11 Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar , " Remain a widow in your father's house until my son Shelah grows up"; for he thought , "I am afraid that he too may die like his brothers ." So Tamar went and lived in her father's house .

Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 38:11

Chapter Contents

The profligate conduct of Judah and his family.

This chapter gives an account of Judah and his family, and such an account it is, that it seems a wonder that of all Jacob's sons, our Lord should spring out of Judah, John 8:41. What awful examples the Lord proclaims in his punishments, of his utter displeasure at sin! Let us seek grace from God to avoid every appearance of sin. And let that state of humbleness to which Jesus submitted, when he came to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself, in appointing such characters as those here recorded, to be his ancestors, endear the Redeemer to our hearts.