A Help for the Understanding of the Holy Scriptures, Genesis · Chapter 38 – Chapter 40
CHAP. XXXVIII.
Verſ. 1. ANd it came to paſſe at that time, &c.]
It is very hard to determine of what time this is meant, when Judah went to his friend Hirah the Adullamit…, that is, that dwelt in Adullam, a city mentioned Joſh. 19. 35. and ſo by his means married the daughter of Shuah the Canaanite; and that becauſe it is evident that from the time of Joſephs being ſold into Egypt unto the time of Jacobs going down thither to him, there were but three and twenty years at the moſt (for he was ſold at ſeventeen years old, chap. 37. 1. Joſeph being ſeventeen years old was feeding the flock, &c. from which time till he was exalted in Pharaohs Court, there were but thirteen years, chap. 41. 46. And Joſeph was thirtie years old when he ſtood before Pharaoh King of Egypt, &c. to which if we adde the ſeven plenteous years that were in Egypt after his exaltation, and the two years and upwards, that were ſpent of the famine, ere Joſeph ſent for his father and his family, chap. 45. 6. For theſe two years hath the famine been in the land, &c. this will make up, at the time of his coming into Egypt, about three and twenty years: and yet it muſt needs be yielded, that all theſe things, related in this chapter, were done before Jacob removed out of Canaan into Egypt, and how they could be done within the compaſſe of ſo few years, it may ſeem very queſtionable. Some Expoſitours hold, that theſe words, And it came to paſſe at that time, muſt be ſtrictly taken, with reference to that which went before, in the former chap…, …o wi…, that Judah did this in that very year or thereabout when Joſeph was ſold into Egypt, and that 1. becauſe the words are ſo expreſſe that, at that time, Judah thus married; neither can there be any probable reaſon given why the relation of thoſe things that concern Joſeph ſhould be broken off to inſert theſe things concerning Judah, but onelyonly this, becauſe preſently upon the ſelling of Joſeph Judah made this marriage with the daughter of Shuah; 2. Becauſe till Joſeph was ſold into Egypt, Judah dwelt amongſt his brethren, and therefore, as is likely, it was after this that he went aſide and matched himſelf with the daughter of Shuah the Canaanite: And that all theſe things here related, concerning Judah and his children, might well be within the compaſſe of three and twenty years, they ſhew thus, to wit, 1. That Judah might marry and have his three ſonnes, Er, Onan, and Shelah by his wife, the daughter of Shuah, in the firſt three years after Joſeph vvas ſold into Egypt; 2. That Er might be marriedto Tamar when he vvas ſixteen years old, & Onan alſo the following year, vvhichwhich was towards the latter end of the ſeven plenteous years in Egypt, about eighteen years after Joſeph was ſold thither; and 3. That in the five following years Tamar might by Judah, as is here related, conceive with child, and bring forth Pharez and Zarah, a little before their going into Egypt. And whereas it may be objected that Pharez had two ſonnes, Hezron, and Hamul, vvhen Jacob vvent dovvn into Egypt, Gen. 46. 12. The ſonnes of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul: to this they anſwer, That Hezron and Hamul are there reckoned amongſt thoſe that vvent dovvn vvith Jacob into Egypt, not becauſe they were then born, but becauſe they vvere of Jacobs family in Egypt, vvhileſt Jacob vvas yet living: Thus, I ſay, ſome Expoſitours underſtand this place, that Judah married this Canaanites daughter (contrary no doubt to his father Jacobs mind, who vvas himſelf ſtrictly forbidden to marry amongſt them by Iſaac) that very year that Joſeph was ſold into Egypt. But 2. becauſe Hezron and Hamul are ſo expreſly reckoned amongſt thoſe that vvent dovvn vvith Jacob into Egypt, Gen 46. 12. therefore many Expoſitours, yea the moſt, conceive that theſe vvords, And it came to paſſe at that time, muſt not be taken ſtrictly, that Judah married thus at that time, vvhen Joſeph was ſold into Egypt; but that it vvas done about that time, that is, ſay they, at Jacobs firſt coming into the land of Canaan, vvhen he left his uncle Laban: and the ground of this their opinion is this, becauſe Jacobs coming from Laban (vvhichwhich vvas when Joſeph vvas ſix years old, as is evident if vve compare Gen. 30. 25. And it came to paſſe when Rachel had born Joſeph, that Jacob ſaid unto Laban, Send me away, &c. give me my wives and my children for whom I have ſerved thee, and let me go, &c. vvith Gen. 31. 40. Thus have I been twenty years in thy houſe: I ſerved thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and ſix years for thy cattel, &c.) vvas but eleven years before Joſeph vvas ſold into Egypt, & conſequently not above foure & thirty years at the moſt ere Jacob vvent dovvn thither to Joſeph; all vvhichwhich time vvill be ſtrait enough, if not too little, for all theſe things to be done in that are here related, and for the birth of Ezron and Hamul, the ſonnes of Pharez, vvho are reckoned amongſt thoſe that vvent dovvn vvith Jacob into Egypt: for though Judah married the daughter of Shuah about tvvo years after their coming into Canaan (and yet vvas he then but thirteen years old, as being at the utmoſt but five y…ars older then Joſeph) and had by her Er, Onan, and Shelah, in the three next years after his marriage; and though he then married Er, his eldeſt ſonne, to Tamar, vvhen he vvas alſo but thirteen years old, vvhichwhich vvas ſixteen years after their coming into Canaan, three years at leaſt after Joſeph vvas ſold into Egypt, to this if you adde but three years for the death of Er, the marriage and death of Onan, the going home of Tamar to her fathers houſe, Judahs inceſt with her▪ and the conception and birth of her tvvo twinnes Pharez and Zarah, the fruit of that inceſt, and then fifteen years more ere Pharez could be marriageable, and have thoſe his two ſonnes Hezron and Hamul, who are numbred amongſt thoſe that went dovvn vvith Jacob into Egypt, this vvill make the vvhole number of foure and thirty years from Jacobs coming into Canaan till his removing into Egypt. And ſo they conclude, that doubtleſſe the time here ſpoken of, vvhen Judah married this Canaanites daughter, vvas vvithin a vvhile after their coming into Canaan: And indeed neither of theſe Expoſitours do ſuppoſe any thing impoſſible; yet the firſt may ſeem moſt probable, becauſe it were very ſtrange if Judah and his ſonnes Er and Pharez ſhould all marry at twelve or thirteen years of ag….
Verſ. 7. And the Lord ſlew him.]
The like alſo is ſaid of Onan his younger brother, verſ. 10. and the meaning in both places is, that they died not an ordinary, naturall death, but that they were taken away in an extraordinary manner, by ſome remarkable judgement, whereby it was manifeſt unto others that they were cut off by the revenging hand of God for their notorious wickedneſſe. And this was the fruit of Judahs marriage with a daughter of that accurſed nation of the Canaanites, that were in time to come to be rooted out, that the Iſraelites might dwell in their room; his children that he had by her proved ſonnes of Belial, and were deſtroyed by the juſt judgement of God upon them.
Verſ. 8. Go in unto thy brothers wife, &c.]
By this it appears that God had given this in charge to the Patriarchs (as many other things) which was afterward eſtabliſhed by the written Law, Deut. 25. 5. If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead ſhall not marry without unto a ſtranger; her husbands brother ſhall go in unto her, and take her to him for wife, and perform the duty of an husbands brother unto her.
Verſ. 11. Remain a widow in thy fathers houſe till Shelah my ſonne be grown.]
It is evident that in theſe words Judah thought to aſſure Tamar, that aſſoon as his ſonne Shelah was marriageable, he alſo ſhould take her to wife, and raiſe up feed to his deceaſed brethren: but withall it is moſt probable, that he meant nothing leſſe, but onelyonly intended to put her off, and that as ſuſpecting that ſhe had ſome way been the occaſion of the death of his other two ſonnes, as the words following do import, For he ſaid, (to wit, within himſelf) Leſt peradventure he die alſo, as his brethren did. And indeed, why …lſe did he ſend her home to her father? ſhe might have ſtayed awhile unmarried with him; and when Shelah was grown, we ſee Judah minded not the performance of his promiſe, as is noted verſ. 14. yea his own confeſſion makes it manifeſt, verſ. 26. where he accuſeth himſelf of doing her wrong, She hath been more righteous then I, becauſe that I gave her not to Shelah my ſonne.
Verſ. 12. Judah was comforted and went up to his ſheep-ſhearers to Timnath.]
A city in the Philiſtines countrey, which alſo befell Judahs children for a poſſeſſion, Joſh. 15. 20▪ 57. This is the inheritance of the tribe of Judah, &c. Cain, Gibea, and Timnath.
Verſ. 14. And ſate in an open place.]
Such open places harlots uſed, Ezech. 16. 25. Thou haſt built thy high places at every head of the way. Jer. 3. 2. Lift up thine eyes unto the high places, and ſee where thou hast not been lien with. Prov. 9. 12. For ſhe ſitteth at the doore of her houſe, on a ſeat in the high places of the ſtreet.
Verſ. 15. When Judah ſaw her, he thought her to be an harlot, becauſe ſhe had covered her face.]
The meaning is not, that he judged her to be an harlot becauſe ſhe had covered her face (for this was a ſigne of modeſtie, rather then of whoriſh impudency, Gen. 24. 65. Rebekah took a veil and covered her ſelf, when ſhe ſaw Iſaac coming towards her) but that ſeeing her ſet in ſuch a manner, in an open place, as harlots uſed to do, and doubtleſſe in the dreſſe and attire of ſuch light women, he imagined ſhe was an harlot; and theſe words, becauſe ſhe had covered her face, are added to intimate what it was that made him thus to miſtake, being ſhe was his daughter in law, to wit, becauſe ſhe was veiled, and ſo her face being hidden he could not know her.
Verſ. 16. And ſhe ſaid, What wilt thou give me?]
This ſhe ſaid, both as following the cuſtome of harlots, Ezek. 16. 33. They give gifts to all whores; and alſo eſpecially that ſhe might have ſomewhat to witneſſe by whom ſhe had conceived, if ſhe proved to be with child. It may ſeem ſomewhat ſtrange, that when ſhe began to ſpeak to him he ſhould not know her by her voice: but for this we muſt conſider, 1. that if ſhe ſpake with a low and ſoft voice, under a pretence of ſecrecy, in that caſe a knovvn voice may be eaſily miſtaken; 2. that much art may be uſed by a ſubtile woman in changing the ordinary tone of her voice and ſpeech; 3. that Judah having now his luſt inflamed, and being carried away with a violent paſſion, might eaſily be ſo farre blinded and tranſported as not to diſcern a fraud of this nature, which he had no cauſe in the world to imagine or ſuſpect.
Verſ. 24. And Judah ſaid, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.]
By the law of God afterwards given, to defile a betrothed woman (which was here Tamars caſe, in regard ſhe was promiſed to Shelah, and by the law he was to marry her) was adultery, and as adultery to be puniſhed with death. Deut 22. 23, 24. If a Damſel that is a virgin be betrothed unto her husband, and a man find her in the citie, and lie with her; then ye ſhall bring them both out unto the gate of that citie, and ye ſhall ſtone them with ſtones that they die: And it ſeems ſuch was the law and cuſtome of theſe times, yea though they were widows; onelyonly, as by that law, they were to be ſtoned, ſo by the law in theſe times and places they were to be burned: which Judah was very forward to preſſe againſt Tamar, out of a deſire to b… rid of her, that he might be no longer in danger of her being married to his ſonne Shelah: yea, ſo farre was he tranſported with his paſſion herein, that he would have burnt (which was againſt the light of nature) both her and the fruit that was conceived in her womb. Concerning Judahs power of pronouncing ſuch a ſentence againſt her, the judgement of Expoſitours differs much. 1. Some conceive, that at this time in thoſe countreys there was not that exact form of a Commonweal eſtabliſhed amongſt them, as was afterwards in proceſſe of time, nor ſuch a ſtrict legall way in judiciall proceedings, but that every one that vvas the head of a family had in his own family power of life and death; and ſo Judah did indeed pronounce ſentence of death againſt Tamar, who belonged to his family: which indeed may ſeem the more probable, becauſe vvhen, being brought forth, ſhe had diſcovered by whom ſhe was with child, there was no further proceeding againſt her, which ſhovvs the judgement was much in his power. Nor is that argument of any great ſtrength that is brought againſt this, to wit, that ſhe dwelt now with her own father, over whom Judah could have no ſuch power to fetch her thence, and puniſh her as he pleaſed; ſince ſhe might be fetched to Judah under ſome other pretence, and then he might proceed againſt her. But 2. others conceive that Judah had no ſuch power to pronounce ſentence againſt her, but onelyonly made known his will to have a ſtrict courſe taken againſt her; Bring her forth, ſaith he, and let her be burnt, that is, let her be carried before the magiſtrate, and be puniſhed with burning according to the law of the countrey. And this indeed is the common opinion of the moſt Expoſitours.
Verſ. 25. When ſhe was brought forth ſhe ſent to her father in law, &c.]
This ſhe did being apprehended, or brought forth to tryall, either to ſtay his proceedings againſt her, if Judah were to be her judge; or at leaſt ſome vvay to ſmother it, before it came to a publick hearing.
Verſ. 26. She hath been more righteous then I.]
That is, my fault vvas greater then hers, I did it of mere luſt, ſhe as provoked by my injuſtice, becauſe I gave her not to Shelah my ſonne, and ſo I vvas alſo the occaſion of her ſinne.
Verſ. 28. When ſhe travelled, the one put out his hand.]
This ſhovvs that her labour vvas moſt hard and dangerous, the child coming not according to the ordinary courſe of nature, the Lord therein correcting both Tamar and Judah for their ſinne.
And the midwife took and bound upon his hand a ſcarlet threed.]
As perſvvading her ſelf that ſhe vvould have tvvins, and that this vvould be the firſt born, ſhe ties a ſcarlet thred upon his vvreſt, that might be a mark to knovv him from the other, a mark that to him belonged the primogeniture honour: but herein ſhe vvas deceived, for this child, vvho vvas aftervvards called Zarah, drevv back his hand, verſ. 29. and then the other came forth and vvas born firſt, called thereupon Pharez, vvho vvas to be the ſtock out of vvhom ſhould come the promiſed ſeed; and therefore (as an obſcure teſtimonie thereof) contrary to the ordinary courſe of nature he brake out firſt.
Verſ. 29. This breach be upon thee.]
That is, the breach is thine thou haſt made it, and ſhalt carry the name of it upon thee: for Pharez in the originall ſignifies a breach. And indeed principally to ſhevv the birth of Pharez, vvho vvas one of Chriſts progenitours, vvere all theſe things here related concerning Judah, there being nothing ſpoken of the marriage of the other ſonnes of Jacob, except Joſeph; and that becauſe hereby vve may learn, that it vvas of mere grace, that this family, the fruit of inceſt, vvas choſen to be the ſtock from vvhence the Meſſiah ſhould ſpring, and that he vvill not reject great ſinners, that vvould be the ſonne of thoſe that vvere guilty of ſuch infamous ſinnes.
CHAP. XXXIX.
Verſ. 2. ANd he was in the houſe of his Maſter the Egyptian.]
This is added to ſhew, that though Gods bleſſing vvent along with him, yet ſtill he ſuffered him to be in ſervitude; or elſe to expreſſe Joſephs patient bearing of his affliction, that he remained there, and ran not avvay to his father again; or elſe that vvhereas ſome ſervants are imployed in more ſervile buſineſſes abroad, Joſeph in regard of his ingenuitie was imployed at home in the houſe.
Verſ. 4. And Joſeph found grace in his ſight, and he ſerved him, &c.
This is his firſt advancement, that he is taken to attend upon his maſters perſon; the next is that he was made his ſteward, and had all committed to his hands.
Verſ. 6. And he knew not ought he had.]
That is, he ſuffered all things to be at Joſephs diſpoſing, and ſo was without all care himſelf, onelyonly eating and drinking ſuch things as were provided for him.
Verſ. 14. See, he hath brought in an Hebrew to mock us.]
The more to …xaſperate her husband againſt Joſeph, both here to the ſervants, and afterward to himſelf, ver. 17. ſhe layeth the blame of her being ſo uſed upon his folly, in bringing ſuch a one into the houſe: See, ſaith ſhe, ſhowing his garment unto the ſervants, he hath brought in an Hebrew unto us (ſo ſhe nameth him in contempt, for the Hebrews were an abomination to the Egyptians, chap. 43. 32) to mock us, that is, by a diſhoneſt attempt to diſhonour and diſgrace us. To make the more ſhew of modeſtie, ſhe uſeth the moſt modeſt terms ſhe can deviſe, in ſpeaking of his pretended attempt to raviſh her.
Verſ. 20. And Joſephs maſter took him, and put him into the priſon.]
Though Joſeph queſtionleſſe pleaded his innocency, and made known to his maſter the truth of the buſineſſe, yet, having never formerly ſuſpected his wife of incontinencie, no marvel it is though he believed his wife and not him, and ſo in his rage caſt him into priſon: rather we have cauſe to admire the providence of God in reſtraining him ſo farre, that he did not preſently in his rage fall upon him and kill him, eſpecially if we conſider how violent the rage of jealouſie is, and that he was a heathen not awed with the fear of God, and might have done what he pleaſed to his ſervant.
Verſ. 21. But the Lord was with Joſeph, and gave him favour in the ſight of the keeper of the priſon.]
At firſt he was more hardly uſed, Pſal. 105. 18. whoſe feet they hurt with fetters, he was laid in iron; but was by degrees (perhaps not altogether at laſt without Potiphars conſent) allowed more libertie and kindneſſe.
CHAP. XL.
Verſ. 4. ANd the captain of the guard charged Joſeph with them.]
That is, Potiphar Joſephs maſter; whereby is evident, that either by finding juſt cauſe at leaſt to ſuſpect that his Miſtris had accuſed him falſly, or by ſome other means, his wrath was aſſwaged, ſo that now himſelf appoints Joſeph to this imployment.
Verſ. 5. And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man according to the interpretation of his dream.]
That is, no vain dreams, but ſignificant, containing predictions of things which did accordingly come to paſſe.
Verſ. 6. And behold they were ſad.]
So dreams and viſions ſent of God uſe much to affect men, Gen. 41. 8. Pharaoh ſlept and dreamed, &c. and it came to paſſe in the morning that his spirit was troubled. Dan. 2. 1. Nebuchadnezzar dreamed dreams, wherewith his ſpirit was troubled. Mat. 27. 19. For I have ſuffered many things this day in a dream, &c.
Verſ. 8. And there is no interpreter of it.]
That is, being priſoners they could not go to the ſouthſayers, and wiſe men of Egypt, as that people was wont to do, Gen. 41. 8. And it came to paſſe in the morning, that his ſpirit was troubled: and he ſent and called for all the Magicians of Egypt, and all the wiſe men thereof.
Are not interpretations of God? tell me them, &c.]
Joſeph finding by the inſtinct of Gods ſpirit that he ſhould be able to interpret their dreams, and having happely had experience formerly that God had given him this extraordinary gift, he bid them tell him what their dreams were.
Verſ. 15. For indeed I was ſtolen away out of the land of the Hebrews.]
That is, out of the land of Canaan, wherein the children of Abraham the Hebrew dwelt, and to whom it was to come for an inheritance: thus he ſpeaks by faith in Gods promiſes. And obſervable it is, that though he made known that he was ſtolen avvay, yet he mentions not by vvhom it vvas done, as having reſpect to the credit of his brethren and fathers family.