Genesis 38:1-7

Judah

The character of Judah -

I. FAITHLESSNESS TOWARDS GOD.

1. In his separation from his brethren (Genesis 38:1).

2. In his marriage with an idolater (Genesis 38:2).

II. A STRONG SENSUAL NATURE (Genesis 38:12).

III. AN UNDERLYING SENSE OF JUSTICE.

IV. SELF-DEPENDENCE. (T. H. Leale.)

The lessons of Judah’s history

I. GOD’S CAUSE HAS IN IT THE SEEDS OF TRIUMPH EVEN WHEN IT SEEMS TO FAIL.

II. GOD’S JUDGMENTS ON THE SIN OF UNCHASTITY.

III. THIS HISTORY HAS AN IMPORTANT BEARING UPON GOD’S PURPOSE OF SALVATION. Considered in regard to God’s redeeming purpose, this history shows--

1. That God’s election is by grace. Otherwise Judah would not have been chosen as the ancestor of Christ. It shows--

2. The native glory of Christ, He derives all His glory from Himself, and not from His ancestry. It shows--

3. The amazing condescension of Christ. The greatest and most shameful sinners are found in His birth-register. (T. H. Leale.)

Lessons

1. Arbitrary is the Spirit of God in recording times of events; therefore careful should we be to search them.

2. Wanton forward youths are apt to leave their station, brethren, and fathers, where they should be ruled.

3. Such averseness from duty inclines foolish hearts to lose acquaintance. So it was here.

4. Wanton youths choose to be familiar with worldly companions in lust rather than to be with a good father.

5. Names of men and places of miscarriage by the sons of the Church are noted for instruction (Genesis 38:1).

6. In bad company, and out of men’s places usually, are offered baits of temptation.

7. Wanton hearts have wanton eyes by which they are carried out to evil.

8. Daughters of the Canaanites may please the eyes of the sons of Jacob to misguide them.

9. Violence of lust drives men to take their delights, never desiring leave of God or man.

10. Lust desires no better marriage than a carnal enjoyment of its pleasure.

11. Lust fears no law of God that forbids Jacob’s seed to marry with Canaanites (Genesis 38:2). (G. Hughes, B. D.)

Lessons

1. Such as have been disobedient to parents are not willing their children should be such to them.

2. It is the father’s right to provide and give wives to their sons.

3. It is natural for fathers to care mainly for the first-born son.

4. Providence orders wives from strangers to be registered in His Church for His own ends.

5. The first-born of men’s hopes may prove most wicked, and greatest crosses.

6. It is height of wickedness to dare the Lord to His face.

7. God Himself turneth executioner to avenge Himself upon daring sinners.

8. Premature death is determined sometimes and executed upon obstinate wicked sinners. (G. Hughes, B. D.)

Judah

Judah had taken to wife the daughter of a Canaanite, no doubt to the grief and regret of his father (Genesis 26:35); he had done what hitherto every member of the chosen branches of Abraham’s house had scrupulously avoided; for even the sanguinary deed of Simeon and Levi had been dictated by the desire of preserving the purity of their family. He left his brothers and went to Adullam. This is a town in the plain of Judah, south-west of Jerusalem, mentioned together with Jarmuth and Sochoh, or with Libnah and Makkedah; it is one of the most ancient cities, and enjoyed an existence of unusual duration; for in the time of the Hebrew conquest it was the seat of a Canaanitish king; a cave in its neighbourhood was the refuge of David from the persecutions of Saul; here his relatives joined him; here he assembled around his person a large number of distressed but resolute men; and here he met a part of the Philistine army. Adullam was fortified by Rehoboam; it was later counted among the important cities of Judah; it was still inhabited after the exile; and existed even in the time of the Maccabees. (M. M. Kalisch, Ph. D.)