38:1 And it came to pass at that time, that a Judah went down
from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite,
whose name [was] Hirah.
(a) Moses describes the genealogy of Judah, because the
Messiah should come from him.
38:2 And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite,
whose name [was] Shuah; b and he took her, and went in
unto her.
(b) A relationship which nonetheless was condemned by God.
38:8 And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife,
and marry her, and raise c up seed to thy brother.
(c) This order was for the preservation of the stock, since
the child begotten by the second brother would have the
name and inheritance of the first: a practice which is
abolished in the New Testament.
38:11 Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, d Remain a
widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown:
for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his
brethren [did]. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's
house.
(d) For she could not marry in any other family so long as
Judah would retain her in his.
38:16 And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray
thee, let me come in unto thee; (for he e knew not that
she [was] his daughter in law.) And she said, What wilt
thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me?
(e) God miraculously blinded him so that he could not know
her by her voice.
38:20 And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his f friend the
Adullamite, to receive [his] pledge from the woman's hand:
but he found her not.
(f) That his wickedness might not be known to others.
38:23 And Judah said, Let her take [it] to her, lest we be g
shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found
her.
(g) He fears man more than God.
38:24 And it came to pass about three months after, that it was
told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played
the harlot; and also, behold, she [is] with child by
whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be
h burnt.
(h) We see that the Law, which was written in man's heart,
taught them that adultery should be punished with
death, even though no law had been given yet.
38:26 And Judah acknowledged [them], and said, She hath been i
more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to
Shelah my son. And he knew her again k no more.
(i) That is, she ought rather to accuse me than I her.
(k) for the horror of the sin condemned him.
38:29 And it came to pass, as he l drew back his hand, that,
behold, his brother came out: and she said, How m hast
thou broken forth? [this] breach [be] upon thee: therefore
his name was called Pharez.
(l) Their heinous sin was signified by this monstrous
birth.
(m) Or the separation between you and your brother.
