Genesis 38:5 KJV states that Judah took a wife for his firstborn, Er, whose name was Tamar. This act of Judah fulfilling his duty to provide a wife for his son reflects the customs of the time. However, the story takes a dramatic turn when Er dies, leaving Tamar childless. Following tradition, Judah arranges for his second son, Onan, to marry Tamar and produce offspring in his brother’s name. Yet, Onan also dies, failing to fulfill his duty to provide an heir for his brother. Judah, fearing for the life of his last son, Shelah, tells Tamar to wait until he is older before she can marry him. Tamar, realizing Judah’s reluctance, takes matters into her own hands and disguises herself as a prostitute to seduce Judah and conceive a child. This action leads to the birth of twin sons, Perez and Zerah, who play a significant role in the lineage of Jesus Christ. Through these events, Genesis 38 illustrates the importance of fulfilling obligations and God’s ultimate plan for redemption.
Image by Ai Junkie
