Judah – a villain turns back
Judah is instrumental in the sale of his brother Joseph to Egypt. He then goes down to Canaan. Canaan stands for love of the temptations of the world. After acting out his sexual needs on his disguised daughter-in-law Tamar, he realises his guilt and turns back. Now he is even willing to lay down his life for his brother.
Judah was a brother of Joseph who arranged for him to be sold into slavery in Egypt (Genesis 37:26f). Normally, the following fourteen chapters always focus on Joseph. But as in good feature films, there is a fascinating supporting role here – Judah. It could be the script of a current, adult soap opera.
Judah descends
«It came to pass about this time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and joined a man of Adullam, whose name was Hira»(Genesis 38:1 LU). Judah separates from his ten remaining brothers and goes his own way, down to Canaan. This is not only to be understood locally, but also spiritually. Canaan is an image of the attraction of worldly temptations: the desire to satisfy his selfish desires. It is about hedonism, seeking immediate pleasures. This is what John is talking about: «Stop loving this world and what it offers you! For he who loves the world shows that the love of the Father is not in him»(1 John 2:15).
«And Judah saw there the daughter of a Canaanite, whose name was Shuah, and took her to wife. And when he went in unto her, she conceived, and bare a son, and called his name Ger. And she conceived again, and bare a son, and called his name Onan. And she bare again a son, and called his name Shelah […].» (V.2–5 LU). The meanings of the two names of the Canaanite men mentioned are symptomatic: Hira (Jude’s friend; v.12) means Nobility and Shua is Wealth. Nobility and Wealth these are two typical representatives of this worldly guild. Judah goes his own way, and a rather godless way at that. He thus does everything that one should not do at that time and takes a wife from the wrong people. Yet Judah has a very different calling. His name means Praise God and he should continue the line of promise. Judah saw, took and went in to the daughter of Shua. This reminds us of Eve, who saw, took and ate (Genesis 3:6) – and – instead of being happy – became frustrated. In the course of time, his wife gave birth to three sons: Ger, Onan and Shelah.
Errors and confusions
«And Judah gave unto Ger his first son a wife, whose name was Tamar. But Ger displeased the LORD, and the LORD put him to death.»(V.6+7 LU). Ger was so evil that God let him die. He did not want the line of his people to continue through Ger. No one can go down an evil path with impunity in the long term. The events also cast a bad light on Judah. The latter did not protect him from the influences of the Canaanites, but let him slide into a reprehensible life.
And so Onan comes into play, who is supposed to enter into a pregnant marriage with Tamar, which was already customary at that time and was later regulated in the law (Deut. 25:5–10). Onan is to care for Tamar and carry on the family name. But Onan knew that the children from this marriage would not count as his own and that the inheritance would not go to him. Onan – also already steeped in greed, does the following: «But Onan did not want to father a son who was not his own heir. Therefore, every time he slept with Tamar, he let his seed flow on the ground»(V.9 NL). Onan does marry his sister-in-law and likes to satisfy his sexual lust, but it interrupts sexual intercourse every time before ejaculation. In our linguistic usage, the word Masturbate established itself as a synonym for masturbation. Originally, however, it meant the Coitus interruptusa contraceptive method with low safety. Onan is one like many – he satisfies his lust in a selfish way without taking responsibility. By letting his brother’s line die out, he commits a kind of fratricide. God also lets Onan die.
Judah is undiscerning and sees no failure of its own. On the contrary, he locates the problem with Tamar. «Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar: «Return to your parents» house and remain a widow until my son Shelah is old enough to marry you». For he feared that Shelah would also die like his two brothers. So Tamar returned to her parents» house and lived there.» (V.11 NL). Actually, Judah is responsible for her welfare and also to make sure that she remarries. Instead, he sends her back to her father. Judah did not trust God and take responsibility. He gave Tamar wise advice and postponed the problem until later. But it came back. His weakness and falsehood caught up with him. Judah’s wife died. After the official period of mourning, he went to another town to shear his sheep. «When Tamar was told that her father-in-law was on his way to Timnah to shear sheep, she took off her widow’s garments and covered herself with a veil. Then she sat down in front of the gate of Enajim, which is on the way to Timnah. For she knew that Shelah had grown up in the meantime, but that she had not been given to him in marriage» (V.13+14 NL). Tamar sets about putting things right. She was apparently more interested in continuing the line of Abraham than Judah. The desire of the physical instincts can be relied upon. Judah follows his unbridled sex drive and slept with Tamar without realising who she was. He obviously did this on a spontaneous whim. He did not even have any money with him. As payment, he agreed with the prostitute on a kid from his flock, which he would deliver to her later. As a pledge, Judah had to leave the signet ring with the cord and the staff. These items unmistakably point to Judah as their owner and they are a sign that it is Tamar who receives Judah’s family and inheritance. To satisfy his physical lust quickly, Judah was ready to give any pledge.
The very next day, his friend Hira (gentility) was supposed to deliver the kid. But there was no prostitute anywhere to be found at the delivery address. Three months later, Judah heard that Tamar was pregnant. A man with a strong sense of justice, he threw a tantrum and demanded that his daughter-in-law be burned for not remaining faithful. The sentence was to be carried out. But then Tamar’s brilliant move paid off. Judah was confronted with his own guilt. The prostitute turned out to be her own daughter-in-law.
Judah once deceived his father Jacob. A billy goat and a garment played a role: Joseph’s garment was dipped in the blood of the billy goat and Jacob tells that his son died at the hands of a predator. When Tamar deceives Judah, clothes and a billy goat also play a role: Tamar disguises herself as a prostitute and Judah offers her a he-goat as a reward. Judah once presented Jacob with the sign that would prove Joseph’s death and asked his father to look at it carefully. Tamar now presents Judah with the sign that proves her innocence and his guilt and asks him to look at it carefully. God leads Judah in such a way that he recognises his guilt.
We should also be attentive when we are outraged by the behaviour and guilt of other people. It may very well be that it is precisely in this that we are convicted by God of our own guilt.
Judah turns back
For Judah, this experience marks the point of his conversion. «And Judah knew it, and said, She is more righteous than I: for I have not given her unto Shelah my son. And he had no more sexual intercourse with her.»(V.26 SCHL). Judah recognises that Tamar did the right thing and was concerned about the continuation of the family. He also confesses his guilt in withholding his son Shelah from her as a husband. This probably also includes an admission of guilt before God. From here Judah develops into the true leader of his brothers. Towards the end of Joseph’s story, Judah’s transformation becomes evident. When his youngest brother Benjamin is to be arrested for theft, Judah asks for his release: «Please, my master, let me stay here instead of the boy as a slave for my master and let the boy return home together with his brothers»(Genesis 44:33 NL). The transformation of Judah is an excellent example of how God can change a life. Young Judah is selfish, dishonest and cold-hearted. The older Judah acts thoughtfully, selflessly, responsibly and is full of compassion. The young Judah delivers his brother to the knife, the older Judah vouches for his brother with his own life.
By the way, Tamar gave birth to twins. In Jesus» family tree it says: «Judah was the father of Perez and Zerah (their mother was Tamar). Perez was the father of Hezron […].»(Matthew 1:3 NL). Not only Judah, but even the Canaanite Tamar found a place in Jesus» family tree!
This story shows the triumph of grace. From fornication a holy seed is born. Judah became the progenitor of the Jews, of the lineage of David and of the Messiah. Jesus is even called the «Lion of Judah» (Revelation 5:5). God achieves his goal through all human failure. Christ, who laid down his life for you, can also make you a person who lays down his life for others.
Possible questions for the small groups
Reading the Bible text: Genesis 38
- What kind of lifestyle does Kanaan represent? How are you affected by it?
- What was God thinking when he simply let Ger and Onan die? What is the message for us in this?
- Onan and Judah only wanted to satisfy their own needs during sex. Talk to your spouse about this and how it is in your marriage!
- Judah experienced a miraculous transformation. In what does it manifest itself?
- Today, the offer for quitting pornography was presented. Would that be something for you?
