By Megan Sauter, Biblical Archaeology Review—
Genesis 38 recounts the saga of Judah and Tamar. Er, Judah’s oldest son, marries Tamar, but he dies, leaving her a childless widow. Er’s brother Onan then marries Tamar, according to levirate marriage (Deuteronomy 25:5–10), but he also dies without giving her any children. She then returns to her father’s household to wait to be married to Judah’s youngest son, Shelah. However, when Shelah comes of age, Judah does not rush to arrange the marriage.
Tamar then takes matters into her own hands. When she learns that Judah is traveling to Timnah, she veils herself and sits along the road. Judah mistakes her for a shrine prostitute and asks to sleep with her. They settle on payment: Judah will send her a young goat from his flock. Tamar agrees—but requests a pledge. She asks Judah to leave his signet, cord, and staff.
Why does Tamar ask for these three items? Zohar Amar of Bar-Ilan University and Naama Sukenik of the Israel Antiquities Authority explore Tamar’s motivations in “The Signs That Bind: Why Tamar Requested Judah’s Signet, Cord, and Staff,” published in the Fall 2021 issue of Biblical Archaeology Review. Through archaeological analysis, they show the significance of the signet, cord, and staff, especially in regard to identification in the ancient world.
They begin with the signet, the first requested item. Signets, or seals, were used to seal and authenticate documents. They were often made of stone and engraved with a symbol or name to identify the owner. Although signets’ importance was huge, their size was small. Many of these oval or cylindrical seals measured no more than a couple centimeters in length, which allowed them to be worn as jewelry. Such objects were prestigious, typically reserved for the elite.
They begin with the signet, the first requested item. Signets, or seals, were used to seal and authenticate documents. They were often made of stone and engraved with a symbol or name to identify the owner. Although signets’ importance was huge, their size was small. Many of these oval or cylindrical seals measured no more than a couple centimeters in length, which allowed them to be worn as jewelry. Such objects were prestigious, typically reserved for the elite. Continue Reading…