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. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
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. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images =... [ Continue Reading ]
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). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); fo... [ Continue Reading ]
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. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]
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). ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsB [ Continue Reading ]
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. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.leng... [ Continue Reading ]
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. ⇐ ⇔ ⇒ var images = document.getElementsByTagName("img"); for (var i=0, len=images.length, img; i [ Continue Reading ]