Given by: Judah, in the book's retelling of Genesis dictated to Moses on Sinai by the angel of the presence, confessing when Tamar produces his pledge. Given to: those about to burn Tamar — and through the telling, to every reader tempted to hide guilt.

A patriarch's word could send a woman to the fire; for Judah to reverse his own sentence by confessing publicly meant surrendering both his authority and his honour before witnesses.

And Judah acknowledged, and said: 'Tamar is more righteous than I am. And therefore let them burn her not' And for that reason she was not given to Shelah, and he did not again approach her.

Confronted with the evidence, Judah confesses publicly — 'Tamar is more righteous than I' — owns his own guilt at once, and halts the injustice he had set in motion.

Jubilees 41:19-20

Your Spirit

Loves God

Loves Neighbor

Your Body

Moral Behaviour