absolutely certain. Seal, cord, and staff must have been the insignia of a man of rank amongst the Israelites, as seal and staff were among the Babylonians (Herod. i. 195)[1] and Egyptians (Erman, LAE, 228 f.). The cord may have been used to suspend the seal, as amongst modern town Arabs (Robinson, BR, i. 36), or may have had magical properties like those occasionally worn by Arab men (We. Heid. 166). For illustrations of ancient Hebrew seals, see Benzinger, Arch.2 82, 179 f., 228 ff.
20-23. Judah fails to recover his pledge.—20. It is significant that Judah employs his fidus Achates Ḥirah in this discreditable affair, and will rather lose his seal, etc., than run the risk of publicity (v.23.—21. Where is that Ḳĕdēshāh?] strictly 'sacred prostitute,'—one 'dedicated' for this purpose to Ištar-Astarte, or some other deity (Dt. 2318, Hos. 414†).
This is the only place where (
Hebrew characters) appears to be used of an ordinary
harlot; and Luther (INS, 180) points out that it is confined to the conversation
of Ḥirah with the natives, the writer using (Hebrew characters). The code of
Ḥammurabi (§ 110) seems to contemplate the case of a temple-votary
(ḳadistu, KAT3, 423; ATLO2, 380) separating herself for private prostitution;
and it is possible that this custom was familiar to the Canaanites,
though not in Israel.—That the harlot's veil (vv.14. 19) was a symbol of
dedication to Ištar the veiled goddess (KAT3, 276, 432; ATLO2, 109) is
possible, though it is perhaps more natural to suppose that the veiling
of Ištar is an idealisation of the veiling of her votaries, which rests on a
primitive sexual taboo (cf. the bridal veil 2465).
24-26. The vindication of Tamar.—24. As the widow
of 'Er, or the betrothed of Shelah, Tamar is guilty of adultery,
and it falls to Judah as head of the family to bring her to
justice.—Lead her out] a forensic term, Dt. 2221. 24.—let her be burnt] Death by burning is the punishment imposed in
Ḫammurabi, § 157, for incest with a mother, and was doubt-
21. (Hebrew characters)] [E]GS (Hebrew characters) (v.22). If this reading be accepted, there is no
reason to hold that (Hebrew characters) (if a place-name at all) was Tamar's native
village.—(Hebrew characters)] [E] (Hebrew characters); but see 1933 etc.—24. (Hebrew characters)] [E] more correctly
(Hebrew characters).
- ↑ (
Greek characters).—Similarly Strabo, XVI. i. 20.]
