Genesis 38:24 - Exposition

And it same to pass about three months after (the usual time at which pregnancy is certainly determined), that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter-in-law hath played the harlot (or, acted as a zonah ); and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said (altogether unmindful of his own iniquity three months previous), Bring her forth, and let her be burnt . Under the law stoning was the punishment allotted to the crime of Tamar ( Deuteronomy 22:20-24 ), burning being added only in cases of excessive criminality (Le Genesis 20:14 ; Genesis 21:9 ). It is obvious that the power of life and death lay in the hand of Judah, as the head of his family.