Vayeishev 38:11 · unit 2

Parashas Vayeishev · Passuk 38:11

The Complete Passuk

וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהוּדָה֩ לְתָמָ֨ר כַּלָּת֜וֹ שְׁבִ֧י אַלְמָנָ֣ה בֵית־אָבִ֗יךְ עַד־יִגְדַּל֙ שֵׁלָ֣ה בְנִ֔י כִּ֣י אָמַ֔ר פֶּן־יָמ֥וּת גַּם־ה֖וּא כְּאֶחָ֑יו וַתֵּ֣לֶךְ תָּמָ֔ר וַתֵּ֖שֶׁב בֵּ֥ית אָבִֽיהָ׃

Then Yehudah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law: Remain a widow in your father’s house until Shelah my son grows up — for he said: Lest he also die like his brothers. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house.

Chabad / Judaica Press

Source Citation

Torah Temimah points to Yevamos / classic derash on בית אביך.

Sefaria — Yevamos / classic derash on בית אביך

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
בֵּית אָבִיךְ — מְלַמֵּד שֶׁבֵּית הָאָב נִקְרָאִים כׇּל יוֹצְאֵי חֲלָצָיו אַף לְאַחַר מִיתַת הָאָב.

English: “Your father’s house” — this teaches that all who issue from a father’s loins are still called “the father’s house” even after the father’s death.

On the daf / in context: Torah Temimah notes that Tamar was of Shem’s line though Shem had already died; yet Yehudah still says “your father’s house.”

Type of Learning

Derash on the verse (Bavli/midrash style) — not a formal named middah of the 13. The phrase is extended beyond the lifetime of the father.

What Is Learned

“Father’s house” continues to describe the family line even after the father has died.