Thursday, December 10, 2020

Yehuda And Tamar

וַיְהִ֣י ׀ כְּמִשְׁלֹ֣שׁ חֳדָשִׁ֗ים וַיֻּגַּ֨ד לִֽיהוּדָ֤ה לֵֽאמֹר֙ זָֽנְתָה֙ תָּמָ֣ר כַּלָּתֶ֔ךָ וְגַ֛ם הִנֵּ֥ה הָרָ֖ה לִזְנוּנִ֑ים וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוּדָ֔ה הוֹצִיא֖וּהָ וְתִשָּׂרֵֽף׃

About three months later, Yehudah was told, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar has been a harlot; in fact, she is with child by harlotry.” “Bring her out,” said Yehudah, “and let her be burned.”

What does it mean when it says "ויגד יהודה לאמר" - The word לאמר usually means that the person is to pass on what he was told to others [וידבר השם אל משה לאמר - To say to the Jewish people]. Who is Yehuda supposed to tell this to?

How do we explain that after it said זנתה תמר כלתך, the pasuk goes on and says וגם הנה הרה לזנונים - It could have just said וגם הנה הרה. The זנונים part was already said with the earlier "זנתה"!!?

Why "זנונים" in the plural??