Read the Passage: Genesis 38

Listen to the Redeemed Mind Podcast: Genesis 38

Onan’s Sin (38:1–10)

Since the narrative in Genesis just turned to Joseph, who is the main character over the last fourteen chapters of this book, the fact that Genesis 38 focuses on Judah is surprising. Yet, there are at least three reasons why this chapter is included at this point in the book of Genesis. First, regarding chronology, it is likely that the events recorded in Genesis 38 simply occurred at this time. Second, while the personal and national aspects of the Abrahamic covenant are largely related to the life of Joseph, the universal aspect of this covenant eventually would be fulfilled through the line of Judah. Third, Jacob’s firstborn son Reuben had been disqualified from family leadership on account of his adultery with Bilhah (cf. Gen. 35:22). Similarly, Simeon and Levi were excluded from family headship due to their treachery in Shechem (cf. Gen. 34:25). In Jacob’s family, then, next in line for leadership was Judah.

The fact that Judah’s life would be marked by trials and immorality is alluded to in Gen. 38:1–2, as these verses report that Judah left his family and married a Canaanite woman. It is unclear why Judah left Jacob’s family; however, it is reasonable to conclude that his departure was motivated—at least in part—by guilt over his role in selling Joseph into slavery. Gen. 38:3–4 reports that Judah had three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah. Next, Gen. 38:6–10 records that Judah’s first two sons were killed by God. Er was executed for unspecified, general wickedness. Onan was then killed for rejecting his familial duty to marry his brother’s widow and to produce an heir. This process is referred to later in the Old Testament as levirate marriage and is described in more detail at Deut. 25:5–10 (cf. Matt. 22:23–33). While levirate marriage may seem strange to many modern readers, it was an important component of ancient inheritance practices.

Tamar’s Deception (38:11–23)

The age gap between Onan and Shelah is unclear; yet, at the death of Onan it appears that Shelah was too young to marry Er’s widow Tamar. Judah errantly identified Tamar as the common factor in the death of his two sons. Due to fear of losing his only remaining son, it seems that Judah never intended to allow Shelah marry Tamar; yet, he deceptively instructed Tamar, “Remain a widow in your father’s house till my son Shelah is grown” (Gen. 38:11). If Judah had released Tamar, she would have been free to marry someone else. Yet since Judah did have another son, freeing Tamar would have resulted in societal shame for Judah and his family. After an unspecified time-frame, it became clear to Tamar that Judah had deceived her, and that she would not be given to Shelah in marriage. Because having children was Tamar’s only hope of future provision, she took matters into her own hands.

Since Tamar had discerned that she would not be given to Shelah in marriage, her plan was to disguise herself as a prostitute and to deceive Judah into impregnating her. Observe that marriage to one’s father-in-law was not a component of levirate marriage. Given her circumstances, perhaps Tamar felt that this was her only option. Furthermore, having children by her father-in-law would keep Tamar in Judah’s family and it would ensure an inheritance and her own future financial well-being. Gen. 28:16–23 narrates Tamar’s interaction with Judah while he was away from his home shearing his sheep. Having disguised herself as a harlot, Tamar negotiated a price with Judah for her services and asked for his signet ring, cord (or bracelet), and staff as a pledge until he delivered a young goat to her as payment. Tamar obtained these identifying objects to use later as proof of paternity.

Judah’s Shame (38:24–30)

Just as she had planned, Tamar became pregnant by Judah. Also, as she had expected, when Judah learned of Tamar’s pregnancy, he commanded that she be executed. Tamar then produced the signet ring, cord, and staff, sent them to Judah, and said, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child . . . . Please determine whose these are” (Gen. 38:25). The signet ring, cord, and staff must have contained identifying marks, as Judah immediately admitted that they belonged to him, saying, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son” (Gen. 38:26). When the time came, Tamar gave birth to twins who were named Perez and Zerah. While the birth of these twins involved a form of incest, deception, and prostitution, Perez is a significant figure in Scripture, as ten generations after Perez, David would be born, and fourteen generation later, Jesus would arrive (cf. Ruth 4:18–22; Matt. 1:3).

Application Questions:

1. Given that the final fourteen chapters of Genesis mostly focus on Joseph, why is there a brief narrative about Judah in Genesis 38?
2. If Jacob was the inheritor of the Abrahamic Covenant, how can we explain the widespread sin among his children?
3. Since Judah had left Jacob’s family, why did God kill his first two sons? Why was levirate marriage so important?
4. Were Tamar’s actions in this passage justified? How could Tamar have handled her situation differently?
5. What does Tamar’s confidence in her plan reveal about her knowledge of Judah’s moral character?