It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers and turned aside to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. There Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. He took her and went in to her, -Gen 38:1-2 ESV
Warrior;
This chapter- Gen 38, seems to be OUT OF PLACE, an interruption. Chapter 37 ends with Joseph being sold into slavery to the Ishmaelites and then the Midianites selling Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, the captain of the guard. First, understand there is no discrepancy here- a thorough study of the Scriptures shows that the names “Ishmaelites” and “Midianites” are used interchangeably. (see Judges 8:22-26) Genesis 37:36 and Gen 39:1 are similar verses- one is a restatement of the other- picking up right where we left off before the INTERRUPTION.
Leader– this is a DIVINE illumination, this is NO tangent, NO mistake, or interruption! Chapter 38 is critical to the underlying message of the Bible and about WHO JOSEPH was, and WHO Joseph pointed to! Chapter 37 explained HOW the nation of Israel got to EGYPT, spending 400 years, waiting for MOSES and the EXODUS from Egypt to the PROMISE LAND. Chapter 38 not only tells us how and why this Egyptian sojourn was necessary. It also compares and contrasts the “God honoring” purity of Joseph and the PRICE that had to be paid for the SINS of HIS BROTHERS!
Conduit, if you want to be USED BY GOD- in a GREAT way, spiritual PURITY is required. Judah, the line through whom the Messiah would come, was CARNAL- Israel’s ROOTS were ROTTEN! He married a Canaanite woman, based on her APPEARANCE, there was no SPIRITUAL considerations taken into account- the Bible never even mentions her name! And had a GENTILE as his closest companion. If you notice- wherever Hirah is mentioned there is trouble for Judah! Something drastic had to be done to clean up the blood lines. The Egyptians detested Hebrews! Even if the Hebrews wanted to intermingle and intermarry MOST Egyptians would be too racist and “Better” than that! While this Chapter and the time in EGYPT seemed a bitter experience- GOD USED THIS gracious act to further HIS PURPOSE! Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understandings!
