Seeing Tamar through the prism of an African woman: A contextual reading of Genesis 38

Abstract

It is a truism that marriage is deeply appreciated in Africa. This, among others, is rooted in Africans’ love of children. In most African societies, the begetting of children is a social and religious duty attached to marriage and is vital to it. Bearing of children is an end of marriage upon which the wellbeing of the spouse depends. A successful marriage should be “fruitful.” As a result, marriage becomes a big challenge when it is “childless.” Due to the patriarchal nature of most African societies, it is the women that often bear the brunt of childlessness in marriage. By embarking on a contextual reading of Genesis 38 and applying its theological implications to an African context, this article joins many concerned individuals in suggesting more informed reactions and solutions to the so-called grave problem of childlessness in marriage. A INTRODUCTION In many Africa societies, marriage and procreation are intertwined and inseparable. It is almost always presumed that readiness for marriage is readiness for procreation; to get married is an opportunity to contribute freely, through procreation, to the survival of the lineage and society at large. During marriage (both traditional and Christian), one of the most appreciated and common gestures of good-will shown to the newly married couple is praying for the fruit of the womb: “may God grant you many children,” “you shall give birth to male and female,” “in nine months we shall gather to celebrate the birth of your baby.” In these wishes, both the societal perception of marriage and the use of sexuality in marriage as primarily geared toward the begetting of progeny are encapsulated. The problem arises when a marriage fails to lead to procreation. In a cultural context that emphasizes procreation and blames a woman for any failure in this regard, what is the way out for a “fruitless” marriage? Reading Genesis 38 (Judah/Tamar narrative) against this backdrop reveals a resonance with the African cultural emphasis on progeny and heir. As such, the plight of Tamar represents, in particular, the ordeal of a married childless African woman searching for a child, and in general, the injustice suffered by women in a patriarchal society. The overriding target of my interpretation of Gen 38 is the 1 This paper was first presented at the Contextual Interpretation of the Bible session

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