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Gen 38-39

Gen 38:1-5

It came to pass at that time that Judah departed from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite whose name was Hirah. 2 And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and went in to her. 3 So she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er. 4 She conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. 5 And she conceived yet again and bore a son, and called his name Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him.

Adullam uh-duhl′uhm (עֲדֻלָּם H6355, “retreat, refuge”; gentilic עֲדֻלָּמִי H6356, “Adullamite”). A Canaanite town, situated on the route via Azekah and Soco, that controlled one of the principal passes into the hill-country of Judah from the northern Shephelah. It is first mentioned in Gen. 38:1, which states that Judah left his brothers and…The Zondervan Encyclopedia of the Bible, Volume 1, A–C, p 75
vs 1 -Judah departed from his brothers
Hirah - Adullamite friend of Judah
vs 2 - Married a Canaanite women - daughter of Shua (never says her name)
vs 3-5 - Bore three sons to Judah (Er, Onan, Shelah)

6 Then Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD, and the LORD killed him. 8 And Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.” 9 But Onan knew that the heir would not be his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother. 10 And the thing which he did displeased the LORD; therefore He killed him also.

vs 6-10 - Judah took wife for Er, his first born named Tamar
Er was wicked in the sight of the Lord, showing the depravity of the Canaanites and the consequence of intermarrying (7)
Lord killed him
Judah told Onan to go into Tamar (8)
Er died prematurely, though, because of divine judgment (Gen 38:7). The cultural practice that backgrounds this episode is that when a brother dies before having children, it is the obligation of the next oldest…
According to the pre-Mosaic levirate custom, after the death of Er, who was Judah’s firstborn and Tamar’s husband, Judah then instructed Onan, his second son, to fulfill the levirate duty by uniting with Tamar, but…
Levirate custom - the next oldest brother marries the deceased brother’s childless widow in order to provide and heir
Onan refused (didn’t want to give heir to brother) (9)
Emphasizing the depravity of the community
Displeased the Lord, killed him also (10)

11 Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house till my son Shelah is grown.” For he said, “Lest he also die like his brothers.” And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house.

Judah told Tamar to wait until Shelah came of age - the youngest
“Lest he also die like his brothers” - die without offspring

12 Now in the process of time the daughter of Shua, Judah’s wife, died; and Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. 13 And it was told Tamar, saying, “Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.” 14 So she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife. 15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face. 16 Then he turned to her by the way, and said, “Please let me come in to you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law.

So she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?”

17 And he said, “I will send a young goat from the flock.”

So she said, “Will you give me a pledge till you send it?”

18 Then he said, “What pledge shall I give you?”

So she said, “Your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him. 19 So she arose and went away, and laid aside her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood.

Judah’s wife died
Judah - went to sheepshearers at Timnah
Tamar -
hidden agenda, deception
took off widow’s garments, veil over face (14)
Issue or problem - Judah did not keep his promise to give her as wife to Shelah (his third son) once he was grown
covered face = harlot (15)
Judah - did not realize it was his daughter-in-law
Tamar - ask for something as compensation
Judah - Consented to give a goat
Tamar - asked for a pledge, a guarantee that Judah would send the goat later
Judah - gave signet, cord, and staff as a pledge in context are evidence of identity
(may have other symbolic meaning elsewhere)
Tamar - she conceived, replaced veil with widow clothes, accomplished her deception

20 And Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand, but he did not find her. 21 Then he asked the men of that place, saying, “Where is the harlot who was openly by the roadside?”

And they said, “There was no harlot in this place.”

22 So he returned to Judah and said, “I cannot find her. Also, the men of the place said there was no harlot in this place.”

23 Then Judah said, “Let her take them for herself, lest we be shamed; for I sent this young goat and you have not found her.”

24 And it came to pass, about three months after, that Judah was told, saying, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the harlot; furthermore she is with child by harlotry.”

So Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!”

25 When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.” And she said, “Please determine whose these are—the signet and cord, and staff.”

26 So Judah acknowledged them and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he never knew her again.

Judah - sought to keep his word and give the goat (20-23)
Shamed - possibly feeling guilty for what he had done (23)
Heard that Tamar was with child through harlotry (24)
Responds - let her be burned
The severity of punishment shows also the severity of the sin
Response speaks of the depravity Judah had married into; not only an act of fornication, but of idolatry.
Judah acknowledged his wrong and that Tamar was in the right, because he had not given her to Shelah as he said.

27 Now it came to pass, at the time for giving birth, that behold, twins were in her womb. 28 And so it was, when she was giving birth, that the one put out his hand; and the midwife took a scarlet thread and bound it on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” 29 Then it happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said, “How did you break through? This breach be upon you!” Therefore his name was called Perez. 30 Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand. And his name was called Zerah.

twins - similar to Jacob and Esau - Genesis 25:24–26 “So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb. And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau. Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.”
scarlet thread - signifying birth order
scarlet, crimson - 8144, shawnee
Perez - breach, is a pun on the name, because he overcame his twin (Zerah) and came out first
Despite the intentions or actions of those involved God’s plan still prevailed
Expresses of God’s Character-
Sovereignty - not swayed by man
Grace - unmerited favor
Mercy - withholding deserved punishment for sin
Perez was included art in the lineage of Joseph, Christ’s earthly father -
Confirmed in the following verses:
Ruth 4:12 “May your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, because of the offspring which the Lord will give you from this young woman.””
Ruth 4:18 “Now this is the genealogy of Perez: Perez begot Hezron;”
Matthew 1:3 “Judah begot Perez and Zerah by Tamar, Perez begot Hezron, and Hezron begot Ram.”
Luke 3:33 “the son of Amminadab, the son of Ram, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah,”
Gen 39

Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. 2 The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. 3 And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand. 4 So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. 5 So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian’s house for Joseph’s sake; and the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had in the house and in the field. 6 Thus he left all that he had in Joseph’s hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate.

Joseph-
Remember: sold by brothers to Ismaelites (Genesis 37:28) “Then Midianite traders passed by; so the brothers pulled Joseph up and lifted him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ishmaelites for twenty shekels of silver. And they took Joseph to Egypt.”
Potiphar, captain of the guard in Egypt, bought him from Ishmaelites (v 1)
Lord was with Joseph, resulting in success (blessing) (v 2)
successful - saleah 6743 - to make prosperous
In Potiphar’s house
Potiphar realized the Lord was with Joseph, made “all” he did to prosper (v 3)
Joseph found favor in Potiphar’s sight
Joseph served Potiphar (v 4)
Potiphar made Joseph overseer and authority over his house and all that he had (v 4)
The Lord blessed Potiphar’s house for the sake of Joseph - blessing on all in and out of the house (v 5)
Potiphar left all under Joseph’s authority, only knew the food he ate
Completely left everything in Joseph’s care

Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.

7 And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.”

8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. 9 There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?”

10 So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.

Because of the words, “Joseph was handsome in form and appearance.” (v 6)
Emphasizing that Potiphar’s wife was attracted to Joseph
Wife said, “lie with me” (v 7)
Joseph’s response - (reemphasizes his position and authority for Potiphar) (v 8-9)
Potiphar does not concern himself with what Joseph is doing in the house
Potiphar has committed all into Joseph’s hand
No one greater in the house
Potiphar only has kept back his own wife (emphasizing their marriage commitment)
Emphasizes - great wickedness
sin against god
Did not heed her (day by day) (v 10)
First, let us point out what Joseph did well in this whole situation:
He acknowledged the act would be sin against God
He exhibited self-control
He preserved his character and integrity
The Scripture never indicates anywhere that Joseph did anything wrong in this situation
I am going on a rabbit trail for a bit here.
The fact that he keeps returning to the house concerns me when I read this, but again there is now indication anywhere in the Bible that he ever did anything wrong regarding this situation.
Also, I can’t recall the topic of having someone in the room with you for accountability reasons specifically mentioned any where in the Bible. Witnesses are mentioned in correction, but not in this way. So I don’t think that would have been a common practice.
So, let’s bring this up to our day.
Eph 6:10-18

10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. 13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—

Recognize that it is a spiritual battle
Utilize God’s resources through His grace available to the believer
“Put ON The Whole Armor of God” -
Result - Stand against the wiles of the devil
Able to withstand in the evil day
Watchful with all perseverance
“to this end” - in view of the spiritual warfare
1 Cor 10:1-14

Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness.

6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, “The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.” 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come.

12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. 13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 14 Therefore, my beloved, flee from idolatry.

Points-
The example of the Israelites’ failure is for our warning and admonishment
Sexual immorality is connected to idolatry
Why - because it displaces God
Don’t complain
Not able to stand on our own, must rely on the Lord
Temptation is common to man
God is faithful
“tempted beyond what you are able” - if we lean on the Lord to make the way of escape and follow Him in obedience we will not be tempted beyond what we can bear
but, if we do not follow Him it will be more than we can overcome because we can’t do it on our own. That is the point.
Flee idolatry
In light of Scripture if one of us were in this specific situation:
If we handled it exactly as Joseph, would that have been best?
Would that have been considered compromise?
What might have been a better decision to above reproach and exhibit integrity?
In lieu that Joseph was above reproach why would we handle this differently? Is it society and cultural differences from the time periods?

11 But it happened about this time, when Joseph went into the house to do his work, and none of the men of the house was inside, 12 that she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand, and fled and ran outside. 13 And so it was, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and fled outside, 14 that she called to the men of her house and spoke to them, saying, “See, he has brought in to us a Hebrew to mock us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice. 15 And it happened, when he heard that I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me, and fled and went outside.”

16 So she kept his garment with her until his master came home. 17 Then she spoke to him with words like these, saying, “The Hebrew servant whom you brought to us came in to me to mock me; 18 so it happened, as I lifted my voice and cried out, that he left his garment with me and fled outside.”

19 So it was, when his master heard the words which his wife spoke to him, saying, “Your servant did to me after this manner,” that his anger was aroused. 20 Then Joseph’s master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king’s prisoners were confined. And he was there in the prison. 21 But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph’s hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing. 23 The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph’s authority, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper.

Points -
This went on for days (v 10)
But, eventually the wife caught Joseph inside with no one else around (v 11)
Fled without his outer garment (v 12)
Wife spoke lies, falsely accusing Joseph to the other men of the house and then Potiphar ( v 14-19)
“Mock” - in the sense of bringing a “Hebrew” in to take advantage of her. which is a form of mocking, scorn, or disdain. (v 14)
Potiphar believed his wife - “anger was aroused” (v 19)
Proverbs 6:34–35 “For jealousy is a husband’s fury; Therefore he will not spare in the day of vengeance. He will accept no recompense, Nor will he be appeased though you give many gifts.”
Potiphar had Joseph put in prison (v 20)
“But” - But God statement - God’s intervention (v 21)
The Lord was with Joseph
The Lord showed Joseph mercy, gave him favor in the sight of the prison keeper
Speaks of the Lord’s abundant grace and mercy
Prison keeper put everything under Joseph’s authority
Reason- because the Lord was with Joseph
because the Lord made whatever Joseph did to prosper
It was God’s Sovereign plan being carried out-
Later on we Joseph is talking with his brothers in Egypt he confirms this:
Genesis 50:20 “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.”
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