18 And he said, H559 What H834 pledge H6162 shall I give H5414 thee? And she said, H559 Thy signet, H2368 and thy bracelets, H6616 and thy staff H4294 that is in thine hand. H3027 And he gave H5414 it her, and came in H935 unto her, and she conceived H2029 by him.
19 And she arose, H6965 and went away, H3212 and laid by H5493 her vail H6809 from her, and put on H3847 the garments H899 of her widowhood. H491
20 And Judah H3063 sent H7971 the kid H1423 H5795 by the hand H3027 of his friend H7453 the Adullamite, H5726 to receive H3947 his pledge H6162 from the woman's H802 hand: H3027 but he found her H4672 not.
21 Then he asked H7592 the men H582 of that place, H4725 saying, H559 Where is the harlot, H6948 that was openly H5869 by the way side? H1870 And they said, H559 There was no harlot H6948 in this H2088 place.
22 And he returned H7725 to Judah, H3063 and said, H559 I cannot H3808 find H4672 her; and also the men H582 of the place H4725 said, H559 that there was no harlot H6948 in this place.
23 And Judah H3063 said, H559 Let her take H3947 it to her, lest we be shamed: H937 behold, I sent H7971 this kid, H1423 and thou hast not found H4672 her.
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Genesis 38
Commentary on Genesis 38 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 38
Ge 38:1-30. Judah and Family.
1. at that time—a formula frequently used by the sacred writers, not to describe any precise period, but an interval near about it.
2. And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite—Like Esau [Ge 26:34], this son of Jacob, casting off the restraints of religion, married into a Canaanite family; and it is not surprising that the family which sprang from such an unsuitable connection should be infamous for bold and unblushing wickedness.
8. Judah said unto Onan … marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother—The first instance of a custom, which was afterwards incorporated among the laws of Moses, that when a husband died leaving a widow, his brother next of age was to marry her, and the issue, if any, was to be served heir to the deceased (compare De 25:5).
12. Judah … went up unto his sheep-shearers—This season, which occurs in Palestine towards the end of March, was spent in more than usual hilarity, and the wealthiest masters invited their friends, as well as treated their servants, to sumptuous entertainments. Accordingly, it is said, Judah was accompanied by his friend Hirah.
Timnath—in the mountains of Judah.
18. signet, &c.—Bracelets, including armlets, were worn by men as well as women among the Hebrews. But the Hebrew word here rendered "bracelets," is everywhere else translated "lace" or "ribbon"; so that as the signet alone was probably more than an equivalent for the kid, it is not easy to conjecture why the other things were given in addition, except by supposing the perforated seal was attached by a ribbon to the staff.
24. Bring her forth, and let her be burnt—In patriarchal times fathers seem to have possessed the power of life and death over the members of their families. The crime of adultery was anciently punished in many places by burning (Le 21:9; Jud 15:6; Jer 29:22). This chapter contains details, which probably would never have obtained a place in the inspired record, had it not been to exhibit the full links of the chain that connects the genealogy of the Saviour with Abraham; and in the disreputable character of the ancestry who figure in this passage, we have a remarkable proof that "He made himself of no reputation" [Php 2:7].