Genesis 38
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Commentaries
Excerpts gathered from published commentaries to ground the reading.
And it came to pass at that time - The facts mentioned here could not have happened at the times mentioned in the preceding chapter, as those times are all unquestionably too recent, for the very earliest of the transactions here recorded must have occurred long before the selling of Joseph. Mr. Ainsworth remarks "that Judah and his sons must have married when very young, else the chronology will not agree. For Joseph was born six years before Jacob left Laban and came into Canaan; Gen 30:25, and Gen 31:41. Joseph was seventeen years old when he was sold into Egypt, Gen 37:2, Gen 37:25; he was thirty years old when he interpreted Pharaoh's dream, Gen 41:46. And nine years after, when there had been seven years of plenty and two years of famine, did Jacob with his family go down into Egypt, Gen 41:53, Gen 41:54, and Gen 45:6, Gen 45:11. And at their going down thither, Pharez, the son of Judah, whose birth is set down at the end of this chapter, had two sons, Hezron and Hamul, Gen 46:8, Gen 46:12. Seeing then from the selling of Joseph unto Israel's going down into Egypt there cannot be above twenty-three years, how is it possible that Judah should take a wife, and have by her three sons successively, and Shelah the youngest of the three be marriageable when Judah begat Pharez of Tamar, Gen 38:14, Gen 38:24, and Pharez be grown up, married, and have two sons, all within so short a space? The time therefore here spoken of seems to have been soon after Jacob's coming to Shechem, Gen 33:18, before the history of Dinah, Genesis 34, though Moses for special cause relates it in this place." I should rather suppose that this chapter originally stood after Genesis 33, and that it got by accident into this place. Dr. Hales, observing that some of Jacob's son must have married rem…
Open source ↗JUDAH AND FAMILY. (Gen. 38:1-30) at that time--a formula frequently used by the sacred writers, not to describe any precise period, but an interval near about it.
Open source ↗And it came to pass at that time,.... This some refer to the time of Jacob's coming from Padanaram into Canaan, soon after he came to Shechem, and before the affair of Dinah; but to this may be objected the marriage of Judah at an age that may seem too early for him, his separation from his brethren, and having a flock of his own to keep, which seems not consistent with the above history: wherefore it is better to connect this with the history of Joseph's being sold into Egypt; for though there were but twenty three years from hence to Jacob's going down into Egypt, Joseph being now seventeen, and was thirty years when he stood before Pharaoh, after which were seven years of plenty, and two of famine, at which time Jacob went thither with two of Judah's grandsons, Hezron and Hamul, Gen 46:12, which make the number mentioned; yet all this may be accounted for; at seventeen, Er, Judah's firstborn, might marry, being the eighteenth from the selling of Joseph, and the marriage of his father; and Onan at the same age, which was the nineteenth; and allowing two or three years for Tamar's staying for Shelah, there was time for her intrigue with Judah, and bearing him two sons at a birth, before the descent of Jacob into Egypt; as for his two grandsons, they may be said to go into Egypt; as Benjamin's sons did in their father's loins, being begotten there during Jacob's abode in it: that Judah went down from his brethren: not from Dothan to Adullam, as Ben Melech observes, as if this separation was at the time and place of the selling of Joseph; but rather from Hebron thither, after he and his brethren were come home to their father, and had reported and condoled the death of Joseph; and Judah is said to go down, because he went from the north to the south, as Aben Ezra notes;…
Open source ↗About this time, i.e., after the sale of Joseph, while still feeding the flocks of Jacob along with his brethren (Gen 37:26), (Note: As the expression "at that time" does not compel us to place Judah's marriage after the sale of Joseph, many have followed Augustine (qusaet. 123), and placed it some years earlier. But this assumption is rendered extremely improbable, if not impossible, by the fact that Judah was not merely accidentally present when Joseph was sold, but was evidently living with his brethren, and had not yet set up an establishment of his own; whereas he had settled at Adullam previous to his marriage, and seems to have lived there up to the time of the birth of the twins by Thamar. Moreover, the 23 years which intervened between the taking of Joseph into Egypt and the migration of Jacob thither, furnish space enough for all the events recorded in this chapter. If we suppose that Judah, who was 20 years old when Joseph was sold, went to Adullam soon afterwards and married there, is three sons might have been born four or five years after Joseph's captivity. And if his eldest son was born about a year and a half after the sale of Joseph, and he married him to Thamar when he was 15 years old, and gave her to his second son a year after that, Onan's death would occur at least five years before Jacob's removal to Egypt; time enough, therefore, both for the generation and birth of the twin-sons of Judah by Thamar, and for Judah's two journeys into Egypt with his brethren to buy corn. (See Gen 46:8.)) Judah separated from them, and went down (from Hebron, Gen 37:14, or the mountains) to Adullam, in the lowland (Jos 15:35), into the neighbourhood of a man named Hirah. "He pitched (his tent, Gen 26:25) up to a man of Adullam," i.e., in his neighbourhood, so as to…
Open source ↗Here is, 1. Judah's foolish friendship with a Canaanite-man. He went down from his brethren, and withdrew for a time from their society and his father's family, and got to be intimately acquainted with one Hirah, an Adullamite, Gen 38:1. It is computed that he was now not much above fifteen or sixteen years of age, an easy prey to the tempter. Note, When young people that have been well educated begin to change their company, they will soon change their manners, and lose their good education. Those that go down from their brethren, that despise and forsake the society of the seed of Israel, and pick up Canaanites for their companions, are going down the hill apace. It is of great consequence to young people to choose proper associates; for these they will imitate, study to recommend themselves to, and, by their opinion of them, value themselves: an error in this choice is often fatal. 2. His foolish marriage with a Canaanite-woman, a match made, not by his father, who, it should seem, was not consulted, but by his new friend Hirah, Gen 38:2. Many have been drawn into marriages scandalous and pernicious to themselves and their families by keeping bad company, and growing familiar with bad people: one wicked league entangles men in another. Let young people be admonished by this to take their good parents for their best friends, and to be advised by them, and not by flatterers, who wheedle them, to make a prey of them. 3. His children by this Canaanite, and his disposal of them. Three sons he had by her, Er, Onan, and Shelah. It is probable that she embraced the worship of the God of Israel, at least in profession, but, for aught that appears, there was little of the fear of God in the family. Judah married too young, and very rashly; he also married his sons too young, w…
Open source ↗38:1-30 The story of Judah and Tamar is a carefully placed interlude; it reports what was happening in the family of Judah, who would later rise to prominence, and it shows the beginnings of assimilation with the people of the land to help explain why God sent the family to Egypt (chs 39–47). The Egyptians were strict separatists (43:32); the Israelites would retain their unique identity better in Egypt than in Canaan.
Open source ↗Original language
The Hebrew and Greek words behind this passage, with Strong's numbers — from openscriptures (CC BY-SA).
עֵת (ʻêth, H6256) — time, especially (adverb with preposition) now, when, etc. יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhûwdâh, H3063) — Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the… יָרַד (yârad, H3381) — to descend (literally, to go downwards; or conventionally to a lower region, as the… אָח (ʼâch, H251) — a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or… נָטָה (nâṭâh, H5186) — to stretch or spread out; by implication, to bend away (including moral deflection); used… אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… עֲדֻלָּמִי (ʻĂdullâmîy, H5726) — an Adullamite or native of Adullam שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… חִירָה (Chîyrâh, H2437) — Chirah, an Adullamite
Open source ↗יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhûwdâh, H3063) — Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the… רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… בַּת (bath, H1323) — a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and… אִישׁ (ʼîysh, H376) — a man as an individual or a male person; often used as an adjunct to a more definite term… כְּנַעַנִי (Kᵉnaʻanîy, H3669) — a Kenaanite or inhabitant of Kenaan; by implication, a pedlar (the Canaanites standing… שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… שׁוּעַ (Shûwaʻ, H7770) — Shua, a Canaanite לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications)
Open source ↗הָרָה (hârâh, H2029) — to be (or become) pregnant, conceive (literally or figuratively) יָלַד (yâlad, H3205) — to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… קָרָא (qârâʼ, H7121) — to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of… שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… עֵר (ʻÊr, H6147) — Er, the name of two Israelites
Open source ↗הָרָה (hârâh, H2029) — to be (or become) pregnant, conceive (literally or figuratively) יָלַד (yâlad, H3205) — to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… קָרָא (qârâʼ, H7121) — to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of… שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… אוֹנָן (ʼÔwnân, H209) — Onan, a son of Judah
Open source ↗יָסַף (yâçaph, H3254) — to add or augment (often adverbial, to continue to do a thing) יָלַד (yâlad, H3205) — to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show… בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… קָרָא (qârâʼ, H7121) — to call out to (i.e. properly, address by name, but used in a wide variety of… שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… שֵׁלָה (Shêlâh, H7956) — Shelah, the name of a postdiluvian patriarch and of an Israelite כְּזִיב (Kᵉzîyb, H3580) — Kezib, a place in Palestine
Open source ↗יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhûwdâh, H3063) — Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the… לָקַח (lâqach, H3947) — to take (in the widest variety of applications) אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — a woman עֵר (ʻÊr, H6147) — Er, the name of two Israelites בְּכוֹר (bᵉkôwr, H1060) — firstborn; hence, chief שֵׁם (shêm, H8034) — an appellation, as amark or memorial of individuality; by implication honor, authority,… תָּמָר (Tâmâr, H8559) — Tamar, the name of three women and a place
Open source ↗עֵר (ʻÊr, H6147) — Er, the name of two Israelites יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhûwdâh, H3063) — Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the… בְּכוֹר (bᵉkôwr, H1060) — firstborn; hence, chief רַע (raʻ, H7451) — bad or (as noun) evil (natural or moral) עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God מוּת (mûwth, H4191) — to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
Open source ↗יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhûwdâh, H3063) — Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the… אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) אוֹנָן (ʼÔwnân, H209) — Onan, a son of Judah בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) אָח (ʼâch, H251) — a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or… אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — a woman יָבַם (yâbam, H2992) — to marry a (deceased) brother's widow קוּם (qûwm, H6965) — to rise (in various applications, literal, figurative, intensive and causative) זֶרַע (zeraʻ, H2233) — seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity
Open source ↗אוֹנָן (ʼÔwnân, H209) — Onan, a son of Judah יָדַע (yâdaʻ, H3045) — to know (properly, to ascertain by seeing); used in a great variety of senses,… זֶרַע (zeraʻ, H2233) — seed; figuratively, fruit, plant, sowing-time, posterity אִם (ʼim, H518) — used very widely as demonstrative, lo!; interrogative, whether?; or conditional, if,… בּוֹא (bôwʼ, H935) — to go or come (in a wide variety of applications) אָח (ʼâch, H251) — a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or… אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — a woman שָׁחַת (shâchath, H7843) — to decay, i.e. (causatively) ruin (literally or figuratively) אֶרֶץ (ʼerets, H776) — the earth (at large, or partitively a land) בִּלְתִּי (biltîy, H1115) — properly, a failure of, i.e. (used only as a negative particle, usually with a… נָתַן (nâthan, H5414) — to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.)
Open source ↗אֲשֶׁר (ʼăsher, H834) — who, which, what, that; also (as an adverb and a conjunction) when, where, how, because,… עָשָׂה (ʻâsâh, H6213) — to do or make, in the broadest sense and widest application יָרַע (yâraʻ, H3415) — properly, to be broken up (with any violent action) i.e. (figuratively) to fear עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) יְהֹוָה (Yᵉhôvâh, H3068) — Jehovah, Jewish national name of God מוּת (mûwth, H4191) — to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill
Open source ↗אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhûwdâh, H3063) — Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the… תָּמָר (Tâmâr, H8559) — Tamar, the name of three women and a place כַּלָּה (kallâh, H3618) — a bride (as if perfect); hence, a son's wife יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… אַלְמָנָה (ʼalmânâh, H490) — a widow; also a desolate place אָב (ʼâb, H1) — father, in a literal and immediate, or figurative and remote application בַּיִת (bayith, H1004) — a house (in the greatest variation of applications, especially family, etc.) שֵׁלָה (Shêlâh, H7956) — Shelah, the name of a postdiluvian patriarch and of an Israelite בֵּן (bên, H1121) — a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative… גָּדַל (gâdal, H1431) — to be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor,… מוּת (mûwth, H4191) — to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill אָח (ʼâch, H251) — a brother (used in the widest sense of literal relationship and metaphorical affinity or… יָלַךְ (yâlak, H3212) — to walk (literally or figuratively); causatively, to carry (in various senses)
Open source ↗רָבָה (râbâh, H7235) — to increase (in whatever respect) יוֹם (yôwm, H3117) — a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to… בַּת (bath, H1323) — a daughter (used in the same wide sense as other terms of relationship, literally and… שׁוּעַ (Shûwaʻ, H7770) — Shua, a Canaanite יְהוּדָה (Yᵉhûwdâh, H3063) — Jehudah (or Judah), the name of five Israelites; also of the tribe descended from the… אִשָּׁה (ʼishshâh, H802) — a woman מוּת (mûwth, H4191) — to die (literally or figuratively); causatively, to kill נָחַם (nâcham, H5162) — properly, to sigh, i.e. breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e. (in a… עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… גַּזָז (gazâz, H1494) — to cut off; specifically to shear aflock or shave the hair; figuratively to destroy an… צֹאן (tsôʼn, H6629) — a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men) תִּמְנָה (Timnâh, H8553) — Timnah, the name of two places in Palestine רֵעַ (rêaʻ, H7453) — an associate (more or less close) חִירָה (Chîyrâh, H2437) — Chirah, an Adullamite
Open source ↗נָגַד (nâgad, H5046) — properly, to front, i.e. stand boldly out opposite; by implication (causatively), to… תָּמָר (Tâmâr, H8559) — Tamar, the name of three women and a place אָמַר (ʼâmar, H559) — to say (used with great latitude) חָם (châm, H2524) — a father-in-law (as in affinity) עָלָה (ʻâlâh, H5927) — to ascend, intransitively (be high) or actively (mount); used in a great variety of… תִּמְנָה (Timnâh, H8553) — Timnah, the name of two places in Palestine גַּזָז (gazâz, H1494) — to cut off; specifically to shear aflock or shave the hair; figuratively to destroy an… צֹאן (tsôʼn, H6629) — a collective name for a flock (of sheep or goats); also figuratively (of men)
Open source ↗סוּר (çûwr, H5493) — to turn off (literal or figurative) אַלְמָנוּת (ʼalmânûwth, H491) — concrete, a widow; abstract, widowhood בֶּגֶד (beged, H899) — a covering, i.e. clothing; also treachery or pillage כָּסָה (kâçâh, H3680) — properly, to plump, i.e. fill up hollows; by implication, to cover (for clothing or… צָעִיף (tsâʻîyph, H6809) — a veil עָלַף (ʻâlaph, H5968) — to veil or cover; figuratively, to be languid יָשַׁב (yâshab, H3427) — properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to… עַיִן (ʻayin, H5869) — an eye (literally or figuratively); by analogy, a fountain (as the eye of the landscape) פֶּתַח (pethach, H6607) — an opening (literally), i.e. door (gate) or entrance way דֶּרֶךְ (derek, H1870) — a road (as trodden); figuratively, a course of life or mode of action, often adverb תִּמְנָה (Timnâh, H8553) — Timnah, the name of two places in Palestine רָאָה (râʼâh, H7200) — to see, literally or figuratively (in numerous applications, direct and implied,… שֵׁלָה (Shêlâh, H7956) — Shelah, the name of a postdiluvian patriarch and of an Israelite גָּדַל (gâdal, H1431) — to be (causatively make) large (in various senses, as in body, mind, estate or honor,…
Open source ↗Cross-references
Other passages the community most often connects to this one. Tap to read.
One day Elisha went to Shunem, and a prominent woman who lived there persuaded him to have a meal. So whenever he would pass by, he would stop there to eat.
So David left Gath and took refuge in the cave of Adullam. When his brothers and the rest of his father’s household heard about it, they went down to him there.
I will again bring a conqueror against you, O dweller of Mareshah. The glory of Israel will come to Adullam.
He who walks with the wise will become wise, but the companion of fools will be destroyed.
Jarmuth, Adullam, Socoh, Azekah,
Jael went out to greet Sisera and said to him, “Come in, my lord. Come in with me. Do not be afraid.” So he entered her tent, and she covered him with a blanket.
Leave your folly behind, and you will live; walk in the way of understanding.”
the king of Libnah, one; the king of Adullam, one;
At harvest time, three of the thirty chief men went down to David at the cave of Adullam, while a company of Philistines was encamped in the Valley of Rephaim.