Genesis 38 - Another Explanation
Most people read Genesis 38, and either wonder why this is here, or focus simply on the sins committed by the cast of characters from Abraham's family. Most preachers ignore it all together and focus on the Joseph narrative that began in chapter 37. There is another explanation that keeps in mind the narrative flow of Genesis.
By this point of the story, we have come to see the hand of God upon the family of Abraham. The promises and covenant made in Genesis 12:1-3 seem to finally be gaining some steam. These promises are affirmed again to Isaac and then to Jacob/Israel. They will be a great nation. They will possess the land. They will bless the world. Jacob's large family begins to hint at the possibility that the promises will come true.
And yet - Abraham's progeny is a mess. Jacob's son's - the ones on which the covenant rests - are reprobates. What's worse is none of them are doing anything to preserve the community or ensure the safety of the community. Each of Jacobs four eldest do things that show little regard for their family, and for each other. In a sense each of them even potentially endanger the covenant. Simeon and Levi deceive a town of men and then kill them all - something sure to go over well with the locals. Reuben shows contempt for his dad by having sex with his father's concubine, and then later offers up his own sons for the lives of Joseph and Benjamin. He is more intent on preserving his hide, then righteously offering his life as a sacrifice. Judah and his sons take the cake - He offers to sale his brother into slavery, marries a Canaanite women, has a best friend who is a Canaanite, refuses to take care of his daughter in law, shows little interest in continuing the family line, runs around engaging in sexual relations with prostitutes, and then announces that his pregnant daughter in law should be burned alive. Judah's children will do nothing to preserve the family line through the custom of levirite marriage, and are judged accordingly by God. Even in this - Judah simply decides to ignore Tamar. None of Jacob's children show any interest in the covenant. None care to preserve the family.
The most intriguing line in the story is the declaration by Judah that Tamar is more righteous than all. Tamar? The one who has played the harlot, and deceived Judah. If we are keeping the narrative flow in mind, we should be asking why is Tamar righteous? Tamar is righteous because she is preserving the family line. She is inadvertently taking seriously the covenant promise to be a great nation - a people without number. She - a pagan, cares more about the family than Judah did. And indirectly she ends up in places of honor later in Scripture (Ruth 4:12 & Matthew 1:3).
The loss of Er and Onan is restored with the birth of another set of twins Perez and Zerah. And from this point forward - Judah begins to act righteously. He offers up his life where Reuben offered up his sons, and acted only to make himself look good. (Gen 44:18ff) Judah is also elevated over all his brothers as Jacob blesses his sons (Gen 49:1-12). Some commentators have noted because of these things - that the Joseph narrative may ultimately be more about Judah than Joseph. And in reality - keeping in mind the narrative flow - Judah rises to more and more prominence, while Joseph becomes and after thought.
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