Does the story of Tamar and Judah in Genesis 38 typify gender relations in Genesis? [closed]

Question

I don't have my Bible with me at the moment, so I can't quote, but the interactions between Tamar and Judah indicate, and perhaps provide a categorical example of, the mode of intersexual interaction in Genesis. Prevalent therein is the underhanded method by which many female figures in Genesis exert influence, and encapsulates rather nicely the ever-present disparity between the sexes.

Well, that's the position I'm attempting to argue, but I was curious as to what you all thought. There are plenty of other male-female relationships in Genesis, almost all of which are not as perverse, per se, as that of Tamar and Judah. However, I feel that the patterns put forth by the story are at least echoed in all others of similar ilk within Genesis.

Here's a bit of evidence to further concretize my argument.

Following the death of Er and Onan for their various sins, Judah commands Tamar to remain single:

‘Remain a widow in your father’s house..." (NSRV Gen. 38:11)

I feel that this dictation of Tamar's marital/sexual status by Judah echoes the "endangerment of the matriarch" stories earlier, where Abraham supplants Sarah's sexual/marital legitimacy, as does Jacob with Rachel. What do you think?

Secondly, and, in my opinion, consequently, Tamar dupes Judah into sleeping with her to reaffirm this legitimacy and conceive the child she felt she deserved from Shelah. This echoes, in my eyes, the underhanded tactics employed by Rebekah to ensure Jacob's receipt of Isaac's blessing and the authority to become patriarch. Again, how do you feel about this reasoning?

I hope that narrows my scope a bit.

Answer 1

There is a definitely a cycle of feminine trickery stories that most commentators note:

1. Lot's daughters
2. Rebekah's advice to Jacob regarding Isaac's blessing
3. Rachel's theft of her father's terafim
4. Tamar's manipulation of Judah
5. The midwives Shifra and Puah
6. Yocheved's hiding Moses in the reed ark on the river
7. Miriam tricking Pharoah's daughter regarding a nursemaid for Moses

In each case, the outcome of the narrative of the People is critically influenced by the resourceful tactics that the women employ. That in itself is a message. Looking at these stories on balance, they appear to be about something bigger than individual relationships, matriarchal rights or gender roles. The women always seem to be looking far into the future while the men are too preoccupied with controlling the present to comprehend the consequences of their actions (like selling Joseph to the Ishmaelites).