The First Book of Moses, called Genesis
Genesis 38
Chapter XXXVIII · Vol. I, pp. 275–277
1 Judah begetteth Er, Onan, and Shelah. 6 Er marrieth Tamar. 8 The trespass of Onan. 11 Tamar stayeth for Shelah. 12 She deceiveth Judah; 27 to whom she beareth twins, Pharez and Zarah.
1 And it came to pass at that time, that Judah awent down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.
2 And Judah bsaw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was cShuah; and he took her, and went in unto her.
5 And she yet again conceived,7 and bare a son; and called his name Shelah: and he was at eChezib when she bare him.
7 And Er, Judah's first-born, was gwicked7 in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him.
g Nu.26.19. ch.13.13; 19.13;6.8.
7 The special wickedness of Er is not recorded; but his father being still an impenitent fratricide (so far as intention), the friend of an unprincipled man, ch. 38. 20, and the husband of an idolatress, we need not be surprised at the character of the son. In some exemplary manner the Lord slew him, therein commencing that series of afflictions which softened Judah's heart, and brought him back to God. Contrast his unfeeling cruelty to his father, verse 32, with his generous devotedness, chap. 44. 33, 34, and can we entertain a doubt that old things had passed away from his heart, and all things had become new??—C.
8 And Judah said unto Onan, Go hin unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.
h De.25.5-10. Le.18.16.
9 And Onan knew that the seed should inot be his: and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, klest that he should give seed to his brother.
10 And the thing which he did ldispleased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.
l 2 Sa. 11. 27. Pr.14.32. Je.44.4.
11 Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter-in-law, mRemain a widow at thy father's house till Shelah my son be grown: (for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did.) And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.
m Le.22.13.
12 And in process of time the daughter of Shuah, Judah's wife, died:8 and Judah was comforted,n and went up ounto his sheep-shearers to pTimnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.
13 And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold, thy father-in-law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.9
9 1717.
14 And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in qan open place, which is by the way to rTimnath: for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.
15 When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face.
16 And he turned unto her by the way, and said, sGo to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he knew not that she was his daughter-in-law.) And she said, tWhat wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me?
s 2 Sa.13.11.
t Eze. 16. 33. De.23.18.
17 And he said, I will send thee a kid from the flock. uAnd she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge till thou send it?
u Lu.16.8. ver.24.
18 And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, xThy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that is in thine hand. And he gave it her, and came in unto her; and she conceived by him.
19 And she arose, and went away, and laid by her veil from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.
20 And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman's hand; but he found her not.
21 Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Where is the harlot that was yopenly by the way-side? And they said, There was no harlot in this place.
A.M. 2267. B.C. 1717.
y Or, in Enajim; ver.14.
22 And he returned to Judah, and said, I cannot find her; and also the men of the place said, that there was no harlot in this place.
23 And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we zbe shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.
z Heb. become a contempt, Pr.6.32,33. 2 Sa.12.9.
24 And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, 1Tamar thy daughter-in-law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. Anda Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be bburnt.2
1 He looked on her as a blot and a burden to his family.
a Mat.7.1,4.
b ch. 20. 3, 7, 9. De.22. 23,24. Le.21.9. Je.29.22,23. Ro.2.1; 14.22. 2 Sa.12.5,7.
2 Judah, as an independent pastoral prince, exercises the power of life and death. The death of burning pronounced against Tamar would, at first sight, seem to indicate a high moral sense of propriety and deep abhorrence of sin, while on closer examination we discover that it may merely indicate an intense feeling of injury and desire of revenge (compare ch. 34.7,25). In the present instance the culprit is guilty of one sin, the judge of two—the violation of his promise, ver. 14, and the very sin which he so rigorously condemns.—C.
25 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.
26 And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more crighteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he dknew her again no more.3
c 1 Sa.24.17. 2 Sa.24.17. He occasioned her sin, tempted to it, and was partner in it.
d ch. 4.1. 1 Pe.4.2,3. Job 40. 4, 5; 34.31,32. 2 Sa.16.22;20.3.
3 A candid acknowledgment of his past sin is the first symptom of Judah's repentance, his faithful avoidance of his sin in future marks his consistent sincerity.—C.
27 And it came to pass, in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.
28 And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand; and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.4
4 Cir. 1717.
29 And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out; and she said, How hast thou broken forth?5 this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was ecalled Pharez.6
30 And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand; and his name was called fZarah.
f The riser or returner. These births were typical of the Jewish and Gentile churches. The Jews had the first access to Jesus Christ and his grace, but drew back through unbelief: while the Gentiles, powerfully influenced of God, embraced the promises and Saviour, Lu. xv. Mat. xi. Ro.9.30-32; 10.3,21. Ac. 13. 26-48. And when the fulness of the Gentiles shall come in, the Jews shall return and be born to the Lord, Ro.11.11-26.
Notes
Ver. 1. Whether this marriage of Judah took place immediately after, or rather before, the selling of Joseph, is not absolutely certain.
Ver. 8. According to this patriarchal custom, afterwards enacted into an express law of God, De. 25. 5, 6, the first-born was accounted legal son and heir to the deceased brother, and the rest of the children reckoned his who begot them.
Ver. 9. His sin was extremely heinous, not only as it proceeded from envy of his brother's honour, and contempt of the promised seed, but as it was horrid and unnatural in itself. Nor, till the last judgment, will it appear what guilt of this nature hath been committed among mankind, nor how fearfully God hath punished the same.
Reflections.—Unhallowed and over-hasty marriages often issue in fearful and numerous mischiefs; and such sins in parents are punished by the like in their children. The lusts of the flesh issue in terrible plagues and untimely deaths. And extremely foolish is their choice who dare to purchase a momentary enjoyment of their lust by exposing themselves to everlasting despair in hell. How tremendous the discernment of God in marking out men for objects of his distinguished judgment against sin! And empty professors of the true religion are generally fixed upon for this purpose. At what an easy rate do most men part with their true honour and salvation, while they are mightily concerned about their temporal interests or worldly securities! Temporal loss and worldly shame weigh more with them than sin, with all the sorrow which attends it. So deceitful indeed is sin, that hardened sinners are sometimes the most severe against their fellow, but less guilty, offenders! and malice against their persons puts on the cloak of zeal against their sins. O what a mercy, if such be brought to a timely sense of, and return from, their sinfulness at last! Especially ought we to exercise much tenderness and compassion towards such as we have tempted into sin. But is anything so astonishing, as that this enormous wickedness, this unnatural sin, should be used by Jehovah as the distant means of the incarnation of his only begotten Son! Behold how—where sin had abounded and reigned unto disorder, shame, and death—grace reigns, through righteousness, unto inconceivable honour, and everlasting life, by Jesus Christ our Lord!