Genesis 38:12-34 ESV

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:20

And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite ,.... Who went with him to Timnath, and was privy to all this wickedness, and kept the secret; but would have acted the more friendly and faithful part had he dissuaded him from it: him he employed to carry the kid he had promised, and not any of his servants, for the greater secrecy: and to receive his pledge from the woman's hand ; his signet, bracelets, and staff, or whatever they were: but he found her not ; she... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:21

Then he asked the men of that place ,.... Or "of her place" F4 אנשי מקמה "viros loci ejus, scil mulieris", Piscator, Schimdt. , of the woman's place, supposing that she dwelt somewhere thereabout: saying, where is the harlot that was openly by the wayside ? that sat there very publicly some little time ago: the word for "harlot" F5 הקדשה comes from another, which signifies to sanctify or separate to holy uses; and harlots were so called, either by an antiphrasis, by... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:22

And he returned to Judah, and said, I cannot find her ,.... That is, the Adullamite returned to him, and informed him that he could not find the harlot to whom he was sent to deliver the kid and receive the pledge, after he had made the strictest inquiry for her he could: and also the men of the place said, that there was no harlot in this place ; by which it appears, that near the place where Tamar was, there was a town or city, and which was so free from such infamous persons, that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:23

And Judah said, let her take it to her ,.... The pledge, and make no further inquiry after her: lest we be shamed ; Judah for committing fornication, which even among Heathens, at least at that time of day, was reckoned a shameful action; and be laughed at also, for committing such a pledge to an whore, who had tricked him out of it; and his friend Hirah for conniving at the sin, and being employed on such an errand: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her : who could... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:24

And it came to pass about three months after ,.... The above affair happened, and when the pregnancy of Tamar began to be somewhat visible, as it does in women with child about that time: that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot : her being with child being observed by some of the family, or her neighbours, and knowing that she did not cohabit with Shelah, who, according to custom, ought to have been her husband, concluded that she had had a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:25

When she was brought forth ,.... From her father's house, not to the place of execution, or in order to be burnt, but to the court of judicature, in order to take tier trial: she sent to her father in law, saying, by the man whose these are , am I with child; she sent a messenger to him, and by him the signet, bracelets, and staff, be they what they may, she had received from him as a pledge for the kid he promised her; and ordered the messenger to say, at the same time he showed... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:26

And Judah acknowledged them ,.... He knew them, and owned them to be his: and said, she hath been more righteous than I ; he means, not with respect to the sin of uncleanness committed by them, in which she was the greatest criminal; she sat not only in the way to tempt him to it, but she knew who he was, and wilfully committed incest with him; whereas he thought and knew of nothing else but simple fornication; but with respect to the affairs in connection between them: she had on her... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:27

And it came to pass in the time of her travail ,.... When her time to bring forth was come, and her pains were on her, and her midwife with her: that, behold, twins were in her womb ; which the midwife could discover before the birth of either. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:28

And it came to pass when she travailed ,.... Her birth throes came strong and quick upon her: that the one put out his hand ; which showed that she was like to have a difficult and dangerous time of it; that the birth was not like to be according to the usual and natural order, which may be considered as a correction for her sin: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying , this came out first ; she tied this to his wrist, that she might know whose... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:29

And it came to pass as he drew back his hand ,.... Into the "uterus" again: that, behold, his brother came out ; out of his mother's womb, and so was properly born first: and she said ; either Tamar, or rather, her midwife: how hast thou broken forth ? it was astonishing to her how it could be, having never met with the like in her practice before; she could not imagine how it was possible for him to come forth first, when his brother lay in the way of him, and nearest the birth,... read more

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:20

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:21

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:22

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:23

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:24

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:25

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:26

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:27

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:28

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:29

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