Hello! Welcome to today’s bible study on Genesis 38 where we will read about Judah and Tamar. According to Bible scholars, the events of Genesis 38 took place in 1898 B.C. approximately.
I encourage you to turn to Genesis 38 in your Bible. Kindly invite the Holy Spirit to guide you as you read and study Genesis 38. I mention this in all the Bible Studies because it is only through the Holy Spirit that we get fresh revelation and knowledge to understand the word of God. No one else can teach you better than the Holy Spirit Himself. I am using the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible, just in case you want to know.
In the Bible Study on Genesis 37, we read about Joseph’s dreams and how he was sold to the Ishmaelites by his brothers, and he ended up at Potiphar’s house. In Genesis 38, we will read about Judah and Tamar.
Backstory on Genesis 37: Joseph had two dreams and shared his dreams with his brothers and father. His brothers envied Joseph because he was their father’s favourite. On hearing his dreams, they hated him all the more. One day, when Joseph went to check on his brothers under his father Jacob’s instructions, they planned to kill him and later changed their minds and sold him to Ishmaelite traders who were on their way to Egypt. Joseph ended up at Potiphar’s house who was a captain of the guard of Pharaoh. Meanwhile, Jacob believed that Joseph was devoured by a wild beast on the way and mourned for him and was inconsolable.
Without any further delay, let us study together Genesis Chapter 38, shall we?
Genesis 38 Summary
Judah left his eleven brothers and visited an Adullamite named Hirah. There, he saw and married a Canaanite woman named Shua. She conceived and bore three sons: the eldest being Er, then Onan, and Shelah. These three sons were born at Chezib to Judah.
Judah took Tamar as a wife for his firstborn, Er. However, the Lord killed Er because he was wicked in the Lord’s sight. Judah then advised his second son, Onan, to marry Tamar and perform his brother’s duties. However, Onan also behaved wickedly in the sight of the Lord, and therefore the Lord killed him too. Judah then sent Tamar to her father’s house because his youngest son, Shelah, was too young to be married to her.
After Judah’s wife, Shua, died, he went to Timnah with his friend Hirah. Tamar, who was promised to Judah’s son Shelah but was not given to him, disguised herself with a veil and waited for Judah on the way to Timnah.
Judah encountered a woman on the road and mistook her for a prostitute. Unaware that she was his daughter-in-law, he propositioned her. She asked for a pledge, and he promised to send a young goat from his flock. She requested his signet ring, cord, and staff as collateral until he sent the goat. Judah agreed and gave her the items. As a result, she became pregnant by Judah. Afterwards, she left, put on her widow’s clothing, and went on her way.
Judah sent the young goat he had promised to Tamar through his friend Hirah, but he couldn’t find her. He was told that there was no harlot in that place, according to the men of the town. Later, Judah received news that Tamar had conceived and was three months pregnant. He wanted to burn her because of her sin, not realizing that she was the woman he had slept with and that he was the father.
They brought her out to be burned, but she sent word to Judah with the pledge that he gave her. She said that the child belonged to the man to whom the pledges belonged. Judah acknowledged them and admitted that she had been more righteous than him because he did not give her in marriage to his youngest son Shelah even after he became an adult. After that, he never had any relations with her again.
Tamar had conceived twins by Judah. When the first twin came out, the midwife put a scarlet thread on his hand to identify him as the firstborn. However, the second twin suddenly pushed his way through and came out first. He was named Perez because he broke through his brother. The one with the scarlet thread, who was supposed to have been born first, was called Zerah.
Genesis 38 Commentary
1. Genesis 38:13-18
Tamar was well aware of what she was doing. She, seemingly, wanted revenge because she was not given in marriage to Judah’s youngest son. Her actions were not morally right, in my opinion. She could have simply gone to her father-in-law, Judah, and reminded him of his promise of marrying her to his youngest son, Shelah. Instead, she took matters into her own hands and, out of human folly, decided to play the harlot with Judah knowing fully well that he would lay with her thinking that she was a harlot. In short, she deceived Judah.
2. Genesis 38:26
It’s important to consider Judah’s declaration that Tamar had been more righteous than him. It makes one wonder if he forgot about giving his younger son in marriage to Tamar when he reached adulthood or if he intentionally kept his son away from Tamar, even after he reached adulthood, thereby breaking his promise to her, especially since his other two sons who laid with her already died.
3. Geness 38:28-29
The order of birth of the twins, Perez and Zerah, is interesting. Twin births seem to have been a common occurrence in biblical families where one was chosen to be a vessel for God and His purposes and the other was not. This was the case with Jacob and Esau (Twins) as well. Jacob was chosen as God’s vessel whereas Esau was chosen for Israel’s adversity.
Genesis 38 Lessons
1. God uses human frailty ultimately to accomplish His purposes
Even though Perez was born out of harlotry because Judah’s daughter-in-law Tamar played the harlot with him literally, God used Perez and his family line to bring forth Jesse and then King David, King Solomon up to Joseph (Mary’s husband). It was from this tribe that the Messiah Jesus was born to redeem mankind. Jesus was born sinless.
Judah himself sinned by marrying a Canaanite woman, Shua, whom he shouldn’t have married because she had no covenant with God. Tamar bore twins to Judah who had a covenant with God. Judah inherited the covenant of his father Jacob, his grandfather Isaac, and great-grandfather Abraham. Therefore, God was able to use the line of one of the twins, Perez, to accomplish His will in this tribe.
Had Tamar borne Perez to one of Judah’s sons, God wouldn’t have been able to use that lineage because Judah’s sons were born out of marriage to a Canaanite woman who had no covenant with God. Canaanites were pagan worshippers and did evil in the sight of the Lord. They had no part in the Abrahamic covenant.
2. God times the birth of every human
The order of birth of Perez and Zerah was no coincidence. God caused Perez to be the firstborn and then used his family line in the tribe of Judah eventually until the birth of Jesus. Through Genesis 38, we look at the compassion of God on mankind and how He orchestrates things and turns around every evil for good to accomplish His plans and purposes on the earth. He does all this because of the deep love He has for us to eventually redeem us through His son Jesus Christ also called as the Lion of the Tribe of Judah.
Conclusion
This concludes the bible study lesson on Genesis 38. I hope you enjoyed this free bible study and found it helpful in your Bible study journey. Feel free to share it with others. Also, share your thoughts about it and what the Holy Spirit has revealed to you about Genesis 38. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. I will get back to you as soon as I can.
What are your thoughts about Genesis 38?
Until next time!