Now that Bath-shua was dead, Judah might have carried
out his wish and married Tamar to his youngest son. But
he waited for Shelah to grow up, because he feared for his
life, seeing that Tamar had brought death to two husbands
before him. So she remained a widow in her father's house
for two years. Endowed with the gift of prophecy, Tamar
knew that she was appointed to be the ancestress of David
and of the Messiah, and she determined to venture upon an
extreme measure in order to make sure of fulfilling her
destiny.[82] Accordingly, when the holy spirit revealed to her
that Judah was going up to Timnah,[83] she put off from her
the garments of her widowhood, and sat in the gate of Abraham's
tent, and there she encountered Judah.[84] All the time
she lived in the house of her father-in-law, he had never
seen her face, for in her virtue and chastity she had always
kept it covered, and now when Judah met her, he did not
recognize her. It was as a reward for her modesty that God
made her to become the mother of the royal line of David,
and the ancestress of Isaiah, and his father Amoz as well,
both of whom were prophets and of royal blood.[85]

Judah passed Tamar by without paying any attention to
her, and she raised her eyes heavenward, and said, "O Lord
of the world, shall I go forth empty from the house of this
pious man?" Then God sent the angel that is appointed
over the passion of love, and he compelled Judah to turn
back.[86] With prophetic caution, Tamar demanded that, as a
pledge for the reward he promised her, he leave with her
his signet, his mantle, and his staff, the symbols of royalty,