When she was brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff. (Genesis 38:25)
In passing sentence upon Tamar, Judah had unwittingly condemned himself. His sin, however, consisted not only in giving way to lust, but also in breaking his promise to Tamar (v. 11). This made him personally responsible for the deception she had practiced upon him. His first error had been his own marriage to a Canaanite, in open violation of principle (cf. chs. 24:3; 28:1; 34:14). Furthermore, he certainly knew of the wickedness of his sons; but instead of recognizing the hand of God in their sudden death, he blamed Tamar for it and determined to keep her a childless widow forever.