17 And he said, H559 I will send H7971 thee a kid H5795 H1423 from the flock. H6629 And she said, H559 Wilt thou give H5414 me a pledge, H6162 till thou send H7971 it?
And Judah H3063 sent H7971 the kid H1423 H5795 by the hand H3027 of his friend H7453 the Adullamite, H5726 to receive H3947 his pledge H6162 from the woman's H802 hand: H3027 but he found her H4672 not.
They give H5414 gifts H5078 to all whores: H2181 but thou givest H5414 thy gifts H5083 to all thy lovers, H157 and hirest H7809 them, that they may come H935 unto thee on every side H5439 for thy whoredom. H8457
And it came to pass about three H7969 months H2320 after, that it was told H5046 Judah, H3063 saying, H559 Tamar H8559 thy daughter in law H3618 hath played the harlot; H2181 and also, behold, she is with child H2030 by whoredom. H2183 And Judah H3063 said, H559 Bring her forth, H3318 and let her be burnt. H8313 When she was brought forth, H3318 she sent H7971 to her father in law, H2524 saying, H559 By the man, H376 whose these are, am I with child: H2030 and she said, H559 Discern, H5234 I pray thee, whose are these, the signet, H2858 and bracelets, H6616 and staff. H4294
Take H3947 his garment H899 that is surety H6148 for a stranger: H2114 and take a pledge H2254 of him for a strange woman. H5237
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible » Commentary on Genesis 38
Commentary on Genesis 38 Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
CHAPTER 38
Ge 38:1-30. Judah and Family.
1. at that time—a formula frequently used by the sacred writers, not to describe any precise period, but an interval near about it.
2. And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite—Like Esau [Ge 26:34], this son of Jacob, casting off the restraints of religion, married into a Canaanite family; and it is not surprising that the family which sprang from such an unsuitable connection should be infamous for bold and unblushing wickedness.
8. Judah said unto Onan … marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother—The first instance of a custom, which was afterwards incorporated among the laws of Moses, that when a husband died leaving a widow, his brother next of age was to marry her, and the issue, if any, was to be served heir to the deceased (compare De 25:5).
12. Judah … went up unto his sheep-shearers—This season, which occurs in Palestine towards the end of March, was spent in more than usual hilarity, and the wealthiest masters invited their friends, as well as treated their servants, to sumptuous entertainments. Accordingly, it is said, Judah was accompanied by his friend Hirah.
Timnath—in the mountains of Judah.
18. signet, &c.—Bracelets, including armlets, were worn by men as well as women among the Hebrews. But the Hebrew word here rendered "bracelets," is everywhere else translated "lace" or "ribbon"; so that as the signet alone was probably more than an equivalent for the kid, it is not easy to conjecture why the other things were given in addition, except by supposing the perforated seal was attached by a ribbon to the staff.
24. Bring her forth, and let her be burnt—In patriarchal times fathers seem to have possessed the power of life and death over the members of their families. The crime of adultery was anciently punished in many places by burning (Le 21:9; Jud 15:6; Jer 29:22). This chapter contains details, which probably would never have obtained a place in the inspired record, had it not been to exhibit the full links of the chain that connects the genealogy of the Saviour with Abraham; and in the disreputable character of the ancestry who figure in this passage, we have a remarkable proof that "He made himself of no reputation" [Php 2:7].