Genesis 38

Judah marries a Canaanite woman who bears him three sons verse 1 &c. the first whereof he bestows on Tarmar as also after the same put to death by God the second who being likewise put to death by God he doth promise her the third 6 put not performing his promise Tamar by a subtle practice committed incent with Judah 13 and escaping the punishment thereof for his sake she bears two sons at once Perez and Zerah. 27.

1. And it came to pass at the same time [that is in the time while Jacob returned out of Mesopotamia was dwelling in the land of Canaan for here are mentioned divers things which happened some before some after the selling of Joseph but Moshe joins them together as having relation to one Patriarch and being of that nature that they might conveniently related together] that Judah went down from his brethren and turned into a man of Adullam [which was a small town about Hebron allotted afterwards the tribe of Judah Joshua 12:15 and 15.34] whose name was Hira.

2. And Judah saw there the daughters of Canaanites man whose name was sua and he look her [viz. to wife against Gods command and the good example of his primogeniture as doubtless also without if not against this fathers advice and consent see of the like matches above chapter 6.2,4 and 26.34 an d27.46] and he went into her [see above chapter 6 on verse 4.]

3. And she conceived and bears a son called Er.

4. After that she conceived again and bears a ason called Onan.

5. And she continued yet and bear a son and called his name Sela yet he was [viz. Jodah] at Chezib [the name of the place or city in the land of Canaan afterwards in the tribe of Judah not far from Adullam elsewhere called Aczib Joshua 19:29 Judah 1.31 Micah 1:14] when she bear him.

6. Now Judah took a wife for Err his first-born son and her name was Tamar.

7. But Err the first born of Judah was evil in the eyes of the LORD [that is he displeased the LORD see above chapter 21 on verse 11 for he was inclined and broke out into very gross and heinous sins which provoked gods just judgment against him compare chapter 6.11 and 10.9] therefore the LORD slew him [viz. in a such manner that by this death the just judgment of God did manifestly appear so below verse 10.]

8. Then said Judah to Onan go to thy own brothers wife and marry her in thy brothers name [the Hebrew word implies to marrty ones deceased brother widow according to the use of that time confirmed afterwards by an express law Deuteronomy 25:5,6 Ruth 1:11 Matthew 22:24 &c.] and raise seed to thy brother [for the condition of such a marriage was that the first born was to be counted the deceased brothers son.]

9. Yet Onan knowing [see the notes on the precedent verse] that this seed [that is son see above chapter 4 on verse 25] should not be for him it happened when he went into his brothers wife that he spoiled it against the ground [or defiled it &c. the Hebrew word signifying both the one and the other this was even as much as if he had in a manner pulled forth the fruit out of the mothers womb and destroyed it] not to give seed to his brother.

10. And it was evil in the eyes of the LORD that did [in the LORDs eyes in the judgment &c. Job 11. On verse 4] therefore the LORD likewise slew him.

11. then said Judah to Tamar his brother in-law abide [or sit or remain sitted or so in the sequel] widow in thy fathers house until my sons Selah grew up [making shew as if he intended to give her this son also in marriage but what follows it appears he meant no such thing] for [others but] he said [viz. by himself that is he thought thus see above chapter 20 verse 11] least perchance this die likewise as his brothers did so Tamar went and abode in her fathers house.

12. Now when many days were run by [Heb. When the days were multiplied that is after much time past when nevertheless Selah was not given to Tamar in marriage] the daughters of Sua Judah’s wife died after that Judah comforted himself [he gave over his mourning compare above chapter 37 verse 35] and went up to his sheep-shears [for in the sheep shearing time they used to make feasts and to rejoice with friends 1Samuel 25.38] untoTimna [a place not far distant from Adullah which fell afterwards to the tribe of Judah Joshua 15:57 we read likewise of another Timna in the tribe of Dan Joshua 19:43] he and Hira his friend the Adullamite.

13. They told Tamar saying behold thy father-in-law goes up to Timna to shear his sheep.

14. Then she put off the apparel of her widowhood [for widows went in very sleight and mean habits in comparison of other women.] and she covered herself with a vail and muffled herself [Tamar the better to resemble a light dishonest woman, dresses, distinguishes and masks herself in this manner sitting by the high way side, that remaining unknown she might allure and beguile her father-in-law. Compare Proverbs 7:12 and 9.14 Ezekiel 16:24,25.] and sat at the entry of the two fountains [or, of Enaim which some do hold for the name of a certain place, some render it, at the cross-way, called, as they conceive, the door of the eyes, for that on a cross way, the eyes are opened as it were, to look this way and that way] that is upon the way of Timna; for she saw that Selah was grown up and she not given to him to wife.

15. When Judah saw her and took her and held her for a whore seeing she had covered her face.

16. And he turned to her towards the way [viz. where she sat] and said: Come (I pray) and let me go in to thee; for he knew not that it was his daughter in law. And she said: What wilt thou give me to go in to me? [She demands the hire of the whore not for the gain's sake but to have something in hand to convince him afterwards with, as appears below verse 25. And Judah was so transported with the fervency of carnal lust that he knew not the voice of his daughter in law.]

17. And he said I will send thee a kid from the flock and she said if thou wilt give me pledge until you send [understand I shall be ready to yield to thee if so be thou &c. otherwise wilt thou give pledge till thou send?]

18. Then said he what pledge is it that I shall give thee? And she said thy seal ring and thy string [others Kerchief Handkerchief the Hebrew word signifies properly turned or wrested twisted twine yarn and is taken for strings laces and clothes and Kerchiefs made of such twisted threads] and thy staff that is in thy hands which he gave her and went into her and she conceived by him.

19. And she got her up and went her way and put off her vial and she put on the garments of her widowhood.

20. And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite for to take the pledge out of the woman’s hand but he found her not.

21. And he asked the people of her place [that is of the place where Tamar sat before] saying: Where is the whore that was by the two fountains [Heb. by Enaim. See above verse 14.] on the way? And they said: Here hath been no whore.

22. And he returned to Judah, and said: I have not found her, and also the people of that place said, here hath been no whore.

23. Then said Judah, let her take it for herself, lest we perhaps do grow despised. [i.e. lest we being too eager with enquiry for our goods, our committing of whoredom be discovered, which might bring us in disrepute. And it is observable that among the very Heathens and Idolaters, such as were the Adullamites, whoredom was held a vile blemish.] Behold, I have sent this Kid, but thou hast not found her.

24. And it fell out about three months after; that they told Judah, Saying; Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the whore; and lo, likewise, she is with child of whoredom: then said Judah; Bring her forth [viz. to the City-gate, to be condemned by the Magistrate there, for an adulteress, as being betrothed to my son Selah.] that she may be burnt. [Then, it seems, Adultery, was even in those times, before the law, held for a transgression worthy of death. See above cha. 20. on verse 3. Item verse 7. And 9.]

25. When she was brought forth, she sent to her father in law, for to say, By the man, whose these things are, am I with child: and she said, acknowledge (I pray) whose this Seal-ring and these strings, and this staff, are.

26. And Judah knew them, and said: She is more righteous then I, [his conscience checks him, not only, for not having kept his promise with Tamar, (which is the reason mentioned here in this verse) but likewise that wittingly he committed whoredom, and unwittingly, incest.] therefore that I have not given her to my son Selah: and he acknowledged her thenceforth no more [Heb. he continued not to acknowledge her. Of this phrase see above chapter on ver. 1.]

27. and it came to pass on the time when she was in travel; behold, then there were twins in her belly.

28. And it happened when she was in delivery, that (one) put forth the hand: and the midwife took it, and she tied a scarlet (thread) [the Hebr. Word properly signifies such stuff, as is twice dip in Scarlet color. See Exodus 25:4. And Leviticus 14:4. With the Annot.] about his hand, saying; This comes out first. [So she was persuaded he should, and prove the first born.]

29. But it happened, when he drew his hand in again, behold, then this brother came forth: and she said; How didst thou breakthrough? [i.e. how didst thou thrust forward and pass through before thy brother, to come forth into the world?] upon thee the breach is: [i.e. it is to be ascribed or imputed to thee; or, thou hast made it, for to put thy brother back, and to disappoint him of the prerogative of primogeniture, which he seemed to have gotten already. Oth. How didst thou rend the rent over thee?] and they called his name Perez. [Heb. Perets, i.e. a thorow-breach, or rent.]

30. And after that his brother came forth, about whose hand the Scarlet (thread) was: and they called his name, Zerah. [i.e. ascent, or rising up, (as that of the Sun) because he was the first that appeared at their coming forth.]