Genesis 36 - 38 Summary

Genesis chapters 36-38 diverge from the main narrative of Jacob and his sons to provide genealogical and narrative interludes. Here's a summary:

Genesis 36: The Descendants of Esau:

This chapter provides a detailed genealogy of Esau's descendants, focusing on the kings and chiefs of Edom.

It lists the various clans and tribes that descended from Esau, establishing their lineage and territories.

This chapter serves as a genealogical record, tracing the lineage of Esau, who is also known as Edom. It is a break from the narrative of Jacob and his sons.

Genesis 37: Joseph Sold into Slavery:

This chapter returns to the story of Jacob's sons, focusing on Joseph.

Joseph, Jacob's favored son, has dreams that suggest he will rule over his brothers, which fuels their jealousy.

Jacob gives Joseph a richly ornamented robe, further provoking his brothers' envy.

Joseph's brothers plot to kill him, but Reuben intervenes, suggesting they throw him into a cistern instead.

While Reuben is away, the brothers sell Joseph to a group of Ishmaelite traders who are traveling to Egypt.

The brothers then deceive Jacob by dipping Joseph's robe in goat's blood and presenting it to him, leading him to believe that Joseph has been killed by a wild animal.

Genesis 38: Judah and Tamar:

This chapter interrupts the Joseph narrative to tell the story of Judah and Tamar.

Judah marries a Canaanite woman and has three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah.

Er marries Tamar but is wicked, and God kills him.

According to levirate marriage custom, Onan is supposed to father a child with Tamar to continue Er's line, but he refuses, and God kills him as well.

Judah tells Tamar to wait until Shelah grows up, but he does not intend for Shelah to marry her.

Tamar disguises herself as a prostitute and sits by the roadside.

Judah, unaware of her identity, sleeps with her, and she becomes pregnant.

When Judah learns that Tamar is pregnant, he orders her to be burned.

Tamar reveals that Judah is the father by producing his signet ring, staff, and cord, which he had given her as payment.

Judah acknowledges that Tamar is more righteous than he. Tamar then gives birth to twins, Perez and Zerah.

In summary, these chapters provide a genealogical record of Esau's descendants, introduce the pivotal event of Joseph's sale into slavery, and present the morally complex story of Judah and Tamar. These chapters serve to provide important back ground information, and to move the story foward.