DAILY READING
| 9/19 (M) | 9/20 (T) | 9/21 (W) | 9/22 (R) | 9/23 (F) | 9/24 (Sa) | 9/25 (Su) |
| Gen. 38:12-19, 24-26 | Ruth 4:9-17 | Num. 23:18-26 | Num. 24:2-9, 15-17 | Rev. 4 | Rev. 5 | Gen 49:8-12 |
SCRIPTURE
It came about while Israel was dwelling in that land, that Reuben went and lay with Bilhah his father’s concubine, and Israel heard of it. Now there were twelve sons of Jacob— the sons of Leah: Reuben, Jacob’s firstborn, then Simeon and Levi and Judah and Issachar and Zebulun; the sons of Rachel: Joseph and Benjamin; and the sons of Bilhah, Rachel’s maid: Dan and Naphtali; and the sons of Zilpah, Leah’s maid: Gad and Asher. These are the sons of Jacob who were born to him in Paddan-aram. -Genesis 35:22b-26
Now it was about three months later that Judah was informed, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar has played the harlot, and behold, she is also with child by harlotry.” Then Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!” It was while she was being brought out that she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “I am with child by the man to whom these things belong.” And she said, “Please examine and see, whose signet ring and cords and staff are these?” Judah recognized them, and said, “She is more righteous than I, inasmuch as I did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not have relations with her again. -Genesis 38:24-26
“The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes, And to him shall be the obedience of the peoples. “He ties his foal to the vine, And his donkey’s colt to the choice vine; He washes his garments in wine, And his robes in the blood of grapes. “His eyes are dull from wine, And his teeth white from milk. -Genesis 49:10-12
ONLINE COMMENTARY
QUESTIONS
Reuben was caught in sin with his father’s concubine, Bilhah (Gen. 35:22). What were the consequences of Reuben’s sin?
Judah was caught in sin with his daughter-in -law, Tamar (Gen. 38:1-26). What were the consequences of Judah’s sin?
Jacob prophesied that the scepter would pass to Judah and not to Reuben. Why do you think this happened?
How do you think God sees this?
What does this say for us?
This reading was very good. But I do have a question? “Judah” told his second son Onan to marry “Tamar” his brother’s widow and raise up children for his dead brother Er (see Genesis 38:8). Realizing that the child would not be his but his dead brother’s, whenever Onan had intercourse with his “Tamar” he would spill his seed on the ground to prevent conception so that he would not have a child for his brother (see Genesis 38:9).
. Then “Judah” told “Tamar” to go stay with her father and remain a widow until his youngest son Shelah was old enough to marry her (see Genesis 38:11).
(Judah)not knowing that she was his daughter-in-law (see Genesis 38: 15-16).
It’s interesting that “Judah” called for the death of “Tamar” because of her presumed immorality when he was the one who got her pregnant. However, the truth was about to come out. ( The truth wasn’t out yet when he made the call for death)
“Judah” said that Tamar “hath been more righteous than I,” he was not absolving her of her actions which were deceptive and immoral.“Judah” was saying, “she was right and I was wrong because I didn’t give her my son Shelah like I promised.”
“Judah” was already guilty of fornication, so to have sexual intercourse with his daughter-in-law again would make him guilty of incest as well.
This is brings up my question about incest. Tamar was only a daughter-in-law, not a blood daughter. What was the difference between her having intercourse with her father in law after having been married to and having intercourse with her brother in law & waiting for another brother in law to grow up? I understand everything thing else but just me saying, it appears from what I’ve read, he did fornicated , but he had been deceived as to whom he was with. Just like prior family members. I agree with what you’ve said, Me, I would also add that he felt guilty of lying by breaking his promise to give a son. He wanted other seeds, he got want he wanted just not how he wanted it. Just like Sara & Abraham. You’re right as to who Hod choose’s to use.
In order to understand what is happening in the passage you must understand the ideas of marriage in the days of Judah, Er, Tamar and Onan which were at the very least cultural norms.
Foremost of all, it had been established from the beginning that when a man got married (lit. “took a woman for a wife”) that they were supposed to be one flesh. A father had no right to violate that principle. A man’s brother could take his sister-in-law for a wife only under specific conditions for a specific purpose – the man must have died without an heir. It was the brother’s obligation to sire an heir through his brother’s wife so that his brother’s family line could continue.
This is precisely the situation that Er the son of Judah, Tamar his wife, and Onan & Shelah his brothers found himself in. Judah, Onan and Tamar each played a part in the mess which followed, but Judah (and by involvement Tamar) broke the “one flesh” principle by having sex with his daughter in law. Onan followed the levirate marriage custom (described above) but spilled his seed in willful violation of the custom. Tamar set Judah up. Judah got tricked, but Judah was ultimately responsible, which is reflected later in Judaic Law (Leviticus 18:1-18)
By the way, this story probably explains the reason why Deuteronomy 25:5-10 was codified into Mosaic Law.
Thank you for sharing Pastor Randy. I like to join in in Sunday school if I’ve studied the lesson. I feel lost if I can’t join in and answer questions that are asked, I get more out of it when I participate.
I’m glad you like it! We are changing our study of the International Sunday School Lesson so that 1.) we can participate more and 2.) we can get more out of it.
Stay tuned for more developments. Keep reading! Keep studying! Keep asking questions!!!
So far, based off what I read, it looks like the consequences of Ruben’s sin is that he lost his status as the first born, which could mean an extra portion of his father’s inheritance and maybe more, and in addition his role of leadership. Thanks for the post and I will continue to read on and try to answer the following questions.
One of the questions that I have right now, is this:
How does sin (personal) interfere with a person being able to live out to what God has planned for his/her life? Also, I noticed that in both cases of Judah and Ruben, sexual immorality seemed to be involved as the common thing. Is there something to that?
Thanks
Another thought that I have, is that it seems that there are many stories in the Old Testament where either the first son blows the mission or is not chosen, but a second son or a later child gets the nod. I made me think of Jesus, where he is referred to as the second Adam. Do you think these scriptures were a prelude to God’s plan of salvation, where he unites his creation through Jesus Christ his son.