5 And she yet again conceived, H3254 and bare H3205 a son; H1121 and called H7121 his name H8034 Shelah: H7956 and he was at Chezib, H3580 when she bare H3205 him.
And the sons H1121 of Judah H3063 after their families H4940 were; of Shelah, H7956 the family H4940 of the Shelanites: H8024 of Pharez, H6557 the family H4940 of the Pharzites: H6558 of Zerah, H2226 the family H4940 of the Zarhites. H2227
Then said H559 Judah H3063 to Tamar H8559 his daughter in law, H3618 Remain H3427 a widow H490 at thy father's H1 house, H1004 till Shelah H7956 my son H1121 be grown: H1431 for he said, H559 Lest peradventure he die H4191 also, as his brethren H251 did. And Tamar H8559 went H3212 and dwelt H3427 in her father's H1 house. H1004
And the sons H1121 of Judah; H3063 Er, H6147 and Onan, H209 and Shelah, H7956 and Pharez, H6557 and Zerah: H2226 but Er H6147 and Onan H209 died H4191 in the land H776 of Canaan. H3667 And the sons H1121 of Pharez H6557 were Hezron H2696 and Hamul. H2538
The sons H1121 of Shelah H7956 the son H1121 of Judah H3063 were, Er H6147 the father H1 of Lecah, H3922 and Laadah H3935 the father H1 of Mareshah, H4762 and the families H4940 of the house H1004 of them that wrought H5656 fine linen, H948 of the house H1004 of Ashbea, H791
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].