GENESIS 38
It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and turned aside to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. 2 There Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. He took her and went in to her, 3 and she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. 4 She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. 5 Yet again she bore a son, and she called his name Shelah. Judah was in Chezib when she bore him. 6 And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord put him to death. 8 Then Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.” 9 But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his. So whenever he went in to his brother’s wife he would waste the semen on the ground, so as not to give offspring to his brother. 10 And what he did was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and he put him to death also. 11 Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house, till Shelah my son grows up”—for he feared that he would die, like his brothers. So Tamar went and remained in her father’s house. – Genesis 38:1-11
GENESIS 38 EVIL SONS OF JUDAH
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
Judah decided to leave his brothers and married the Canaanite Shua
She bore him three sons by the names of Er, Onan and Shelah
Judah took Tamar as a wife for Er but he was evil and God killed him
Onan was appointed to give a son to the widow Tamar, but he didn’t
So, God took Onan’s life as well and Judah was afraid to lose Shelah
Judah told Tamar to remain in her father’s house till Shelah grows up.
When we run from God, many consequences await us. This account tells us those two consequences resulting from Judah marrying a Canaanite, which God forbid his people to do. The firstborn Er was wicked and God didn’t give him a son by Tamar. The second son Onan who defied his father’s instruction to give Tamar a son, was likewise killed by the Lord for his action. Then, Judah feared that if Shelah married Tamar, he would die too. Interesting how he never looked at his own rebellion and put blame on Tamar instead.
REFLECTION
- Why do you think Judah suspected it was Tamar who caused his sons’ death?
