Genesis 38

Genesis 38:1

AT that time] Of Jacobs remaining in Canaan, for it should seem that this happened before, Joseph was sold, and is here inserted, to shew. Gods admirable providence, who hath caused the royall stmme of Israel, and our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh to proceed from such beginnings Adullamite] of the City of Adullam, which afterwards fell to Judah.

Genesis 38:5

Chezi] a place also called Aczib: Joshua 19:1-51. 9.

Genesis 38:7

Was wicked] the Italian, was displeasing or was wicked in Gods eyes.

Genesis 38:8

Marry her] The Italian addeth, By reason of consanguinity] This custome that the brother, or the neerest of kinne who was unmarried, should marry his brother or next kinsmans wife, which died without issue, was already brought in amongst Gods people, questionlesse by some expression from God, which was afterwards confirmed by Moses Law. Deuteronomy 25:5 Raise up] Beger issue which may beare thy deceased brothers name, and may be reputed for his: which thing, in those dayes when issue was esteemed the greatest temporall blessing, it seemeth was ordained for their comforts who died without children, as adopting hath since been used for the same nd.

Genesis 38:9

Should not be] Yet Moses Law: Deuteronomy 25:6. sets down, that the first borne only should be reputed his that was deceased, and not they which came afterward.

Genesis 38:11

For he said] Being ignorant of the true reason of his sons deaths, he sespecteth the woman, and therefore thinketh to put off the marriage, or with an intention to forsake her quite, or to take time to finde out the reason of the precedent deaths, and t〈…〉 redrsse it.

Genesis 38:14

And covered] She used this deceipt to induce Judah, who was a widdower, to take her to wie as next of kin to the deceased. See the like cunning, Rth 3:3. iunay also be that Judah his sons had no known her; which might lessen her fault, in which, whatsoever it were, she aimed chiefly to the honest end of having issue.

Genesis 38:15

Covered] Quite muffled up, which was the fashion of unchast women: Son 1:7.

Genesis 38:17

Will thou give me] Or I am content if thou wilt give me but &c.

Genesis 38:18

Thy bracelets] The Italian hath it, A scarfe, or swathe] It might be some towel, or scarfe to binde about his head according to the manner of the Easterlings.

Genesis 38:23

Be shamed] For dealing with such kind of women was infamous even amongst the infidels.

Genesis 38:24

Bring her forth] Let her be brought to dgement, to be condemned to death, as convinced of adultery, against the faith shewed unto Sla her spouse, according to the law of those days: see Deuteronomy 22:23. Now his passion would not suffer him to bethink himself how that a woman with child ought not to be put to death.

Genesis 38:26

she hath been] we are both in fault, but I more than she, having through my backwardnesse, given her cause to seek issue by me, which she should have had by my son.

Genesis 38:28

Bound] For a signe of eldership, which was so much honoured in those dayes. There may under this figure be a mystery hidden like unto that of Gen 25:26. for Pharez, from whom Christ came according to the flesh, represents him, who as the true first borne: Colossians 1:15. Hebrews 1:6. snatcheth away from the Prince of the world the advantage, and command which he pretendeth to have.

Genesis 38:29

What breach] A violent kinde of comming out: a figure that Christ cannot be borne as concerning his Kingdom, and truth, without many rends of the world.This breach] A casting manner of speech: since thou hast done the evill, thou shalt beare the continuall reproach for it, by the name of Pharez, that is breach.

Genesis 38:30

Zara] That is a sweet, and easy birth, as the snnes, and the plants &c. a figure of the facility, with which the Prince of the world planteth his Kingdome, which notwithstanding is alwayes the lesser, because he hath no share in the eternall Kingdome, which by right belongeth to the first borne.