This is a fictional
account of the biblical story of Judah and Tamar in Genesis, Chapter 38. The story begins with
Judah rescuing Tamar from a brute husband who was trying to take her amidst the
public town square. Tamar immediately
falls for Judah, but he denies his feelings for her. Judah then barters with her
father and takes Tamar back to his homeland to marry his first son Er, who was
promised to marry Ruah. In Ruah’s jealousy, she tells Er how his father came to
rescue Tamar. She also tells a falsehood about Judah being with Tamar.
Er confronts her: “Liar!”
He ripped the veil from her face. “Now, take off your clothing, Lovely Tamar,
that your husband may see what has already been seen by an entire town of
leering men.” During biblical times, it was forbidden for a woman to be seen naked
in public. Judah hears Tamar scream, rushes to save her, a struggle with Er
(who tried to kill him), an accidental fall and Er dies. Onan, Er’s brother,
marries Tamar and commits suicide by self-castration. Judah still denies within
himself that he loves Tamar. According to law, she is to wait for the next
brother, Shelah, to come of age to marry him. So she is sent back to her father’s
house to wait. What happens next? You will have to read it for yourself. Believe when I say “you won’t be disappointed!”
Teresa Pollard has
written an exceptional novel with such eloquence, grace and expression. She made me believe the events in this story were real. I recommend that
everyone read and enjoy it as well as I did, including the Reader's Group Guide.
I received this book fro free from Chalfont Publishing for this review and not for monetary purposes.
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