ABSURD BELIEFS · INCEST
Tamar and Judah’s Incest
When Tamar was told, 'Your father-in-law is on his way to Timnah to shear his sheep,' she took off her widow’s clothes, covered herself with a veil, to disguise herself, and then sat down at the entrance to Enaim. Judah saw her and thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face. Not realizing that she was his daughter-in-law, he went over to her by the roadside and said, 'Come now, let me sleep with you.' ‘And what will you give me to sleep with you?’ she asked. 'I’ll send you a young goat from my flock,' he said. She asked, 'Will you give me something as a pledge until you send it?' He said, 'What pledge should I give you?' 'Your seal and its cord, and the staff in your hand,' she answered. So he gave them to her and slept with her, and she became pregnant by him.
This passage is relevant because it reveals a moral incongruity at the heart of a foundational biblical lineage. By comparing it to Islam’s unwavering condemnation of incest, readers see how differing faiths uphold or reject certain narratives. Such contrasts highlight debates on scriptural authenticity and integrity. Understanding these perspectives helps clarify why certain stories can unsettle believers who expect unblemished moral guidance from sacred texts.
THE CHRISTIAN RESPONSE
The Bible frankly records moral failings among the ancestors of Israel to show that God’s purposes unfold despite human sinfulness. Rather than endorsing incest, it demonstrates that God’s plan is not thwarted by human wrongdoing. This raw honesty points to the need for divine grace and redemption.
THE ISLAMIC POSITION
Islam firmly rejects incest, seeing it as a grave sin contradicting God’s moral order. Such accounts suggest that biblical narratives may not align fully with pure revelation. Islamic teaching demands moral consistency, especially regarding lineage and honor, so this story challenges the authenticity and reliability of the text’s moral framework.
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Tamar and Judah’s Incest