Gen. 38 Judah marries a Canaanitish woman, who bears him three sons, Gen. 38:1–5. He marries his eldest son to Tamar, Gen. 38:6. He being wicked is slain by God, Gen. 38:7. The second son is commanded to marry her, Gen. 38:8. His wickedness, Gen. 38:9; and death, Gen. 38:10.

This story is not without difficulty, if we consider how little time is allowed for all the events of this chapter, there being not above twenty-three years between Judah’s marriage and the birth of Pharez, yea, and the birth of his sons too, Hezron and Hamul, who are said to go into Egypt with…

He married her against the counsel and example of his parents. But when Judah had committed so great a crime as the selling of his brother, and God had forsaken him, no wonder he adds one sin to another. Shuah was the name, not of the daughter, but of her father, Gen. 38:12.

Chezib; a place near Adullam, called also Achzib, Josh. 19:29, Mic. 1:14.

Wicked in the sight of the Lord, i.e. notoriously wicked. Compare Gen. 10:9, Gen. 13:13. The Lord slew him, in some extraordinary and remarkable manner, as Gen. 38:10.

This, as also divers other things, was now instituted and observed amongst God’s people, and afterwards was expressed in a written law, Deut. 25:5–6, Num. 36:6–7, Ruth 1:11, Matt. 22:24.

Two things are here noted: 1. The sin itself, which is here particularly described by the Holy Ghost, that men might be instructed concerning the nature and the great evil of this sin of self-pollution, which is such that it brought upon the actor of it the extraordinary vengeance of God, and which…

Displeased the Lord; an expression noting a more than ordinary offence against God, as 2 Sam. 11:27. This just but dreadful severity of God is noted both for the terror of such-like transgressors, and to provoke love and thankfulness to God in those whom he useth more indulgently.

At thy father’s house, whither he sent her from his house, that Shelah might not be insnared by her presence and conversation. So he dismissed her with a pretence of kindness, and a tacit promise of marriage to her, which he never intended to keep, as the following words imply; for he said; or…

In process of time, when many days had passed, and Shelah, though grown, was not given to Tamar, Judah went up unto his sheep-shearers, to feast and rejoice with them at that time, as the manner was then and afterwards. See 1 Sam. 25:36. Timnath; a place not far from Adullam; of which see Josh.

Covered her with a vail, as harlots used to do in those modester ages of the world, when they had not learnt to outface the sun, nor to glory in their villanies. In an open place, where she night be soonest discovered by passengers. This is noted as the practice of harlots, Prov. 7:12, Prov.

And was doubtless careful not to discover herself by her voice.

Thy bracelets, or handkerchief, or girdle, or any other ornament made of twisted thread, which the Hebrew word signifies. God so ordering things by his providence, that his sin might be discovered.

Note, that fornication was esteemed sinful and shameful amongst the heathens.

Bring her forth to the magistrate, from whom she may receive her sentence and deserved punishment. Judah had not the power of life and death, at least not over her, who was a Canaanite, and who was not in his, but in her own father’s house.

His guilty conscience, and the horror of so foul a fact, together with his sudden surprisal, forced him to an ingenuous confession, whereas he might have used many pretences and evasions, which would easily have prevailed with such partial judges. She hath been more righteous than I.

The midwife bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, in token of his being the first-born, which she confidently expected he would be. This breach be upon thee, be imputed to thee, as the same phrase is taken Gen. 16:5.