189. "And she put off her widow's garments..." (Beresheet 38:14). Come and behold, could it be that Tamar, a priest's daughter, who was always modest, would commit incest with her father-in-law? HE ANSWERS, She was a righteous woman and did this with wisdom. She was not lewd, but wise, AND KNEW WHAT WOULD BECOME OF IT. SHE approached him to do kindness and truth by him.
190. Come and behold, because she knew what would become of her efforts, the Holy One, blessed be He, aided her in the act, and she conceived immediately. All this was from THE HOLY ONE, BLESSED BE HE. It may be wondered why the Holy One, blessed be He, did not use another woman to bear these sons, but this one, TAMAR. HE ANSWERS, Assuredly, she was needed for this and no other woman would do.
191. The seed of Judah was established with two women, who bore King David, King Solomon, and the Messiah. The two women, Tamar and Rut, resembled each other. Both Tamar and Rut lost their first husbands and replaced them through similar efforts.
192. Tamar approached her father-in-law, who was next of kin to his dead sons AND THUS WORTHY OF TAKING HER IN LEVIRATE MARRIAGE. The reason for her act is stated in the verse, "For she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him to wife" (Beresheet 38:14). She therefore did this by her father-in-law.
193. Rut's first husband died AS DID THAT OF TAMAR, and then she did the deed by Boaz, as it is written, "And uncovered his feet, and laid herself down" (Rut 3:7). She then gave birth to Oved. You might ask why Oved was not born to another woman, INSTEAD OF IN THIS MANNER. HE ANSWERS, Assuredly, it was necessary that she, and not any other woman, bore him. From these two, the seed of Judah was built and established. Both did well and brought kindness upon the dead, so they would later be perfected in the world.
194. This is the explanation of the verse, "So I praised the dead that are already dead" (Kohelet 4:2). As long as THE HUSBANDS OF TAMAR AND RUT were alive, there was no praise to their name. After they died, THEIR WIVES WERE TAKEN IN LEVIRATE MARRIAGE AND THE KINGDOM OF DAVID, SOLOMON, AND MESSIAH DESCENDED FROM THEM. Both TAMAR AND RUT did kindness and truth by the dead, and the Holy One, blessed be He, helped them in the very act. Thus, all is fitting as it should be. Happy is he who studies the Torah day and night, as it is written, "But you shall meditate therein day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it: for then you shall make your way prosperous, and then you shall have good success" (Yehoshua 1:8).