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Authors: Francine Rivers
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returned to her quarters and told Acsah what had been said. Onan was to sleep with her and give her children for Er.
“Judah spoke with me eight days ago,” Acsah said. “He has been counting the days.”
Tamar blushed.
Acsah smiled at her. “Onan is a better man than Er. He won’t beat you.”
Tamar lowered her eyes. Onan was as handsome as Er. He could speak as smoothly. He might also have fists like hammers. She breathed in slowly. She couldn’t allow herself to dwell on fear. Fear might prevent conception.
Despite her resolve, her stomach quivered with misgivings. She had no reason to expect tender treatment from Onan. Why should she? He kept company with the same young men Er did.
Acsah took her by the shoulders. “Be joyful, Tamar. Judah’s taken your side against Bathshua.”
Tamar shrugged her hands away. “Don’t be foolish, Acsah. There are no sides to this matter. It is but a thing of necessity.”
“A thing of necessity? How you talk! Your mother-in-law has burned Judah’s ear for weeks regarding you. She didn’t want Onan in the same room with you, let alone the same bed.”
“Can you blame her? I would grieve as much if I’d lost a son.”
“Or a loving husband.” She lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “We’re all well rid of Er.”
Tamar turned away, unwilling to agree.
Acsah sighed. “You must be careful, Tamar. Bathshua seeks someone to blame.”
Tamar sat on a cushion. “Then she must look to the God of Judah.”
“She suspects you . She claims you cast a spell.”
Tamar glanced up sharply. “What power have I to help or hinder anyone in this household? I am nothing! What did I have to gain by my husband’s death? Am I better off now with my husband dead?” She shook her head and looked away. “No one will believe Bathshua. Everyone heard Er reject the God of his father, and everyone saw how he died.”
Acsah hunkered down before her. “Do you think that matters?” She took Tamar’s hands and held them tightly. “Much of the blame for Er’s character can be laid at his mother’s feet, but do you think she will ever accept it?”
Tamar pulled her hands from Acsah’s and covered her face. “I did nothing to harm Er!” She drew a ragged breath, tears welling despite her efforts to quell them. “What sort of household is this that everyone seeks to destroy each other?”
Acsah pressed her fingertips against Tamar’s lips. “I know you did nothing to harm Er. So does Judah. Not once did you ever speak against Er. Everyone knew he beat you, and they all looked the other way.”
“Then how can you say . . . ?”
“You’re too young to understand the ways of people like Bathshua. She’s jealous. She’s afraid of losing her position. So she lies. A lie told often enough will eventually be accepted as truth.”
“I can only be what I am, Acsah!” Tears ran down her cheeks. “I can only live the best way I know how.”
Acsah cupped her cheek. “Be at peace, my sweet one. You have prevailed. Judah has given Onan to you. It shows he believes the god of his father took his son’s life despite Bathshua’s claims that you had a part in it. But be warned: She is as cunning as a serpent. She will be silent now that Judah has made his decision. For a while she will do nothing. But never forget: She is your enemy.”
“As she always has been, Acsah.”
“More now than ever, but Judah will protect you.”
With a sad laugh, Tamar shook her head. “Judah stands neither to the right nor to the left of me. He stands alone, just as he always has. All he’s done is take the necessary steps to preserve his family.” She turned away, not wanting Acsah to see her hurt and disappointment. Judah had refused to instruct her in the ways of his God, even though this God clearly had the power of life and death. “I am more burdened now than I was the day I came here, Acsah. I want this household to prosper. I want to fulfill my duty.”
“You
“Judah spoke with me eight days ago,” Acsah said. “He has been counting the days.”
Tamar blushed.
Acsah smiled at her. “Onan is a better man than Er. He won’t beat you.”
Tamar lowered her eyes. Onan was as handsome as Er. He could speak as smoothly. He might also have fists like hammers. She breathed in slowly. She couldn’t allow herself to dwell on fear. Fear might prevent conception.
Despite her resolve, her stomach quivered with misgivings. She had no reason to expect tender treatment from Onan. Why should she? He kept company with the same young men Er did.
Acsah took her by the shoulders. “Be joyful, Tamar. Judah’s taken your side against Bathshua.”
Tamar shrugged her hands away. “Don’t be foolish, Acsah. There are no sides to this matter. It is but a thing of necessity.”
“A thing of necessity? How you talk! Your mother-in-law has burned Judah’s ear for weeks regarding you. She didn’t want Onan in the same room with you, let alone the same bed.”
“Can you blame her? I would grieve as much if I’d lost a son.”
“Or a loving husband.” She lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “We’re all well rid of Er.”
Tamar turned away, unwilling to agree.
Acsah sighed. “You must be careful, Tamar. Bathshua seeks someone to blame.”
Tamar sat on a cushion. “Then she must look to the God of Judah.”
“She suspects you . She claims you cast a spell.”
Tamar glanced up sharply. “What power have I to help or hinder anyone in this household? I am nothing! What did I have to gain by my husband’s death? Am I better off now with my husband dead?” She shook her head and looked away. “No one will believe Bathshua. Everyone heard Er reject the God of his father, and everyone saw how he died.”
Acsah hunkered down before her. “Do you think that matters?” She took Tamar’s hands and held them tightly. “Much of the blame for Er’s character can be laid at his mother’s feet, but do you think she will ever accept it?”
Tamar pulled her hands from Acsah’s and covered her face. “I did nothing to harm Er!” She drew a ragged breath, tears welling despite her efforts to quell them. “What sort of household is this that everyone seeks to destroy each other?”
Acsah pressed her fingertips against Tamar’s lips. “I know you did nothing to harm Er. So does Judah. Not once did you ever speak against Er. Everyone knew he beat you, and they all looked the other way.”
“Then how can you say . . . ?”
“You’re too young to understand the ways of people like Bathshua. She’s jealous. She’s afraid of losing her position. So she lies. A lie told often enough will eventually be accepted as truth.”
“I can only be what I am, Acsah!” Tears ran down her cheeks. “I can only live the best way I know how.”
Acsah cupped her cheek. “Be at peace, my sweet one. You have prevailed. Judah has given Onan to you. It shows he believes the god of his father took his son’s life despite Bathshua’s claims that you had a part in it. But be warned: She is as cunning as a serpent. She will be silent now that Judah has made his decision. For a while she will do nothing. But never forget: She is your enemy.”
“As she always has been, Acsah.”
“More now than ever, but Judah will protect you.”
With a sad laugh, Tamar shook her head. “Judah stands neither to the right nor to the left of me. He stands alone, just as he always has. All he’s done is take the necessary steps to preserve his family.” She turned away, not wanting Acsah to see her hurt and disappointment. Judah had refused to instruct her in the ways of his God, even though this God clearly had the power of life and death. “I am more burdened now than I was the day I came here, Acsah. I want this household to prosper. I want to fulfill my duty.”
“You
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