Genesis 38

The death of Judah’s first two sons (vs. 1-10)—This is an absolutely fascinating chapter which, at first reading, might cause one to wonder why it is even in the Bible. What’s the point? Well, there is a very valuable point and I’ll discuss it before I’m through. We don’t know exactly when “at that time” was (v. 1), but almost certainly not right after the selling of Joseph into slavery. Remember, exact chronology is not always important to ancient writers. But, for the chronology to fit, Judah was probably no more than 15 or 16 years old. He leaves his family, finds a Canaanite woman, and marries her. She bore three sons—Er, Onan, and Shelah. Er, via Judah’s arrangement (v. 6), married a woman named Tamar. “But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD killed him” (v. 7). So Judah told Onan, “Go in to your brother's wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother” (v. 8). But Onan didn’t want to do it, and “therefore [the Lord] killed him also” (v. 10). So Judah had lost his first two sons.  There's a purpose behind the Lord killing these two men; He doesn't just capriciously kill people He doesn't like.

Tamar’s deception (vs. 11-23)—Now, remember, Tamar is the wife involved with Er and Onan. Judah had the third son, but he wasn’t of marriageable age yet, so Judah told Tamar to stick around and when Shelah was old enough, she could have him for a husband. So she did.

Well, Judah’s wife died, so she wasn’t going to give him any more sons. Tamar then works up a scheme, “for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife” (v. 14). Judah had gone to a place called Timnah to shear his sheep. Tamar followed him, and covered herself with a veil. Judah saw her, thought she was a harlot, and asked if he could go in to her. She inquired what the payment would be, and he said “I will send a young goat from the flock.” Well, okay, Tamar replied, but “will you give me a pledge till you send it?” (v. 17). So Judah gave her his signet and cord, and his staff (v. 18). He went it to her, and apparently she didn’t remove her veil because Judah never recognized her. But she conceived (v. 19). Judah did send the goat but Tamar was long gone. It’s probable that he didn’t think much of it besides the fact he got to keep his goat.

Tamar’s child (vs. 24-30)—Or children, actually, because she gave birth to twins, though only one is important. She started showing her pregnancy in about three months and Judah was appalled that she had played the harlot. “So Judah said, 'Bring her out and let her be burned!'" (v. 24). As far as Judah was concerned, she was the wife of Shelah, his third son, though she had not been given to him yet. But, in Judah’s eyes, what Tamar had done was commit adultery, thus she should be put to death. Tamar replied, “’By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.’ And she said, ‘Please determine whose these are--the signet and cord, and staff’" (v. 25). Judah knew he had been had, but he also recognized that he had been unfair to Tamar by not giving his third son to her as he had promised. So he didn’t put her to death.

Well, six months later, Tamar gives birth to twins. The oldest was named Perez and the youngest Zerah. And that’s the end of the chapter.

So what does it all mean? A rather sordid tale of wicked sons, a debauched father-in-law, and his daughter-in-law whom he gets pregnant when she pretends to be a prostitute. The point is Perez. Dear reader, remember: what is the theme of the book of Genesis, yea, the whole Old Testament? Correct—Christ is coming. Now, we’ve been so engrossed with the interesting stories over the past few chapters that that theme may have slipped our minds. Let’s review. What’s the Messianic line? Adam-Seth-Noah-Shem-Arphaxad-Abraham-Isaac-Jacob….the latter has 12 sons. Through whom is the Messiah going to come? Well, we don’t actually learn that until Genesis 49:10, and then later; but David and Jesus come from the line of…Judah. But not through Er. Not through Onan. And not through Shelah. Perez, the oldest son of Judah by Tamar, is the son of Judah through whom Christ will descend. This whole chapter is perfectly in harmony with the entire premise of Genesis and the Old Testament—Christ is coming. And that’s the whole purpose of chapter 38—the convoluted, and indeed, wicked means through which that child was born.

The mind and ways of God never, never cease to astonish me.