Genesis 38:2-12

2 There Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua; he married her and went in to her,

3 and she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er.

4 Again she conceived and bore a son, and she called his name Onan.

5 Yet again she bore a son, and she called his name Shelah. She was in Chezib when she bore him.

6 And Judah took a wife for Er his first-born, and her name was Tamar.

7 But Er, Judah's first-born, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him.

8 Then Judah said to Onan, "Go in to your brother's wife, and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother."

9 But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so when he went in to his brother's wife he spilled the semen on the ground, lest he should give offspring to his brother.

10 And what he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD, and he slew him also.

11 Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, "Remain a widow in your father's house, till Shelah my son grows up" --for he feared that he would die, like his brothers. So Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.

12 In course of time the wife of Judah, Shua's daughter, died; and when Judah was comforted, he went up to Timnah to his sheepshearers, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.

Genesis 38:2-12 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 38

This chapter is wholly taken up with matters relating to Judah, the fourth son of Jacob, from whom the Jews have their name, and from whom Christ sprung: it treats of his marriage with a Canaanitess, his children by her, their character and end, Ge 38:1-11; of his incest with his daughter-in-law, though unknown by him, Ge 38:12-23; of his resentment against her, when he heard she was with child, and his confusion when he found it was by himself, Ge 38:24-26; and of the birth of twins by her, named Pharez and Zarah, Ge 38:27-30.