 2: is named in one of the four Old Testament women

667
00:52:01,000 --> 00:52:05,280
Speaker 2: who appear in Matthew One as an ancestor of Jesus.

668
00:52:05,280 --> 00:52:09,319
Speaker 2: Can you believe it does that justify what Judah did?

669
00:52:09,920 --> 00:52:10,080
Speaker 3: Uh?

670
00:52:10,800 --> 00:52:15,240
Speaker 2: Certainly not, but it does remind us of a wonderful truth.

671
00:52:16,080 --> 00:52:20,560
Speaker 2: God can work through messy, messy human beings like you

672
00:52:20,680 --> 00:52:25,160
Speaker 2: and me. He is faithful, his word is true, and

673
00:52:25,200 --> 00:52:29,319
Speaker 2: there are no circumstances that can thwart his fulfillment of

674
00:52:29,400 --> 00:52:33,040
Speaker 2: His will and purpose. In the next episode, we will

675
00:52:33,080 --> 00:52:36,000
Speaker 2: returned to the story of Joseph as he became a

676
00:52:36,080 --> 00:52:40,160
Speaker 2: slave in the household of Potiphar. We'll discover that Joseph,

677
00:52:40,239 --> 00:52:45,319
Speaker 2: unlike Sampson and Judah, resisted the temptation and remain faithful

678
00:52:45,800 --> 00:52:50,680
Speaker 2: faithful to God. While his faith will be severely challenged,

679
00:52:51,560 --> 00:52:58,719
Speaker 2: his dreams God's dreams will remain intact, and through it

680
00:52:58,760 --> 00:53:02,799
Speaker 2: all we'll learn that God was with Joseph even in

681
00:53:02,880 --> 00:53:07,479
Speaker 2: the godless culture in which he had been planted. Thank

682
00:53:07,520 --> 00:53:10,480
Speaker 2: you for listening, and I look forward to continuing our

683
00:53:10,600 --> 00:53:16,360
Speaker 2: study in the coming episodes. For more inspiring stories, daily prayers,

684
00:53:16,400 --> 00:53:19,320
Speaker 2: and insights that will strengthen you in your daily walk,

685
00:53:19,680 --> 00:53:25,759
Speaker 2: go to pray dot com