GEN1484 Although it may not have been the original intent of the biblical writers and editors, the story of Judah and Tamar [this chapter] and its placement in the text can inform Jewish attitudes about sexual activity.   The ideal is a committed relationship; if that ends, the remaining partner is able to pursue other sexual relationships.   For Tamar, after the death of her husband, it is another husband.   For Judah, after the death of his wife, it is a non-committed sexual liaison.   The biblical text makes no judgment about Judah’s relations with a prostitute (Tamar in disguise) or about Tamar’s decision to play the role of a prostitute in order to become pregnant by her father-in-law Judah.   The problem comes in Judah’s not honoring his responsibility to secure another sexual partner/husband for Tamar.   Additionally, the story is a seemingly incongruent interruption of the Joseph saga.  However, it precedes the attempted seduction of Joseph by Potiphar’s wife.   Joseph manages to escape though Potiphar’s wife punishes him with an accusation of rape.   The two stores, read side-by-side, might be examples of appropriate and inappropriate sexual behavior.  The actions of Judah and Tamar, who are both without committed relationships, fall inside the norm of appropriate sexual behavior. The conduct of Potiphar’s wife, a married woman seeking sex from Joseph, a man not her husband, falls far outside it.  AGTJL 173