Genesis — Chapter 38

AND IT CAME TO PASS AT THAT TIME THAT JUDAH WENT DOWN FROM HIS BRETHREN AND TURNED IN TO A CERTAIN MAN OF ODOLLAM. — The story of Judah and Tamar, inserted here before the Joseph narrative continues. Purpose: (1) to trace the lineage of Phares and Zara, ancestors of David and Christ; (2) to show divine Providence working even through human sin; (3) as a moral lesson on the gravity of Judah's sin. Tamar's action was morally wrong by absolute standards but extraordinary in motive (to continue the Messianic line) — Lapide discusses this carefully following Augustine. Tamar is listed in Matthew's genealogy of Christ (Matt. 1:3).