OK.... You have Judah who (One of Jacob’s 12 sons right, the one who said “let’s sell Joseph”) marries a Canaanite. …Judah married Shua. They have 3 sons, Er, Onan, and Shulah, and a daughter (unnamed). Er has a daughter Tamar. Er dies, (later Judah’s daughter dies). At this point there is a law to protect the ongoing name of the deceased brother. Deuteronomy 25:5-10 basically says that a brother will give the widow a child, and the child will retain the name of the deceased father. That is why Onan is to sleep with Tamar. However, Onan disobeyed on the “important” part. So God killed him. So we are left with Judah, his son Shelah ( too young) and Tamar who now is a widow and childless. Does that help to explain why Tamar was so desperate as to why she would sleep with Judah. She would also become the matriarch of Judah’s line.....this is also Jesus' lineage (see Matthew 1: 1-6).....it makes me feel so good that God really can use ANYONE to fulfill his plan...remember women's place in that culture.....so Judah so no harm in hiring a prostitute for a night and he was ready to execute Tamar. A woman's place was to perpetuate her husband's line...with a temple prostitue (pagan practices) there were no heirs. Now, this does not excuse prostitution...it is a serious sin in Scripture.
We move to Joseph who has the blessings of the Lord on him and runs Potiphar's household. Potiphar's wife however, was a hussy and when Joseph rejects her, she sets him up.....Potiphar throws Joseph in jail and this is all part of God's plan, because again, the blessing of the Lord is on him and he is in charge of the prison.....the Cupbearer and the Baker have dreams....Joseph credits God for the dream interpretations and they are accurate.....can you imagine being the Baker and hearing, "Within three days Paraoh will lift off your head and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat away your flesh." The Cupbearer doesn't remember Joseph to anyone.......It seems like Joseph has lots of time to mature in his faith....he doesn't seem like the young immature boy who bragged to his brothers, does he?
Look what comes up from the depths of the sea.
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OK....I am confused again...I don't understand why Onan was to go to his brother's wife and marry her....if he got her pregnant, why would the heir not be his?
ReplyDeleteand why was it ok for judah to take a harlet? Was she just trying to get pregnant to stay in this family line because they are blessed by God? Was judah supposed to give her to Shelah and since he did not, she slept with Judah on purpose?
I am also confused on 38 27-30...what is going on here? And where did she go and is she not with Judah and family anymore.......very confused on this part.............
Poor Joseph.....he can't get a break....first jealous brothers....then sold away....then a tramp for master's wife set him up....now in jail......
note....my idiot guide says that cupbearer was responsible for tasting food and wine to make sure it wasn't poisoned......I guess I can see why he kept his job and not baker.....baker may the the one poisoning him and cupbearer would not find the poison if dead..... I wouldn't want that job............
ok...just saw you post about brother will give widow of deceased brother a child.....but if he married her, wouldn't the second and more be his heir?
ReplyDeleteGood point...the family name is what continues...the older son generally inherits a double portion and carries on the birthright....if he dies, the second oldest son has to step into place. He didn't do what he was supposed to in perpetuating the line so God killed him. The youngest child wasn't old enough to perpetuate the line so Tamar went back to her father's house....so she was basically of no worth....then,your worth was in the children you produced for your husband...that is why the "barren" issue was such a big deal.
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