Genesis 38:7-10
Summary for Gen 38:7-10: 38:7-10 a In this story, the Lord is mentioned as the sovereign judge who took the lives of Judah’s evil sons. 38:7 b That Er was a wicked man is not surprising, since his mother was a Canaanite and his father a wayward Israelite.38:8 c as our law requires... . You must produce an heir for your brother: The custom that informs this episode is the law for levirate marriage (Latin levir, “husband’s brother”). By this custom, which was later incorporated into God’s law for Israel (Deut 25:5-10 d), if a man died childless, his brother or nearest relative would marry his widow to produce a child who would carry on the family name of the deceased and inherit his property. Apparently, the near kinsman had a right to refuse, but he would be disgraced in the family for refusing to perpetuate his brother’s name.
Summary for Gen 38:9-10: 38:9-10 e Onan married Tamar, but was not willing to provide an heir for his brother. He would have sex with Tamar but not fulfill his responsibility to his dead brother (38:8 f).
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