Talmud Bavli
Talmud Bavli

Commentary for Bava Metzia 117:3

(ואמר) מר זוטרא בר טוביה אמר רב ואמרי לה אמר רב חנא בר ביזנא אמר ר"ש חסידא ואמרי לה א"ר יוחנן משום רשב"י נוח לו לאדם שיפיל עצמו לכבשן האש ואל ילבין פני חבירו ברבים מנ"ל מתמר דכתיב (בראשית לח, כה) היא מוצאת והיא שלחה אל חמיה

Mar Zutra b. Tobiah said in Rab's name — others state, R. Hana<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Var. lec.: Huna. ');"><sup>6</sup></span> b. Bizna said in the name of R. Simeon the pious — others again state, R. Johanan said on the authority of R. Simeon b. Yohai: Better had a man throw himself into a fiery furnace than publicly put his neighbour to shame. Whence do we know it? — From Tamar.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Judah's daughter-in-law, with whom he unwittingly cohabited. Subsequently, on her breach of chastity being discovered, he ordered her to be burnt, and only rescinded the order when she privately sent proof to him of his own complicity; v. Gen. XXXVIII. ');"><sup>7</sup></span>

Rashi on Bava Metzia

Even though she was being taken to be burnt, she did not say to them, “I had relations with Judah”, rather she sent word to him, “to whomever these belong, I am pregnant by”, and if he acknowledges it on his own, then he will.
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