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Matthew Poole's Concise Commentary On The Bible

Genesis 38

Genesis 38:1

GENESIS CHAPTER 38 Judah marries a Canaanitish woman, who bears him three sons, GENESIS 38:1. He marries his eldest son to Tamar, GENESIS 38:6. He being wicked is slain by God, GENESIS 38:7. The second son is commanded to marry her, GENESIS 38:8. His wickedness, GENESIS 38:9; and death, GENESIS 38:1... [ Continue Reading ]

Genesis 38:2

He married her against the counsel and example of his parents. But when Judah had committed so great a crime as the selling of his brother, and God had forsaken him, no wonder he adds one sin to another. SHUAH was the name, not of the daughter, but of her father, GENESIS 38:12.... [ Continue Reading ]

Genesis 38:7

WICKED IN THE SIGHT OF THE LORD, i.e. notoriously wicked. Compare GENESIS 10:9, GENESIS 13:13. THE LORD SLEW HIM, in some extraordinary and remarkable manner, as GENESIS 38:10.... [ Continue Reading ]

Genesis 38:8

This, as also divers other things, was now instituted and observed amongst God's people, and afterwards was expressed in a written law, DEUTERONOMY 25:5,6. See also NUMBERS 36:6,7 RTH 1:11 MATTHEW 22:24. RAISE UP SEED TO THY BROTHER; beget a child which may have thy brother's name and inheritance, a... [ Continue Reading ]

Genesis 38:9

Two things are here noted: 1. The sin itself, which is here particularly described by the Holy Ghost, that men might be instructed concerning the nature and the great evil of this sin of self-pollution, which is such that it brought upon the actor of it the extraordinary vengeance of God, and which... [ Continue Reading ]

Genesis 38:10

DISPLEASED THE LORD; an expression noting a more than ordinary offence against God, as 2 SAMUEL 11:27. This just but dreadful severity of God is noted both for the terror of such-like transgressors, and to provoke love and thankfulness to God in those whom he useth more indulgently.... [ Continue Reading ]

Genesis 38:11

AT THY FATHER'S HOUSE, whither he sent her from his house, that Shelah might not be insnared by her presence and conversation. So he dismissed her with a pretence of kindness, and a tacit promise of marriage to her, which he never intended to keep, as the following words imply; _for he said; _ or ra... [ Continue Reading ]

Genesis 38:12

IN PROCESS OF TIME, when many days had passed, and Shelah, though grown, was not given to Tamar, JUDAH WENT UP UNTO HIS SHEEP-SHEARERS, to feast and rejoice with them at that time, as the manner was then and afterwards. See 1 SAMUEL 25:36. TIMNATH; a place not far from Adullam; of which see JOSHUA 1... [ Continue Reading ]

Genesis 38:14

COVERED HER WITH A VAIL, as harlots used to do in those modester ages of the world, when they had not learnt to outface the sun, nor to glory in their villanies. IN AN OPEN PLACE, where she night be soonest discovered by passengers. This is noted as the practice of harlots, PROVERBS 7:12, PROVERBS 9... [ Continue Reading ]

Genesis 38:18

THY BRACELETS, or _handkerchief, _ or _girdle, _ or any other ornament made of _twisted thread, _ which the Hebrew word signifies. God so ordering things by his providence, that his sin might be discovered. And this and other such horrid crimes committed sometimes by the patriarchs, and other eminen... [ Continue Reading ]

Genesis 38:24

BRING HER FORTH to the magistrate, from whom she may receive her sentence and deserved punishment. Judah had not the power of life and death, at least not over her, who was a Canaanite, and who was not in his, but in her own father's house. But he being a person of great estate and authority, and, a... [ Continue Reading ]

Genesis 38:26

His guilty conscience, and the horror of so foul a fact, together with his sudden surprisal, forced him to an ingenuous confession, whereas he might have used many pretences and evasions, which would easily have prevailed with such partial judges. SHE HATH BEEN MORE RIGHTEOUS THAN I. She was more un... [ Continue Reading ]

Genesis 38:28

THE MIDWIFE BOUND UPON HIS HAND A SCARLET THREAD, in token of his being the first-born, which she confidently expected he would be. THIS BREACH BE UPON THEE, be imputed to thee, as the same phrase is taken GENESIS 16:5.... [ Continue Reading ]

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