GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 38:1 The shocking account of Judah’s
relationship with Tamar, which interrupts the story of Joseph in
Egypt, fulfills an important role in Genesis 1:1 by providing a record
of Judah’s family line. The chapter concludes with a birth account
in which a firstborn twin is pushed... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 38:6 The nature of Er’s wickedness is
unknown. No information on Tamar’s background is provided, although
it is likely that she was a Canaanite.
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GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 38:8 Judah instructs his second son ONAN to
fulfill the custom of “levirate marriage,” which required a
brother to marry his brother’s childless widow and give her
children. See Deuteronomy 25:5. It plays an important role in the book
of Ruth 1:1 (Ruth 1:11; Ruth 4:1). Judah... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 38:9 ONAN KNEW THAT THE OFFSPRING WOULD NOT
BE HIS. While publicly Onan appears to fulfill his father’s request,
in private he refuses to father a child on behalf of Er. HE WOULD
WASTE THE SEMEN ON THE GROUND. Onan avoided impregnating Tamar. He
probably selfishly feared that... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 38:11 Judah protects his remaining son,
SHELAH, by sending Tamar back to her own family. He implies that one
day she will marry Shelah. He treats Tamar as if she were dangerous,
while it was actually the sons’ evil actions that brought about
their deaths.
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GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 38:12 Sometime later Judah becomes a
widower. After a period of mourning he travels to TIMNAH. Two
locations are known by this name, but this one is probably in the
southern hill country of Judah (see Joshua 15:57).
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GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 38:13 Having waited for Judah to fulfill his
promise regarding Shelah (v. Genesis 38:11), Tamar decides to take
action. She puts off HER WIDOW’S GARMENTS and covers herself WITH A
VEIL, possibly intending to remind Judah that she is promised to
Shelah. She goes to the entranc... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 38:15 When Judah sees Tamar, he assumes that
she is a prostitute, FOR SHE HAD COVERED HER FACE. Since engaged women
also wore veils, Judah’s belief that Tamar is a PROSTITUTE would not
have been simply based on her covered face. Her being alone by the
roadside possibly contri... [ Continue Reading ]
GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 38:16 Tamar’s request, WHAT WILL YOU GIVE
ME...? recalls Judah’s refusal to give her Shelah.
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GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 38:21 Ironically, Hirah’s description of
Tamar as a CULT PROSTITUTE introduces into the account a religious
dimension linked to fertility rituals. The term used by Hirah is
rarely used in the OT (see Deuteronomy 23:17; Hosea 4:14).
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GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 38:24 When JUDAH discovers that he was
responsible for Tamar’s pregnancy, he acknowledges her righteousness
in contrast to his own failure. This marks an important turning point
for Judah.
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GENESIS—NOTE ON GENESIS 38:27 With its focus on the identity of the
firstborn, this birth account suggests that something significant will
happen among the descendants of Perez.
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