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 . 20 When Judah sent the young e goat e by his friend the Adullamite , to receive the pledge from the woman's hand , he did not find her.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Genesis 38:17-20
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.