13 It was told to Tamar , "Behold , your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep ." 14 So she removed her widow's garments and covered herself with a veil , and wrapped herself, and sat in the gateway of Enaim , which is on the road to Timnah ; for she saw that Shelah had grown up, and she had not been given to him as a wife . 15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot , for she had covered her face . 16 So he turned aside to her by the road , and said , "Here now , let me come in to you"; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law . And she said , "What will you give me, that you may come in to me?" 17 He said , therefore, "I will send you a young e goat e from the flock ." She said , moreover, "Will you give a pledge until you send it?" 18 He said , "What pledge shall I give you?" And she said , " Your seal and your cord , and your staff that is in your hand ." So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him. 19 Then she arose and departed , and removed her veil and put on her widow's garments .
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 38:13-19
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.