Genesis 38

Genesis 38:1-11

B-See Chaff about 1798 down mourning to his grave. Note, (1.) Immoderate love is generally punished with immoderate grief. I never see the doaning affection of a parent, but I tremble for the idol child. (2.) Obelinate sorrow is very sinful, as it reflects on God’s goodness. (3.) Many of our hatred grays are as imaginary as Jacob’s was. Joseph still lives, though a bond-man in Egypt, in the house of Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s; and disagreeable as his lot is call, blefles God it was no worse. Note, It is good to remember, how much worse it might have been with us, as a means to reconcile us to every trial. In this whole chapter, we have in Joseph a type of the belowed son of God, sent of his father, rejected of his brethren, sold by another Judas, and stript of his feamless corn, whilst they cry, Come, let us kill him. To all this, and more, he submitted for us men, and our salvation. C H A P. XXXVIII. This chapter gives us an account of Judah and his family, and such an account it is, that one would wonder, that of all Jacob’s sons, our Lord should spring out of Judah, Heb. vii. 14. But God will show that his choice is of grace, and not of moral, and that Christ come into the world to give sinners, even the chief, and is not ashamed to be allied to them. We have in this chapter, 1. Judah’s marriage and life, and the untimely death of his two vilely sons, ver. 1—11. 2. Judah’s704 with his daughter-inlaw, Tamar, inquisite, ver. 12—23. 3. His confession when it was discovered, ver. 24—26. 4. The birth of his twin sons, in whom his family was built up, ver. 27, ad finem. 1 Chron. 6. 5. b Numb. new. 19. Numb. new. 19. d Numb. new. 19. Deut. xx. 5. Heb. Wm and in the arm of the Sons. 1. AND it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. 2. And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Cananite whose name was ‘Shelah’; and he took her, and went in unto her. 3. And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name ‘Er. 4. And she conceived a gain, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan. 5. And she yet again conceived, and bare a son; and called his name ‘Shelah’; and he was at Cheath, when she bare him. 6. And Judah took a wife for Er his first-born, whose name was Tamar. 7. And ‘Er Judah’s first-born was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD flew him. 8. And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto ’thy brother’s wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother. 9. And Onan knew that the seed should not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother’s wife, that he failed it on the ground, left that he should give seed to his brother. 10. And the thing which he did, displeased the LORD: wherefore he flew him also. 11. Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter-in-law, Remain a widow at thy father’s house, till Shelah my son be grown; (for he said, Left peradventure he die also as his brethren did:) and Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house. Jacob is still more unhappy in his children. We have here, 1. Judah’s ill conduct. He leaves his brethren, and gets a Cananite friend, one Hirah: had connections for young people are very dangerous: Evil communication corrupt good munner. There he meets a Cananitish woman, and marries her. How many a youth hath been thus trepanned by idle comparations, into a scandalous marriage, not only to the wounding of their conscience, but to the ruin of their future peace? How much wiser they who consult their parents, and make them their friends. 2. Judah by his wife has three sons; and, as might be expected, they partook more of the wickedness of Canaan, than the ways of Israel. He had married young and hastily himself, and seems to have committed the same fault with his children. Er, his eldest, notoriously wicked, was quickly slain. God sometimes makes, even here, monuments of his vengeance. Onan, in duty bound to raise up seed unto his brother, ahuled his own body to prevent it, and God flew him also on the foot. Note, Those sons which dishonour the body, if not visited by immediate judgments, are often in their issue, the cause of untimely death. Judah afraid of the like visitation, with held his youngest for a season, and sent Tamar to live a widow in her father’s house. Note, Forced continence is a dangerous thing; they that must not marry, will burn. Hence, all the abominations of convents and nunneries. Heb. The four were malleys. 12. ¶ And in process of time, the daughter of Shuah Judah’s wife died: and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheep-shearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. 13. And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold, thy father-in-law goeth up to Timnath, to bear his sheep. 14. And she put her widow’s garments off from her, and covered her with a veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath: for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife. 15. When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because she had covered her face. 16. And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee (for he knew not that she was his daughter-in-law) and she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me? 17. And he said, I will send thee a kid from the flock: and she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou fend it? 18. And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that is in thine hand; and he gave it her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him. 19. And she arose and went away, and laid by her veil from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood. 20. And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive for pledge from the woman’s hand: but he found her not. 21. Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Where is the harlot that was speedy by the way side? And they said, There was no harlot in this place. 22. And he returned to Judah, and said, I cannot find her; and also the men of the place said, sent there was no harlot in this place. 23. And Judah said, Let her take it to her, left we be ashamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou halt not found her. Before Christ about 1798. S. Jung, 2014. Heb. The four of eyes, 11 of Easjog Heb. A kid of the guns. Go to Easjog. Heb. Shecome a contompt.

Genesis 38:12-23

They who have not the gift of continence, should marry. We have here a shocking instance of the danger of fleshly lusts. 1. Tamar’s wicked policy to enslave Judah. She had been kept in expectation of Shelah, but he was not given her; therefore on a day of festivity, when Judah’s heart was open with wine and feasting on his shearing day, she exposed herself as an harlot, in an open place, and too getomely succeeded. Strange to think! from such a woman Jesus descends. Surely, it was to shew, that the vileft need not despair. 2. Judah’s infamous lewdness. Though ignorantly guilty of incest, yet vile enough to turn in thus to a common frumpet; such lessons he had learnt from his bad friend Hirah. He makes a scandalous purchase of these stolen pleasures, and with equal folly pledges his jewels for the payment. Note, (1.) They who buy a momentary enjoyment of their lusts, by everlasting tornents in hell, will be found to have made a foolish bargain indeed. (2.) When men are violently fat on the gratification of their passions, they act as if infatuated, and expose themselves to every reproach. 3. His disappointment on sending the promised kid. The harlot is gone, and his jewels lost. However, he defists from farther enquiry, left his own shame should come out. Note, (1.) Most men are more concerned about their shame, than their sin: least we be ashamed, weighs more with them, than least we be damned. (2.) The day will come however, when their folly shall be manifest unto all men, and everlasting shame shall cover the face of the laxious. 24. ¶ And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter-inlaw hath played the harlot; and also behold, she is with child by whoredom: and Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt. 25. When she was brought to forth, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, By the man whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose are these, the signet and bracelets, and staff. 26. And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son: and he knew her again no more. 27. ¶ And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that behold twins were in her womb, 28. And it came to pass when she travelled, that the one put out his hand; and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first. 29. And it came to pass as he drew back his hand, that behold, his brother came out; and she said, How hast thou broken forth? this breach be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez. 30. And afterwards came out his brother that had the scarlet thread upon his hand; and his name was called Zarah.

Genesis 38:24-30

Go wherefore hast those with this breach spend that I i.e. A breath. 1 Chron. 6. 6. Mat.1. 5. Before Child 17th.

None usually so severe in the punishment of others, as those who, whilst they indulge the time fine, would keep up an opinion of their own innocence. We have here,

1. Judah’s raft judgment on Tamar’s crime. Let her be disqualified, or burnt in the forehead, that her son and shame may appear unto all men. Or perhaps, let her be burnt to death, and so get rid of her, that he may marry him in a mother. Note, Malice against men’s persons, often puts on the cloak of zeal against their sins.

2. Tamar’s vindication of herself, to Judah’s shame and conviction. The breaches are produced, and Judah is confounded. Note, Secret sins are often blown, and even here so before unto judgment. Judah pleads guilty, acknowledges her leath in fault; and, grieved at his conduct, dismisses her without punishment, and resolves to know her no more. Note, (1.) They have a right to our compassion, whom we have been the means of leading into sin. (2.) There cannot be true penitence for sin, without an entire forsaking it.

3. The fruit of this incessant commerce. Two sons, Pharce and Jacob, like Elon and Jacob, they struggled in the womb; Pharce prevailed, and got the birthright: they are distinguished in our Lord’s genealogy. He who came to face the chief of sinners, didain’d not the nearest alliance with them.