And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she [is] with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.
Ver. 24. Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.] He was willing to be rid of her, for fear of losing his son Shelah, and therefore passeth a precipitate and savage sentence, to burn a great-bellied woman; which the very heathens condemned as a cruelty, in Claudius. a Howbeit there are that take these to be his words, not as a judge in the cause, but as an accuser. b "Bring her forth," sc., into the gates, before the judges; and let her be burnt if found guilty, according to the custom of the country. We read not of any that were, by God's law, to be burnt with fire, but the high priest's daughter only, for adultery. Lev 21:9 Hence the Hebrews say, that this Tamar was Melchizedek the high priest's daughter. But it is more likely she was a Canaanitish proselyte. Let us beware of that sin, for which so peculiar a plague was appointed, and by very heathens executed. See Jeremiah 29:22,23 .
a Dio, lib. lvii.
b Verba Iudae de vivicomburio Thamarae, non sunt Iudicis, sed Accusatoris. - Alsted.