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1 It came to pass at that time that Judah departed from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite whose name was Hirah.
Chapter thirty seven focused on Jacob’s son Joseph who was his first born of Rachel (The wife he loved the most). This chapter focuses on Judah, shortly after Joseph was sold into slavery by all his eldest brothers. These sons (Judah and Joseph), of Jacob, are the most prominent of all Jacob’s sons: Joseph being the type and symbol of our Lord Jesus Christ, and also the blessings that were given to his sons Manasseh, Ephraim, and him are very significant to America, Britain, and all the English speaking countries in regards to the last days of this earth age (the time of Jacobs trouble: Jer 30:7. Judah’s prominence is the fact that from him will come the blessing God gave to Abraham: in which the promise, that thru his seed, all nations of the earth shall be blessed (Gen 22:18). This chapter tells us of how the promised seed (Jesus Christ) is passed down from Judah to the next generation. Judah left his family behind shortly after he conspired with his brothers to sell Joseph into slavery. He is the one who talked his other brothers into selling Joseph to the Ishmaelites, instead of killing him, so that they would not be guilty of shedding their own brothers blood. Kind of Ironic when you think about the fact that Judah is part of the lineage of Jesus Christ, and at the time of His crucifixion Pontius Pilate gave Jesus over to the Jewish people to be crucified, and right afterwards washed his hands, and stated that he is not guilty of shedding the blood of a just man ( Matt 27:22-24). In my opinion, Judah left his family because he could not bare to look into his fathers eyes, knowing that he would have to lie to his father Jacob, by covering up the fate of Joseph and was in fact guilty of his fate. The shame was too much for him to bare. So Judah leaves his fathers sight, in hope of also leaving that guilt feeling he has, that is eating him alive. He goes to a friend of his named Hirah (H2437), interestingly the primitive root that Hirah is derived from in the Strong’s definition is (H2357) meaning to blanch (As with shame), and what is even more interesting, to me at least, is the fact that I didn’t even know this when I made my previous statement that Judah’s “shame was too much for him to bare.”As we will see in this chapter everywhere Judah goes, Hirah is right there with him; to me, meaning that his shame follows him in all his travels. A person can run, but he cannot hide. No matter how far Judah tries to run from his shame it won’t go away from him.
2 And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and went into her. 24:3; 28:1 3 So she conceived and bore a son, and called his name Er. 4 She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. 5 And she conceived yet again and bore a son, and called his name Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him.
Shua is the Canaanite father of the woman whom Judah marries. Why the Lord gives us the name of Judah’s father-in-law and not the name of his wife I do not understand. Judah has three sons with this woman: Er (H6147), Onan (H209), and Shelah (H7956). Shelah was born in Chezib (H3580), which is a city located in the land of Judah according to it’s inheritance. Interestingly The Hebrew definition for Chezib is false, or falsified if you will. This is derived from the Strong’s definition (H3576), meaning to lie, or to deceive. I say this is interesting because as we will read on a little further in this chapter (Gen 38:11, 26), Judah acknowledges to Tamar (His firstborn’s son’s wife), that she was more righteous than him because he did not give Shelah to her when he grew up, as he promised, thus either deceiving her or lying, or both. I must say however the scriptures do not say Judah intentionally lied or deceived Tamar. Shelah was to marry Tamar so she could concieve a son through him, thus fulfilling the Mosaic law (Deut 25: 5-6), I will discuss this further in the following verses.
6 Then Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. Matt. 1:3 7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord killed him. 1 Chr. 2:3 8 And Judah said to Onan, “Go into your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother. Deut. 25:5, 6 Matt. 22:24 9 But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went into his brother’s wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother. Lev. 15:16 10 And the thing which he did displeased the Lord; therefore He killed him also. v.7 11 Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house till my son Shelah is grown.” For he said, “Lest he also die like his brothers.” And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house. vv. 14, 26
The marriage between Er and Tamar was arranged by his father Judah. This could help explain why he was found wicked in the sight of the Lord; It could be that Er did not want to marry Tamar. In my opinion, if Er purposely emitted his semen on the ground instead of inside Tamar, so that his name would not be put out of Israel (Deut 25:6), This would be the wicked thing that Er committed in the sight of the Lord that caused God to kill him. So whenever he would lay with her, he would emit his semen on the ground and not inside Tamar, so they could produce offspring. This is what we are told his younger brother Onan did when his father told him to go into Tamar after Er died, so as to raise up an heir for his older brother Er (Deut 25:5,6) And we read in verse nine and ten that the Lord killed Onan for emitting his semen on the ground. According to the Mosaic Law (giving by God to Moses on Mount Sinai), it was an unclean thing to do when a man emitted his semen on the ground (Lev 15:16). Here we see that the Mosaic laws given to Moses, by God, on Mount Sinai, were in effect well before the Exodus. Because they (the Hebrews), were enslaved, and lived in Egypt for four hundred and thirty years, they had been corrupted and strayed away from the one true God, His ways, and started to worship other gods. The Lord Jehovah had to give them His laws all over again on Mount Sinai in order to bring them back to Him. (Exo 6-2, Ps 83:18).
12 And the days were many, and Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua died. And Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheepshearers at Timna, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. 13 And it was told Tamar, saying, “Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timna to shear his sheep.” 14 So she took off her widows garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife. vv. 11, 26
These days that were many are speaking of years that passed, by the time Judah’s wife died. for as Peter said, “One day with the Lord is as a thousand years” (2 Pe 3:8). when we go back to verse eleven Judah had told his daughter-in-law Tamar to go back to her father until his youngest son Shelah is old enough to marry her and carry on the family name. Verse fourteen reveals that Shelah was already full grown when Judah was in Timnah attending to his flock. By these verses (eleven and fourteen), we are able to determine that years have gone by from the time of his son Onan’s death, and that of his wife. Seeing that Shelah was now full grown, and of age to marry her, and Tired of waiting on Judah to remember his promise to her, Tamar decides to take matters into her own hands in regards to fulfilling the Mosaic law on marriage as described in Deuteronomy 25:5-6.
15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face. Lev. 19:29 16 Then he turned to her by the way, and said, “Please let me come into you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. So she said, “What will you give me, that you may come into me?”
Judah’s intentions were anything but noble here. He see’s what he thinks is a prostitute, not knowing that it is his daughter-in-law behind the veil. The lust of the flesh in men is strong and hard to overcome. Satan knows the weakness’s of all men, he uses these weakness’s to tempt us and pull us away from God, this is his purpose, he doesn’t want us to have a relationship with our Father above, and any chance he gets, he tugs at our heart and mind to separate us from God. In this instance though, the Lord will use this weakness in Judah to fulfill His plan for mankind, and the seed shall be passed on. God does give men the right to choose their own path in life, but make no bones about it, He will always be the one in control of all things, and His purpose will stand. The seed must live on for the sake of mankind, and like God said back in the garden, “he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” (Gen 3:15), Satan may win some battles but God will win the war, for He is a man of war (Exo 15:3).
17 And he said, “I will send a young goat from the flock.” So she said, “Will you give me a pledge till you send it?” 18 Then he said, “What pledge shall I give you?” So she said, “Your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” Then he gave them to her, and went into her, and she conceived by him. v. 25:41:42
Intertwined together (sin and righteousness), is what I see happening in these verses. The righteousness in Tamar (Gen 38:26) and the sin of Judah is being played out. Once again in his life Judah will shame himself, and his shame will follow him wherever he goes. Yet the Lord will work within this sin to fulfill His master plan of the promised seed in which all nations will be blessed (Gen 22:18). Judah did not keep his promise to Tamar, in that he told her when his youngest son Shelah were grown, he would give him to her, to marry and bare here children, according to the laws of God. Which as we see once again, were in effect, even before the law was given on Mt Sinai to Moses (Deut 25:5-6). Because Judah did not keep his word to Tamar she develops this plot to entice Judah into laying with her so she can concieve, bore a son, and in turn keep the family name alive in the house of Judah. Early on in this chapter we read were Judah selected Tamar to be the wife of his firstborn son Er,vs.6. As we also read here we can see that Tamar knows of the laws of the marriage covenant between man and woman. We do not know if Tamar is from the bloodline of Abraham, or the Israeli people, so it would be wrong to assume she is. But by her actions she does indeed know the Laws of the people of Israel, and she holds them close to her heart. It makes one wonder if the laws given to Moses during the Exodus, were known by all the people of the surrounding area during the times of the patriarchs Abraham, Isaac and Jacob? And if so it would be further proof that the laws of God were for all mankind, back then, and even still today, and not just for the Jewish people (As many would say and teach in this day and age). It would be that as God said to the Israeli people: I did not chose you because you were more in number or the fewest of all people, but because He loved them, and He would keep His oath He swore to their fathers. For God is a faithful God, who keeps His Word. They were to be a Holy people unto Him (Deut 7:6-12). Because of this, the descendants of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were given the law, and were to be an example, a light to the world, of how to live according to the word of God, and so they were held up to a higher esteem than the rest of the nations during this time, until this day and forever more Amen. Whereas the other nations (even if they knew of the laws of God), were not held in the same regard as the Israeli people, and were not given the law by God Almighty Himself, as it was given to Moses hundreds of years later for this special people.
19 So she arose and went away, and laid aside her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood. 20 And Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand, but he did not find her. 21 Then he asked the men of that place, saying, “Where is the harlot who was openly by the roadside?” and they said, “There was no harlot in this place.” 22 So he returned to Judah and said, “I cannot find her. Also, the men of the place said there was no harlot in this place.” 23 Then Judah said, ” Let her take them for herself, lest we be shamed; for I sent this young goat and you have not found her.”
There is no shame that Tamar bares for her actions, unlike Judah. She takes off her veil (A representation of Harlotry only), but not of her character. Tamar once again puts on her garments of her true person (a widow), and goes back home. Judah on the other hand takes his shame with him in the form of another man (his friend the Adullamite), Hirah (H2437, derived from H2357), as I discussed back in verse one of this chapter. In this instance Judah sends his friend Hirah (shame), in his place to give to Tamar a kid goat he pledged to her so she would lay with him, and also have his friend Hirah (Shame), bring back the pledge he gave to Tamar, being his signet and cord, and his staff, to assure Tamar he would indeed giver her what he promised. In my opinion, Hirah is representative of the shame that Judah carries with him for the sin he committed with Tamar, unknowing to him that she was his daughter-in-law, just as Hirah is also representative of Judah’s shame in the way that he dealt with his brother Joseph, by suggesting to all his brothers to sell him off into slavery. Everywhere Judah goes Hirah is with him: his shame follows him and haunts him while he is away from his father Israel. Just as we (mankind), sin, are separated from our Father above, and our shame is with us wherever we go until we repent, and confess to our Father above of our sins against him, then we will be released from the shame we carry with us. I would like to interject here one little nugget. Before I even read all of Genesis thirty eight, in my mind (I believe it was Gods spirit), shame was the first word that came to me when i read verse one in this chapter. I didn’t even realize that Judah himself would utter these same words later on in this chapter (Verse 23) or that his friend Hirah’s name is derived from the Strong’s number (H2357). I didn’t know where to go in my comments on this chapter when I first began, all I knew was the word shame had to be incorporated in the first verse and God has lead me this far into my understanding of this chapter. There is more meat to this chapter than meets the eye (The promised seed), and my Father draws closer to me, reveals His understanding to me, and I can learn so much from this chapter than I ever thought I would. You could probably make a sermon out of this one chapter, on shame, guilt, sin, and God’s love, mercy, and grace. What an awesome ! God I serve.
24 And it came to pass, about three months after, that Judah was told, saying, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the harlot; furthermore she is with child by harlotry.” So Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!” Lev. 21:9 25 When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.” and she said, “Please determine whose these are– the signet and cord, and staff.” v.18 26 So Judah acknowledged them and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” and he never knew her again. vv. 11, 14
In verse twenty four. Leviticus 21:9 is being referenced here. Leviticus chapter twenty nine speaks of the holiness and the priests of Israel. Verse nine of Leviticus states: ” And the daughter of any priest, if she profanes herself by going whoring, she profanes her father. She shall be burned with fire. ” at this time and age there was no priesthood established in Israel. Even so, to this reader, it once again appears that the law had been given to man way before the time of Moses and the recorded history of the law being established. If the law had not yet been given, then by what authority does Judah have in ordering the decree that Tamar should be burned for her sin, and the type of punishment to be given? Also, what constitutes, at this point in time, what sins are punishable by death, and not? reference Genesi 26:”5 and then edit. Is Tamar being sentenced to death for harlotry, adultery or both? The only reference we have is from the book of Leviticus! The Talmud refers to Leviticus as the “Law of the Priests,”and the Law of offerings.” So again I ask this question, was the Law given to man for the first time after the Exodus out Egypt? I say nay nay, We see the Law of offering being established in chapter four of Genesis with Cain and Able (Gen 4:3-4)Then we see the law of clean and unclean meats being referenced at the time of Noah and the flood (Gen 7:1-2), and in this instance the law of the priests is what is being referenced in verse twenty four of this chapter. Just recently ago we were given a second part of a two part sermon on how to discern the truth of God’s word in the bible, in my congregation. We were given a handout (A study guide) to help us in determining truth from half truths, to flat out lies on what God’s word actually says in His book to us (The Bible). two of the rules in this study Guide tells us #1 to determine the audience of the day (Israel,the church, Jew, Gentile… ) when reading the Holy bible, and # 2 Determine the Genre of the book or letter. (Law,Prophets, Writings, the time period…). With this in mind I have come to the following determination on my commentary here: The books of Genesis, and Leviticus were given to Moses by God Himself, as far as I know after the exodus out of Egypt, and before entering into the promised land. These verses, as well as all the scriptures in the book of Genesis were meant for the children of Israel, and the author being Moses, as told by God Himself, for the benefit of all the children of Israel back then, and all the generations to come. I believe this is why we see in many places the law being referenced, in a round about way (if you will), I also believe that the purpose is to show the children of Israel first, then the gentiles, that the law always has been (in one form or another) and always will be until all is fulfilled. (Matt 5:18).
27 Now it came to pass, at the time for giving birth, that behold, twins were in her womb. 28 And so it was, when when she was giving birth, that the one put out his hand; and the midwife took a scarlet thread and bound it on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” 29 Then it happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said, “How did you break through? This breach be upon you!” therefore his name was called Pharez. Matt. 1:3; Luke. 3:33 30 Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand. And his name was called Zerah.
Just as in the births of Esau and Jacob, Perez, and Zerah were twins, and it appears ironically enough, struggling to be the first to come out of the womb. Zerah’s hand came out first, but for some reason he drew back his hand and then Pharez (H6557) came out first. It is thru Perez that the promised seed: in which all nations of the earth will be blessed.