ESV Global Study Bible :: Footnotes for Genesis 38

Gen. 38:1–30 The shocking account of Judah’s relationship with Tamar, which interrupts the story of Joseph in Egypt, fulfills an important role in Genesis by providing a record of Judah’s family line. The chapter concludes with a birth account in which a firstborn twin is pushed aside by his younger brother, Perez. The royal line of David—and therefore of Jesus Christ—will come from Perez. Although this chapter shows Judah at his worst, it also provides the background for the remarkable transformation in his life seen later in Genesis.

Gen. 38:1–2 A sense of danger is suggested through Judah’s separation from the rest of his family, his friendship with Hirah (a native of the Canaanite city of Adullam), and his marriage to a Canaanite woman. In Genesis, marriages to Canaanites are never viewed in a positive light (see 24:3; 26:34–35; 28:1).

Gen. 38:6–7 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.

Gen. 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 Deut. 25:5–10. It plays an important role in the book of Ruth (Ruth 1:11–13; 4:1–12). Judah is eager that Tamar should have a son to continue the firstborn line of Er.

Gen. 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 a son born to Tamar would reduce the importance of his own family line and his share of Judah’s inheritance.

Gen. 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.

Gen. 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 Josh. 15:57).

Gen. 38:13–14 Having waited for Judah to fulfill his promise regarding Shelah (v. 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 entrance to Enaim, hoping to meet her father-in-law.

Gen. 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 contributed to his assumption (Jer. 3:2 links “waysides” with prostitution).

Gen. 38:16–18 Tamar’s request, What will you give me . . . ? recalls Judah’s refusal to give her Shelah.

Gen. 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 Deut. 23:17; Hos. 4:14).

Gen. 38:24–26 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.

Gen. 38:27–30 With its focus on the identity of the firstborn, this birth account suggests that something significant will happen among the descendants of Perez.