Genesis 38:13-20

13 When Tamar was told, “Your father-in-law is on his way to Timnah to shear his sheep,”
14 she took off her widow’s clothes, covered herself with a veil to disguise herself, and then sat down at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. For she saw that, though Shelah had now grown up, she had not been given to him as his wife.
15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face.
16 Not realizing that she was his daughter-in-law, he went over to her by the roadside and said, “Come now, let me sleep with you.” “And what will you give me to sleep with you?” she asked.
17 “I’ll send you a young goat from my flock,” he said. “Will you give me something as a pledge until you send it?” she asked.
18 He said, “What pledge should I give you?” “Your seal and its cord, and the staff in your hand,” she answered. So he gave them to her and slept with her, and she became pregnant by him.
19 After she left, she took off her veil and put on her widow’s clothes again.
20 Meanwhile Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite in order to get his pledge back from the woman, but he did not find her.

Genesis 38:13-20 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO GENESIS 38

This chapter is wholly taken up with matters relating to Judah, the fourth son of Jacob, from whom the Jews have their name, and from whom Christ sprung: it treats of his marriage with a Canaanitess, his children by her, their character and end, Ge 38:1-11; of his incest with his daughter-in-law, though unknown by him, Ge 38:12-23; of his resentment against her, when he heard she was with child, and his confusion when he found it was by himself, Ge 38:24-26; and of the birth of twins by her, named Pharez and Zarah, Ge 38:27-30.

Cross References 20

  • 1. S ver 6
  • 2. S Genesis 31:19
  • 3. ver 19
  • 4. S Genesis 24:65
  • 5. Jeremiah 3:2
  • 6. S ver 12
  • 7. S ver 11
  • 8. Judges 11:1; Judges 16:1
  • 9. Genesis 42:23
  • 10. Leviticus 18:15; Leviticus 20:12; Ruth 1:6
  • 11. Genesis 39:7,12; 2Sa 13:11
  • 12. S Genesis 30:15
  • 13. Judges 15:1; Ezekiel 16:33
  • 14. ver 20
  • 15. ver 25; 1 Kings 21:8; Esther 3:12; Esther 8:8; Song of Songs 8:6; Isaiah 49:16; Jeremiah 22:24; Haggai 2:23; 2 Corinthians 1:22; Ephesians 1:13
  • 16. S Genesis 32:10; S Exodus 4:2
  • 17. S Genesis 19:32
  • 18. ver 14
  • 19. S ver 1
  • 20. ver 17
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