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James Burton Coffman

Coffman Commentaries on the Bible - Genesis 38:3-5

"And she conceived and bare a son; and he called his name Er. And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his name Onan. And she yet again bare a son, and called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare him."It is of interest that Judah named Er, but that his wife named the other sons. Morris gave the names this meaning: "Er means watcher; Onan means strong; and the meaning of Shelah is not known."[11] None of these first three sons of Judah was destined to receive the... read more

Thomas Constable

Expository Notes of Dr. Thomas Constable - Genesis 38:1-11

Levirite marriage (the marriage of a man to his deceased brother’s wife to provide his brother with an heir) was a common custom in the ancient Near East at this time (Genesis 38:8-10). [Note: de Vaux, pp. 37-38. See Mathews, Genesis 11:27-50:26, pp. 705-10, for an excursus on levirate marrage.] It was common also in Asia, Africa, and other areas, but it evidently originated in Mesopotamia. The Mosaic Law did not abolish it but restricted it in Israel to preserve the sanctity of marriage (cf.... read more

John Dummelow

John Dummelow's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 38:1-30

The History of JudahThe sins recorded in this chapter testify eloquently to the great need the world had of the Greatest of the descendants of Judah, who came to teach the virtue of purity and the sanctity of family life. The honesty and truthfulness of the historian are shown in his not concealing the dark spots in the history of Judah, whose descendants attained to such greatness. The direct purpose of the narrative is to show the ancestry of David, who was descended from Pharez the son of... read more

Arno Clemens Gaebelein

Arno Gaebelein's Annotated Bible - Genesis 38:1-30

CHAPTER 38 Judah and Tamar 1. Judah’s marriage to the Canaanitish woman (Genesis 38:1-2 ) 2. His sons: Er, Onan and Shelah (Genesis 38:3-5 ) 3. Tamar married to Er and Onan (Genesis 38:6-10 ) 4. Tamar waiting for Shelah (Genesis 38:11 ) 5. Her deception and Judah’s sin (Genesis 38:12-16 ) 6. The birth of Pharez and Zarah (Genesis 38:27-30 ) Historically this chapter comes before the thirty-seventh. The higher critics are one against the other in their unbelieving speculations over... read more

L.M. Grant

L. M. Grant's Commentary on the Bible - Genesis 38:1-30

The story of Joseph is interrupted in this chapter to expose the shamefulness of an important part of Judah's history. We have seen that Judah took the lead in selling Joseph as a slave. In fact, in every relationship of Judah his shame and dishonor is evident. He sold his brother, he deceived his father, he married a Canaanite wife, he had both his sons killed by the Lord for wickedness, he deceived his daughter-in-law when promising his son Shelah to her, then had two sons by the same... read more

James Gray

James Gray's Concise Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:1-30

JOSEPH ’S HISTORY DISPENSATIONAL ASPECT OF JACOB’S HISTORY Following F.W. Grant in the Numerical Bible, the life of Jacob gives as its lesson the story of that discipline by which the Spirit of God brings us from weakness to power, from nature’s strength to that wholesome weakness in which alone is strength. But for this, natural strength must be crippled, which is provided for in two ways: in allowing us to realize the power of another nature (Esau) and in the direct dealing of God with our... read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Genesis 38:1-3

See 1 Chronicles 2:3 ; Numbers 26:19-20 . Reader! observe here the general feature of last since the fall. See Genesis 6:4; Genesis 6:4 . read more

Robert Hawker

Hawker's Poor Man's Commentary - Genesis 38:4-5

Chezib means a lie, deceit. It was a little village. Joshua 15:44 ; Micah 1:14-15 . read more

Paul E. Kretzmann

The Popular Commentary by Paul E. Kretzmann - Genesis 38:1-11

The story of Judah, Shuah, and Tamar v. 1. 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. After the episode with Joseph, Judah separated himself from his brothers and moved down from Hebron, which is in a mountainous region, toward the southeastern plains, pitching his tent near the town of Adullam and entering into friendly relations with a man by the name of Hirah. v. 2. And Judah saw there a daughter of... read more

Johann Peter Lange

Lange's Commentary on the Holy Scriptures: Critical, Doctrinal and Homiletical - Genesis 38:1-30

SECOND SECTIONJudah’s temporary separation (probably in sadness on account of the deed). His sons. Thamar. Genesis 38:1-301And 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 [noble, free]. 2And Judah saw there the daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah [cry for help]; and he took her, and went in unto her. 3And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er [עֶר, watcher]. 4And she... read more

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