Komentaryong Sumisipi para sa Genesis 29:35

V. 2. Charakteristisch ist die Gruppierung: die ersten vier sind die ersten, von vornherein der Lea zugedachten Söhne; nach Juda heißt es: ותעמד מלדת. Jissachar und Sebulun waren gleichsam als Lohn besonderer Bestrebung gewährt. Benjamin ist ihnen als Sohn Rahels angeschlossen und in der folgenden Gruppe sind die Söhne der שפחות zusammengenommen. Befragen wir die Aussprüche Jakobs über die Bedeutsamkeit seiner Söhne für die nationale Zukunft, so sind auch dort (ויחי Kap. 49) Reuben, Schimeon, Lewi, Jehuda, Jissachar, Sebulun, Benjamin (— mit Übergehung Josefs, der bereits in Mizrajim war —) die bedeutsamsten, wie wir dies dort zur Stelle gefunden zu haben glaubten.

Having absorbed this knowledge, you will understand what occurred in the case of Yehudah, Tamar, and these two children born to Tamar and Yehudah respectively. By means of these two individuals, Peretz and Zerach, we can gain a better understanding of the whole process of creation. This is what the sages had in mind in Berachot 55 when they said: מלכותא דארע כעין מלכותא דרקיע, “the kingdom on earth is essentially similar to the kingdom in the celestial regions.” Yehudah’s name יהודה, gratitude, as we know from Leah’s feelings of gratitude to G’d meant that by having born more children for Yaakov than any of his wives would he would be appreciative of this. [compare Genesis 29,35. Ed.] Seeing that Yehudah was the fourth of the twelve sons who were to make up the tribes of Israel, G’d’s Holy Name is part of his name. His tribe became the leading tribe in Israel and the Kingdom of Israel was ruled over by a king from his tribe, i.e. David and his descendants. It was therefore appropriate that Tamar, herself descended from Royalty, should be married to him. The name Tamar reflects the fact that the original light contained both male and female properties, seeing that תמר, a date or date-palm, contains both male and female elements, or rather that the name for both a female palm and a male palm is the same. The לולב, palm branch, is indicative of the male element in the palm, whereas the fruit, the product of the female palm tree goes by the same name, i.e. תמר. It is male on the outside whereas its גרעין, its pit, is female. [It is split, similar in appearance to a vagina, as explained by Naftali Wessely.] This is something unique, not found in any other kind of tree. It was therefore appropriate that Peretz and Zerach be mothered by Tamar. Zerach corresponded to the element sun, the male element, the sun which shines without interruption, whereas Peretz corresponded to the element moon, the female element, a light which is uneven, sometimes stronger sometimes waning completely such as the light of the moon. It was therefore almost a historical must that the dynasty of King David be the product of Peretz rather than Zerach, seeing that he, Peretz — as indicated by his name already — represented the type of light we get from the moon, i.e. light which fluctuates constantly in intensity as does the light of the moon.

She also foresaw in her prophetic mind that Jacob would have four wives. Accordingly, she had fulfilled her destiny by bearing him three sons. When she bore Jacob a fourth son subsequently, she said: "this time I will thank the Lord" because up to now G'd had treated her on the basis of justice, i.e. she had borne one fourth of Jacob's sons. Now that she had borne him four sons she thanked G'd who had done more for her than was required by justice.