About three months later, Judah was told, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar has been promiscuous, and now she is pregnant!” Indignant, Judah said, “Bring her out, and let her be burned!”
Keep the convictions you have about these matters between yourself and God, and don’t impose them upon others. You’ll be happy when you don’t judge yourself in doing what your conscience approves.
They will burn down your homes and execute justice on you while many other women look on. I will once and for all put an end to your wicked harlotry—no more paid lovers for you!
“ ‘But you became confident in your own beauty and used your fame to act like a prostitute. You offered your sexual favors to each one who came along—and you became his!
She saw me give unfaithful Israel her divorce papers and send her away because of her continued adultery. Her treacherous sister, Judah, likewise had no fear; she, too, acted like a prostitute.
During Josiah’s reign as king of Judah, Yahweh asked me, “Did you see what unfaithful Israel has done? Like an adulterous wife, she has turned away from me. In every high place and under every green tree, she has prostituted herself to worship other gods.
Here’s what Yahweh says: “If a man divorces his wife and she marries another, would he return to her again? Doing that would thoroughly defile the land. And you, Israel, have prostituted yourself with many lovers, yet now you want to come back to me? I, Yahweh, have spoken.
“Long ago, you broke your bond with me and severed ties. You boldly said, ‘I will not serve you!’ Yet, on every high hill and under every green tree, you offered yourself to other gods. You were like a prostitute sprawled out awaiting sex.
Abimelech summoned Abraham and asked him, “What is this trick you have played on us? I did nothing wrong to you. Why would you bring such great guilt upon me and my kingdom? You have done to me what no one should ever do to another.”
Now return the man’s wife, and because he is a prophet, he will intercede on your behalf that you may live. But if you don’t give her back—you will certainly die, you and your entire household.”
Judah replied, “Let her keep my pledge. If we try to go get it now, we’ll become a laughingstock. After all, I did send you with the payment I promised her, and you couldn’t find her.”
At the entry to every alley you put up your brothel and dragged your beauty through the mud. You spread your legs to all who passed by in countless acts of prostitution.