And it came to pass at that time, that (a) Judah went down from his
brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name [was]
Hirah.
(a) Moses describes the genealogy of Judah, because the Messiah should
come from him.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name
[was] Shuah; (b) and he took her, and went in unto her.
(b) A relationship which nonetheless was condemned by God.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry
her, and raise (c) up seed to thy brother.
(c) This order was for the preservation of the stock, since the child
begotten by the second brother would have the name and inheritance of
the first: a practice which is abolished in the N... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, (d) Remain 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.
(d) For she could not marry in any other family so long as Judah wo... [ Continue Reading ]
And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let
me come in unto thee; (for he (e) knew not that she [was] his daughter
in law.) And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come
in unto me?
(e) God miraculously blinded him so that he could not know her by her
voice.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his (f) friend the Adullamite,
to receive [his] pledge from the woman's hand: but he found her not.
(f) That his wickedness might not be known to others.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Judah said, Let her take [it] to her, lest we be (g) shamed:
behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.
(g) He fears man more than God.... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah,
saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also,
behold, she [is] with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her
forth, and let her be (h) burnt.
(h) We see that the Law, which was written in man's heart, ta... [ Continue Reading ]
And Judah acknowledged [them], and said, She hath been (i) more
righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he
knew her again (k) no more.
(i) That is, she ought rather to accuse me than I her.
(k) for the horror of the sin condemned him.... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass, as he (l) drew back his hand, that, behold, his
brother came out: and she said, How (m) hast thou broken forth? [this]
breach [be] upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez.
(l) Their heinous sin was signified by this monstrous birth.
(m) Or the separation between you an... [ Continue Reading ]