38:1 at that time This phrase connects the events of ch. 38 with the events of ch. 37—the selling of Joseph into slavery.

a certain Adullamite A city located in the Judaean lowlands.

38:2 a certain Canaanite Marriage with Canaanites was discouraged among the Israelites: Abraham insisted that Isaac not marry a Canaanite (Gen 24:3); Isaac and Rebekah objected to Esau’s marriages with foreigners and forbade Jacob to marry outside the clan (27:46–28:1). The law later forbade intermarriage with Canaanites, because of the risk of foreigners leading the Israelites into idolatry (Deut 7:1, 3). Compare note on Gen 12:6.

38:5 Chezib A reference to Achzib, a city southwest of Adullam.

38:6 Judah took a wife for Er This describes the customary mode for marriage in a patriarchal culture: the father chooses a bride for his son (see 21:21, 24).

was Tamar The only other occurrences of this name in the ot appear with reference to women in David’s family (2 Sam 13:1; 14:27).

38:7 evil The Hebrew word used here, ra', is a reverse of the consonants used in Hebrew for Er’s name; this creates a wordplay. Er’s offense or precisely how he died is unknown.

38:8 perform the duty of a brother-in-law to With the death of Er, his brother, Onan, became responsible for providing children to Onan’s wife. This custom is known as levirate marriage and is described in Deut 25.

38:9 offspring would not be for him This comment reveals the motives for Onan’s selfish actions (compare note on Gen 38:8).

whenever An indication that this was a repeated offense.

as not to give offspring to his brother Onan’s actions were also an offense against the deceased Er; culturally, they would be viewed as resulting in the disappearance of Er’s name.

38:11 Stay a widow It is unclear whether Judah knew the nature of Er’s offense, but he may have known why Yahweh killed Onan. The two deaths seem to discourage him from pursuing another partner for Tamar. This put Tamar in a desperate situation, as her livelihood would have depended on a husband or sons.

38:12 sheepshearers The springtime shearing of the sheep included feasting and celebration (1 Sam 25:11, 36; 2 Sam 13:23).

38:13 to shear his sheep Judah, a widower, does not expect Tamar to leave the camp. Tamar uses Judah’s negligence to gain power over him.

38:14 the clothes of her widowhood Tamar’s garments were cultural indicators of her status. It is unknown what these garments consisted of or how long they were worn.

veil This description, along with other passages, makes it clear that Israelite women were not normally veiled (see Gen 24:65). Tamar’s veil was not worn for the purpose of modesty; she wanted to conceal her identity.

38:15 she had covered her face The narrator conveys that had Judah known the identity of the woman, he would not have had sexual relations with her (v. 16; compare v. 26).

38:17 I will send a kid from the goats Judah has nothing to pay the presumed prostitute, which confirms that he has acted impulsively.

you give a pledge Tamar asks for collateral in lieu of the goat. She deliberately asks for something personal that would identify the man with whom she is dealing. Judah thinks nothing of it, as he does not consider her one who could humiliate him.

38:18 your seal Likely a cylinder seal. A cylinder seal is a small, oval-shaped object upon which a personal sign or name was engraved. When rolled over clay, an impression was created. They were often hollowed out in the center, which enabled them to be carried on a cord around the neck. Tens of thousands of cylinder seals are known from archaeological excavations.

staff The Hebrew word used here, matteh, can mean either “staff” or “scepter.” Depending on the context, matteh can serve as a symbol of leadership or royal power (Isa 14:5; Psa 110:2). Numbers 17:2 notes that tribal leaders in Israel had their own staff. Judah’s staff was likely personalized in some way.

38:19 put on the garments of her widowhood Tamar returns to her former life and conceals her deception. At the right time, she will reveal what has occurred.

38:21 that cult prostitute The Hebrew term used here is typically used of a woman in the service of a deity or temple.

38:23 we be laughed at In ancient Near Eastern culture public shame was to be avoided at all costs (see Gen 38:17 and note). A male in a prominent family who was outwitted by a lowly prostitute would be disgraced.

38:24 let her be burned Since Tamar was waiting for someone to fulfill the obligation of levirate marriage (see note on v. 8), any willful preempting of that obligation on her part was viewed as adultery—a capital offense (see Lev 20:10; Deut 22:22).

38:26 She is more righteous than I Judah knows he is the guilty party and confesses—sparing Tamar’s life. She gives birth to twins, one of whom (Perez) appears in the lineage of Jesus (Matt 1:3; Luke 3:33).

38:27 twins were in her womb Compare the birth of Jacob and Esau (Gen 25:24–26).

38:28 tied a crimson thread on his hand An indicator of birth order.

38:29 a breach you have made The Hebrew word used here, perets, is a pun on the baby’s name Perez (perets).

Symbolic Names of People in Hebrew Table

38:30 Zerah This name means “shining” or “brightness,” which is probably an association with the crimson (or scarlet) thread tied to his wrist.