Part 17  Book of Genesis

 

 

Judah and Tamar

38.1-5 After the selling of Joseph, Judah left his brothers and saw a Canaanite woman, the daughter of Hirah, named Tamar, and married her. They have three sons; Er, Onan, and Shelah.

38.6-11 As time passed Judah got a wife for Er his first born son. The Lord was not pleased with Er and took his life. Then Judah said to Onan, Er’s brother, that he should join with his brother’s wife, Tamar, and do his duty and provide offspring for his brother. But Onan, knowing the offspring would not count as his own, let his seed go to waste whenever he joined with his brother’s wife. This was displeasing to the Lord and Onan died. Then Judah said to Tamar she should live at his house until the youngest son grows up and he will do his duty. Judah was afraid his youngest might die like the other two.

The duty in question is explained in Deut 25.5-10. If a man dies childless his brother is obligated to marry the widow and her first son is reckoned to be her first born and receive her husband’s name and keep the family line going. Onan was reluctant because he would have to expend his own resources to support the child, who is legally not his, and as heir to his first born brother, would displace him in the line of inheritance to boot.

38.12-19 Now when Judah’s third son, Shelah was of age, he and his father went to Timnah to shear some sheep. Tamar was told they were coming and took off her widow’s garb and put on a veil and went out to meet them. She knew Shelah was of age but she had not been given to him in marriage yet. When Judah passes her by on the road he thinks she is a harlot and asks her to sleep with him. She asks what he is willing to pay and Judah offers a kid from his flock. She tells him until the kid arrives she wants collateral. He agrees to leave his seal and cord along with the staff he carried. The have relations and Tamar conceives by him. She returns to her abode and puts on her widow’s garb.

Here we once again see deceit where a kid is involved. This goes all the way back to Jacob deceiving his father Isaac to give him the birthright when he wore a disguise. Here Tamar is disguised. The family is reaping what they sow.

38.20-23 Judah sends a friend to retrieve his collateral but the friend cannot find the “harlot”. He asks the townspeople where the harlot is, but they don’t know of any harlot that works around there. The friend reports back to Judah and Judah decides to forget about getting his staff, seal, and cord as he doesn’t want the community to know about this. He has sent the kid, but she wasn’t there so he felt the incident was over and done.

38.24-26 About three months later Judah is told that Tamar has played the harlot and is with child. Judah is angry and demands that she be burned to death. As she is being brought out she says she is pregnant by “the man whose things these are” as she hands over the staff, seal, and cord to Judah. When Judah sees them he says that she is more righteous than he is as he confesses he did not give her his son Shelah to keep her line alive. Judah is not intimate with her again.

Tamar is considered justified in Judah’s eyes and gives Tamar leniency in the matter as the line of his son Judah is now preserved. Give Judah credit for not being angry and vindictive in the matter. He was acting in a humble manner.

38.27-30 When time came for Tamar to give birth there are twins in the womb. While in labor one of them stuck out his hand and the midwife tied a red thread around the hand to signify that he came out first, but the child withdrew his hand and the other one came out first. The midwife said, “What a breach you have made for yourself!” So he was named Peres. Afterwards his brother with the red thread came out and he was named Zerah (brightness).

This story is similar to the birth of Jacob and Esau. It is from Peres that King David and Jesus were descended from (Ruth 4.18-22). We have a wonderful God who is no respecter of persons. All who are willing to receive Him will He welcome into the God family!

Joseph in Potiphar’s house

39.1-6 When Joseph is taken into Egypt he is sold to Potiphar, a courtier of Pharaoh and his chief steward. The Lord is with Joseph and everything he sets his hand to in Potiphar’s house bears fruit. Of course, Potiphar is pleased and takes a liking to Joseph and put everything concerning his home and business into Joseph’s charge. All Potiphar had to be concerned about was what he ate when he got home! Joseph was a fine looking man.

39.7-10 After a time Potiphar’s wife became attracted to Joseph and wants to have sex with him. Joseph refuses and tells her that he will not do such a thing as her husband has withheld nothing from him but her, because she is his wife. He tells her he will not do such a wicked thing before God. She continues to sexually harass Joseph day after day.

Joseph is showing his strong character in this difficult situation. He has matured from the days of bragging about his dreams to his brothers. Potiphar is experiencing blessing from God’s chosen.

39.11-18 One day as Joseph was going about his work she caught hold of Joseph’s garment and urged him to lie with her. Joseph fled outside and Potiphar’s wife kept hold of his garment. She then called to her servants and accused Joseph of trying to rape her. When her husband came home she scolded him for bringing such a Hebrew into the house. She tells him Joseph tried to rape her and fled when she screamed.

39.19-23 Potiphar is furious so he has Joseph put in prison. Soon Joseph is the head of all the prisoners as the chief jailer took a liking to him and put him in charge. The chief jailer soon did not have to supervise anything as Joseph saw to it and the Lord blessed all he did.

Joseph has been put in a difficult situation but we don’t see him complaining or whining to the Lord. He is trusting the Lord by doing his job as best as he can. Even in prison he is given the status of being in charge of the prisoners.

Joseph the dream interpreter

40.1-8 Some time later the cupbearer and baker of the Pharaoh gave offense to their ruler and they were put in the same prison as Joseph. One night both of them had a dream, each with it’s own meaning. When they saw Joseph the next morning they were distraught and Joseph asked them why. They told him they had dreams and no one was able to interpret them. “Surely God can interpret them,” Joseph said. “Tell me the dreams.”

Dreams have become a big part of Joseph’s life and how God speaks to him. His first dreams where interpreted by his brothers and father. Now Joseph has developed the ability to interpret the dreams of others with the help of God.

40.9-15 The chief cupbearer tells his dream: He saw a vine with three branches that bloomed and brought forth grapes which he takes and presses the juice into Pharaoh’s cup, placing the cup into Pharaoh’s hand. Joseph tells him the three branches are three days and that in three days Pharaoh will pardon him and restore him to his position. Joseph then asks the cupbearer to remember him and tell Pharaoh so as to free him from prison. Joseph tells him he has done nothing wrong and is a kidnapped Hebrew.

If you are a person who feels the Lord speaks to you in dreams it would be good to study the dreams Joseph and Daniel interpreted for clues on what the symbols in dreams mean.

40.16-19 The chief baker is encouraged by the cupbearers positive interpretation and tells Joseph him dream: He saw three open baskets on his head filled with food for Pharaoh and birds were in the basket eating the food. Joseph tells him the three baskets are three days and that in three days Pharaoh will lift off the baker’s head and impale him on a pole and the birds will eat his flesh!

40.20-23 After three days Pharaoh had a birthday party for himself and called for the cupbearer and the chief baker. He then restored the cupbearer and impaled the chief baker just as Joseph had interpreted. The chief cupbearer forgot about Joseph.


Next: Part 18