0 - Bible Commentary | Karuna Sadan

And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. (Genesis 38:1 KJV)

In several accounts in the Bible where it states that a person “went down”, it almost always results in a troubling encounter. (Genesis 12:10; Genesis 42:3; Exodus 32). Judah going down to join Hirah the Adullamite would only spell trouble.

And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and went in to her. So she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. And she conceived yet again and bore a son, and called his name Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him. (Genesis 38:1-5)

And Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.” (Genesis 38:8)

This was done so the dead brother’s name would be carried on, but also it was so the widow would have children to support her.

The child was considered the son of the brother who died, because the living brother only acted in his place.

Hirah

Friend of Judah - An Adullamite (Genesis 38:12)

Through an ungodly and unwise marriage to a Canaanite woman, Judah fathered three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah.

Then he said, “What pledge shall I give you?” So she said, “Your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” (Genesis 38:18)

Judah's decision to leave with Tamar his signet ring, his cord, and staff is equivalent to him leaving his credit card with his pin number in her possession.

And she arose and went away and laid aside her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood. (Genesis 38:19)

A widow had special garments in those days to declare her state of mourning. I have seen widows in certain sections of society wearing black garments.

Now it came to pass, at the time for giving birth, that behold, twins were in her womb. And so it was when she was giving birth, that the one put out his hand; and the midwife took a scarlet thread and bound it on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” Then it happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said, “How did you breakthrough? This breach be upon you!” Therefore his name was called Perez. (Genesis 38:27-29)

Matthew 1:3 and Luke 3:33 each list Perez as an ancestor of Jesus the Messiah. God took the son of this ungodly situation and put him in the family line of the Messiah, despite the fact that neither Judah nor Tamar were examples of godliness.

This is a wonderful example of grace. God chose them, despite their works, to both be in the line of the Messiah and to have their role in God’s plan of redemption.

Chapter 38