The Beginning and Meaning of Everything that Matters Outline Setting: 38:1-5 Judah marries a Canaanite woman, who bears three sons… What’s going on in this chapter? This chapter is both (seemingly) oddly-placed and hard to read—the story’s primary setting is the abuse and misuse of a young woman, along with her response of deceiving her father-in-law. This chapter does, however, on closer inspection relate to prior passages and passages to come—Joseph’s death is identified by his robe, and Judah’s action is identified by his possessions (chs. 37, 38); Joseph goes down to Egypt, and Judah goes down from his brothers (chs. 38, 39); Dinah is defiled in an interlude story, and Tamar is abused and misused in an interlude story (chs. 34, 38); Isaac is deceived by Jacob’s deception, and Judah is deceived by Tamar’s deception (chs. 27, 38); a gentile woman gives Judah a son, Perez, and a gentile woman gives Boaz a son, Obed (Gen 38 and Ruth); Judah gets mad, then repents, and David gets mad, then repents (Gen 38 and 2 Samuel 11-12). This chapter ends up raising numerous questions—with Joseph in Egypt, who will surface as the leaders of the brothers? how will the line (seed) of Israel continue beyond Jacob, especially when Judah and his sons are less than faithful? who demonstrates practical loyalty to the covenant relationship, and whose word overcomes significant threats? This chapter includes themes that are familiar throughout Genesis—the wickedness of man, selfishness, not caring for one’s brothers (family), a father’s (ir)responsibility, the consequences of affections, decisions, and actions, who proves more righteous than others, (not) keeping one’s word, whose reputation proves laughable though they sought the opposite, the blatant hypocrisy of God’s people, the younger and older brothers, etc. Remember, since Genesis 3:15, we’ve been wondering who will end up being the ‘seed’ promised to crush the serpent’s head, and how will God bring about the fulfillment of His word? Judah leaves his brothers and threatens the covenant relationship, but he is humbled in the process and God’s promise of descendants remains intact. Genesis 38:1-5 Genesis 38:6-11 Genesis 38:12-19 Genesis 38:20-26 Genesis 38:27-30 Recounting the line of Judah through Tamar, through Perez, etc. Tamar, a Canaanite (Gentile) womanecounting the line of Judah through Tamar, through Perez, etc.… Judah, compared to Joseph… Judah’s development… God’s election… Judah Tamar God