genesis-38:11-30

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 38:1-11

Here is, 1. Judah's foolish friendship with a Canaanite-man. He went down from his brethren, and withdrew for a time from their society and his father's family, and got to be intimately acquainted with one Hirah, an Adullamite, Gen. 38:1. It is computed that he was now not much above fifteen or sixteen years of age, an easy prey to the tempter. Note, When young people that have been well educated begin to change their company, they will soon change their manners, and lose their good education.... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 38:12-23

It is a very ill-favoured story that is here told concerning Judah; one would not have expected such folly in Israel. Judah had buried his wife; and widowers have need to stand upon their guard with the utmost caution and resolution against all fleshly lusts. He was unjust to his daughter-in-law, either through negligence or design, in not giving her his surviving son, and this exposed her to temptation. I. Tamar wickedly prostituted herself as a harlot to Judah, that, if the son might not,... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 38:24-30

Here is, I. Judah's rigour against Tamar, when he heard she was an adulteress. She was, in the eye of the law, Shelah's wife, and therefore her being with child by another was looked upon as an injury and reproach to Judah's family: Bring her forth therefore, says Judah, the master of the family, and let her be burnt; not burnt to death, but burnt in the cheek or forehead, stigmatized for a harlot. This seems probable, Gen. 38:24. Note, it is a common thing for men to be severe against those... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:11

Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law ,.... After the death of his two sons, who had successively married her: remain a widow at thy father's house till Shelah my son be grown : who was his third and youngest son, though perhaps not more than a year younger than Onan; but he might not choose he should marry so soon as his brethren had done, for a reason following: according to the custom and law of marrying a brother's wife, who died without issue, she in course was to be the wife... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:12

And in process of time the daughter of Shuah, Judah's wife , died ,.... Shuah was his wife's father, who was a Canaanite, Genesis 38:2 ; what her name was is not certain, nor the exact time of her death; it was some time after Tamar was sent home to her father's house; and some take the death of Judah's wife to be a correction and reproof to him for his ill usage of his daughter-in-law, in neglecting to give her to his son, or not designing to do it at all: and Judah was comforted ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:13

And it was told Tamar ,.... By some of her neighbours, or by some of Judah's family: saying, behold, thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep ; which might be told her as an indifferent thing, without any design in it; but she took notice of it, and it gave her an opportunity she wanted. read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:14

And she put her widow's garments off from her ,.... By which it appears that in those times and countries it was usual for widows to have a different apparel from others, especially in the time of their mourning, as it has been since in other nations, and with us at this day, and which is commonly called "the widow's weed": and covered herself with a veil, and wrapped herself ; in it, or in a cloak, or some such like garment, which the Arabs now call "hykes"; this she did that she might... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:15

When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot ,.... By her posture and the place she was in: because she had covered her face ; with her veil, that he did not know her; for this is not given as a reason why he took her to be an harlot; the reason of this was, because she sat in the public road; but having covered her face he could not discern who she was, and therefore, from the other circumstance, concluded that she was an harlot, and sat there to prostitute herself to any that... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:16

And he turned unto her by the way ,.... Which led to her; he turned out of the way in which he was to that where she sat; and very probably it was at some little distance from the way, and therefore he turned aside to it, his lust towards her being excited at the sight of her; perhaps he left his friend Hirah the Adullamite, and sent him on his way, while he committed the following crime: and said, go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee ; that is, lie with her: for he knew not... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:17

And he said, I will send thee a kid from the flock ,.... Either from Timnath, where his flock was shearing, or rather from Adullam, where he lived; since it is probable he was now returning from Timnath, where he had been feasting and making merry with his shearers, and so in a disposition to commit such an action: and she said, wilt thou give me a pledge, till thou send it ? she made no objection to the hire or present, only required a pawn, or security for it till she had it; and... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 38:1-11

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 38:12-23

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Genesis 38:24-30

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:11

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:13

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:14

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:15

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:16

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Genesis 38:17

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