Parashat 9 Portion 35 ‘’Va Yeshev’’ Gen 38:1-30 Hosea 12:1-9 +14:9

 Blessed are You, YHVH our Elohim, Creator of the universe, who desires covenantal intimacy with Your called-out ones – blessed are these whom You have called and given a heart that longs for and deeply desires deep covenantal life.  Please, YHVH, our Elohim, sweeten the words of Your Torah in our hearts and in the hearts of Your people, the family of Israel. May we and our offspring and the offspring of Your people, the house of Jacob – all of us – know Your Name and study Your Torah so that we may sincerely love one another and love You above all. Please uncover our eyes and open our hearts that we may carefully examine and receive the marvels and mysteries of Your Torah. Blessed are You, YHVH, who have established Your covenant with the set apart ones of Israel – through Yahshua our Messiah - Amein.

ויהי בעת ההוא – ‘’And at that time’’ – a dramatic change had taken place in YHVH’s covenant community.

 

Judah and Tamar

Gen 38:1  And at that time it came to be that Yehuḏah left his brothers, and turned aside to a man, an Aḏullamite whose name was Ḥirah. 

 

“Adullamite” means he’s from Adullam, a town in the lowlands of Canaan. So right away, the text is showing that Judah is moving away from his family and embedding himself among the Canaanites. That matters because Genesis often emphasizes the distinct identity of Jacob’s family, and here Judah is drifting into a different cultural and moral environment.

 

Genesis 38:1 is generally understood by commentators and theologians as a significant spiritual and moral backsliding (or downward spiral) for Judah, immediately after the sale of Joseph (recorded in Gen 37), indicating a voluntary separation from his family and the covenant community – (ויהי בעת ההוא) carries an ominous prophetic warning to all of mankind today.

 

Looking at Gen 38 we recall the words of Pastor Bob Mumford who once said ''sometimes you can mess up your life so badly not even God can repair the damage'' - now maybe he was just trying to make a point of how much damage we can bring upon ourselves and others - but his comment seems to point to very real existential collapse that both Jewish and gentile believers have faced for centuries – and will face more intensely than at other time in history - in the last days.

 

Bob Mumford’s quote is striking, but it’s also pretty controversial, because it clashes with a central theme found throughout the Scriptures, including the very chapter we mentioned.

Genesis 38 (Judah and Tamar) it is actually a sad example of how messy human choices can get. There’s deception, exploitation, broken responsibility, no one in the story comes out looking morally clean. By normal standards, it does look like a situation that’s been damaged beyond repair. And yet, the surprising turn is that Tamar becomes part of the lineage that leads to King David and, ultimately, to Yahshua. In other words, the story doesn’t erase the wrongdoing, but it shows that the outcome isn’t beyond redemption.

That’s where Mumford’s statement runs into tension with broader biblical theology. The Scriptures consistently acknowledges that people can cause real, lasting damage - to relationships, to communities, even to themselves. Consequences don’t just disappear. But it also pushes back against the idea that anything is beyond YHVH’s ability to redeem in some way. “Repair” might not mean restoring things to how they were before, but it often means bringing meaning, growth, and even new life out of a broken situation.

So, there is a genuine existential weight here: humans have the capacity to cause deep harm, sometimes irreversible in a practical sense. But the biblical narrative generally doesn’t end with “there’s no way back.” It leans more toward: even when you can’t undo what’s been done, you’re not cut off from the possibility of transformation and a different future’’

 

Gen 38:2  And Yehuḏah saw there a daughter of a certain Kena‛anite whose name was Shuwa. And he took her and went in to her. (def ‘’Shuwa’’ "a cry for help" – maybe YHVH wants to save the Canaanites too – one of Yahshua’s disciples was a Canaanite – Mat 10:4)

 

So, in verse 2, there Judah saw a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua. So just like Esau took Canaanite women for wives, which meant trouble for his family, now Judah is taking a Canaanite woman for a wife, which is going to, of course, foreshadow trouble. In fact, this is the first time that someone in the Messianic seed line married a Canaanite woman.

 

And now we get to Judah’s sons, the next generation in this chapter, and it’s become so bad that now Judah’s oldest two sons are so wicked that YHVH had to kill them. How wicked did they need to be that they did worse things than Judah and his brothers did in order to deserve YHVH killing them?

 

Gen 38:3  So she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Ěr. 

Gen 38:4  And she conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan. 

 

Gen 38:5  And she conceived yet again and bore a son and called his name Shělah. (means to ‘’petition’’ – Tamar may have pertioned Jacob to permit the ‘’yibbum’’ the Levirate marriage, which Jacob later refused) And he was at Keziḇ when she bore him. (Chezib means to be “false – to lie and deceive”- a town in Judah – Judah deceived Tamar and YHVH deceived Judah)

 

Gen 38:6  And Yehuḏah took a wife for Ěr his first-born, and her name was Tamar. (date palm)

Gen 38:7  But Ěr, Yehuḏah’s first-born, was evil in the eyes of יהוה, and יהוה took his life. 

 

Moving on to verse 7, but Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the YHVH. We don’t know what Er did that was so wicked. We have no idea. (See Annanias and Saphira - Acts 5)

 

Gen 38:8  And Yehuḏah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.” 

 

“Perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her and raise up offspring for your brother.” But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his, including the inheritance that the son would receive from the deceased brother.

 

Gen 38:9  And Onan knew that the offspring would not be his. And it came to be, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he spilled on the ground, lest he should give an offspring to his brother. 

Gen 38:10  But what he did displeased יהוה, so He took his life too. 

Gen 38:11  Then Yehuḏah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house until my son Shělah is grown.” For he said, “Lest he also die as his brothers did.” And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house. 

Gen 38:12  And after a long time the daughter of Shuwa, Yehuḏah’s wife, died. And Yehuḏah was comforted, and went up to his sheep-shearers at Timnah, he and his friend Ḥirah the Aḏullamite. (sheep-shearing events in Biblical times could sometimes carry a “party” atmosphere that could result in all kinds of promiscuity)

Gen 38:13  And it was reported to Tamar, saying, “See, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.” (Timnah is where Samson went earlier in his life to find a Philistine woman to marry – ("Timnah’’ means -allotment," or "an assigned territory." -Judges 16:4).

 

Jdg 14:1  And Shimshon went down to Timnah, and saw a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. 

Jdg 14:2  And he went up and informed his father and mother, saying, “I have seen a woman in Timnah of the daughters of the Philistines. And now, take her for me for a wife.” 

Jdg 14:3  But his father and mother said to him, “Is there no woman among the daughters of your brothers, or among all my people, that you should take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?” And Shimshon said to his father, “Take her for me, for she is pleasing in my eyes.” 

 

Delilah's deception took place in the same strategic valley corridor as Timnah, only a short distance away from Timnath.

 

Valley of Sorek (Hebrew: נַחַל שׂוֹרֵק, Naḥal Sōrēq) = "Valley of the Choice Vines" or "Wadi of the Noble Vine."

This is the fertile valley where Delilah lived and where she deceived Samson

"Sorek" was a fertile valley (wadi) wine-growing region, and its name evoked "choice" or "noble" vines (often linked to bright red or dark purple grapes).

 

Interpretation of Sorek (explicitly given in Isaiah 5:7): YHVH’s Faithful Plan Over Human Sin

For the vineyard of YHVH of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah are his pleasant planting; and he looked for justice (mishpat), but behold, bloodshed (mispach); for righteousness (tsedaqah), but behold, an outcry (tse'aqah)!- cry of distress (especially as heard by YHVH) – from a people captured by an immoral religious spirit)

 

YHVH expected His people to produce the "good fruit" of justice and righteousness, but they produced oppression, violence, and injustice instead. The sorek (best possible start) highlights the tragedy: despite YHVH's lavish care, the people failed miserably. This parable sets up the "woes" (judgments) that follow in the rest of Isaiah 5.

 

And ‘’Sorek’’(the valley of grace) is the same place YHVH called me too many years ago to look after a flock of sheep – maybe YHVH will call me back again, maybe YHVH has prepared a place for me to  return again, maybe YHVH will call some of you to join me there again – I know the Sorek valley and foothills well- maybe like Joseph, I’m just a dreamer, maybe the promise is for us and for our seed –

 

Jos 1:3  “Every place on which the sole of your foot treads I have given you, as I spoke to Mosheh. 

Jos 1:4  “From the wilderness and this Leḇanon even as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Ḥittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, is your border. 

Jos 1:5  “No man is going to stand before you all the days of your life. As I was with Mosheh, so I am with you. I do not fail you nor forsake you. 

Jos 1:6  “Be strong and courageous, for you are to let this people inherit the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. 

Jos 1:7  “Only be strong and very courageous, to guard to do according to all the Torah which Mosheh My servant commanded you. Do not turn from it right or left, so that you act wisely wherever you go. 

Jos 1:8  “Do not let this Book of the Torah depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you guard to do according to all that is written in it. For then you shall make your way prosperous, and act wisely. 

Jos 1:9  “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid, nor be discouraged, for יהוה your Elohim is with you wherever you go.

 

Gen 38:14  And she took off her widow’s garments, and covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat at the entrance to Ěnayim which was on the way to Timnah. For she saw that Shělah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife. 

Gen 38:15  And Yehuḏah saw her, and reckoned her for a whore, for she had covered her face. 

 

So, Tamar wraps herself up, which specifically refers to the dress of a temple prostitute, and she sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. She dressed like a prostitute, but Judah was her only intended customer, because she goes and sits on the road where Judah would be on. She placed herself where she knew he would see her. She obviously would have known that he would be tempted by her.

 

And so, Tamar conceives by Judah, which was not Judah’s plan, but it was Tamar’s plan. But it appeared to be YHVH’s plan. So, in verse 19, Tamar arose and went away, keeping the pledge items with her to prove that it was Judah who had hired her because she was now pregnant.

 

Tamar wanted something that would obviously belong to Judah because Tamar is going to need to prove that Judah was the one who hired her and the one responsible for getting her pregnant. Otherwise, she knew that she would be put to death once she’s found out because she was engaged in prostitution while betrothed to Shelah.

 

And since she was technically betrothed, she was technically married, and so this is technically adultery. And so, she should be technically put to death, which is the judgment that Judah makes when Tamar is found to be with child.

 

Gen 38:16  And he turned aside to her by the way, and said, “Please let me come in to you,” for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, “What do you give me to come in to me?” 

Gen 38:17  And he said, “Let me send you a young goat from the flock.” And she said, “Do you give me a pledge until you send it?” 

Gen 38:18  So he said, “What pledge should I give you?” And she said, “Your seal and your cord and your staff that is in your hand.” And he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him. 

Gen 38:19  And she arose and went away and removed her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood. 

Gen 38:20  And Yehuḏah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend the Aḏullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand, but he did not find her. 

Gen 38:21  And he asked the men of that place, saying, “Where is the cult prostitute who was beside the way to Ěnayim?” And they said, “There was no cult prostitute in this place.” 

Gen 38:22  And he returned to Yehuḏah and said, “I have not found her. And the men of the place also said there was no cult prostitute in this place.” 

Gen 38:23  And Yehuḏah said, “Let her take them for herself, lest we become despised,(exposed for our sinfulness) for I sent this young goat and you have not found her.” 

Gen 38:24  And it came to be, about three new moons after, that Yehuḏah was informed, saying, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has whored, and see, she has conceived by whoring.” And Yehuḏah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!” 

Gen 38:25  When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am pregnant.” And she said, “Please examine whose these are: the seal and the cord and the staff.” 

Gen 38:26  And Yehuḏah examined and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shělah my son.” And he never knew her again. 

Gen 38:27  And it came to be, at the time for giving birth, that see, twins were in her womb. 

 

Gen 38:28  And it came to be, when she was giving birth, that the one put out his hand. And the midwife took a scarlet thread and bound it on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” 

Gen 38:29  And it came to be, as he drew back his hand, that see, his brother came out! And she said, “How did you break through? This breach be upon you!” So, his name was called Perets. 

Gen 38:30  And afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand. So his name was called Zeraḥ. 

 

Zerah (or Zarah), the son of Judah and Tamar, represents a "breakthrough" that was ultimately overshadowed by his twin brother Perez, highlighting God's sovereignty over human birthright conventions. Though he initially put his hand out first and was marked with a scarlet thread by the midwife, he withdrew it, allowing Perez to be born first.

 

Destiny and Lineage: While his brother Perez inherited the primary messianic line, Zerah's descendants (the Zerahites) were a recognized and important clan within the tribe of Judah, mentioned in Numbers 26:20.

 

Perets - (The Breaker) Destroys Yokes and Bondage: Based on Isaiah 10:27, this anointing is known as the "breaker's oil" that breaks the yoke of bondage, curses, and generational limitations.

 

Genesis 38:28-30 signifies YHVH's sovereign grace overriding human brokenness, as Perez (the younger twin) breaks through to become the ancestor of King David and Yahshua, despite Zerah (the older) being marked first. It highlights themes of divine election over traditional birthright, the inclusion of unexpected individuals in the Messianic line, and redemption from scandal.

 

verse 29, the midwife says, “What a breach you have made for yourself,” therefore his name was called Perez. Rashi interprets this as saying, what a strong effort you have made, which reinforces that the brothers were struggling inside the womb, and the younger overcame the older.

Rom 9:15  For He says to Mosheh, “I shall favour whomever I favour, and I shall have compassion on whomever I have compassion.” Exo_33:19. 

Rom 9:16  So, then, it is not of him who is wishing, nor of him who is running, but of Elohim who shows favour. 

 

Blessed are you YHVH, our Elohim, King of the Universe, you have given us your Torah of truth and have planted everlasting life within our midst. Blessed are you, YHVH giver of the Torah – Amein.

Additional midrash:

 

Reuben lost the first-born status and it was passed on to Judah - but Judah committed incest and possibly adultery - as Tamar was most probably betrothed yet Judah does not forfeit the birthright. In some genealogies Reuben is mentioned first – so we can assume the birthright blessing was purely at YHVH’s discretion and was meant to be accepted as such and not to be seen as some kind of demotion or promotion but seen as the chosen candidate in YHVH’s eyes.

The first born received a double portion with greater responsibility, calling and purpose.

 

The passing of the birthright was fundamentally at YHVH's discretion, designed to fulfil his sovereign purpose rather than being a merit-based reward for perfection. The accounts in Genesis 1 and Chron 5 show that YHVH often chose the "unlikely" candidate—the younger over the older, and the flawed over the seemingly stable, to demonstrate favour and sovereignty.

 

1. The Disqualification of Reuben

Reuben did not just commit a sin; he committed a deliberate act of usurping Jacob’s authority. By sleeping with Bilhah, his father's concubine, he was symbolically attempting to claim his father’s authority (Gen 35:22, 49:3-4).

 

However, Reuben deeply repents - Reuben’s actions in Genesis 42, where he addresses his brothers about their past treatment of Joseph and Jacob.

 

2. The Transfer of Birthright: Joseph vs. Judah

It is crucial to note that the birthright (the double portion of inheritance) was actually divided:

 

·         A Double Portion went to Joseph (1 Chron 5:1-2), and his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, each became a tribe (Gen 48:5). Joseph plays a vital role in saving his own family as well as the destiny of the nation of Israel.

 

·         A double portion went to Judah - The Leadership (Scepter/Rulership) - Gen 49:10.

 

Yahshua embodies this double portion of both Joseph and Judah.

A double portion, in biblical terms, refers to the inheritance of the firstborn son, consisting of two parts of an estate rather than the single portion given to other sons.

Some scholars believe that the ‘’assembly of the first born refers to those who will be part of the first resurrection.

Heb 12:22  But you have drawn near to Mount Tsiyon and to the city of the living Elohim, to the heavenly Yerushalayim, to myriads of messengers, 

Heb 12:23  to the entire gathering and assembly of the first-born having been enrolled in heaven, and to Elohim the Judge of all, and to the spirits of righteous men made perfect, 

Heb 12:24  and to יהושע the Mediator of a new covenant. (Gk word ‘’neas’’ means refreshed, while the Greek word Katargeó - To abolish, nullify, or render inactive/powerless.

 

Eph 2:15  having abolished in His flesh the enmity – the torah of the commands in dogma –( of men and not from YHVH) - so as to create in Himself one renewed man from the two, thus making peace.

 

NOTE – NOT THE TORAH OF MOSES. Unless there is deep repentance in both houses of Israel – they may not be part of the first resurrection and will have to wait for the second resurrection – However, in the last days before the return of Messiah many, from both houses of Israel will deeply repent and become one family and part of the ‘’assembly of the first born”

 

Gal 4:19  My little children, for whom I am again in birth pains until Messiah is formed in you, 

 

2Co 11:3  But I am afraid, lest, as the serpent deceived Ḥawwah by his trickery, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Messiah. 

2Co 11:4  For, indeed, if he who is coming proclaims another יהושע,a whom we have not proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different Good News which you have not accepted, you put up with it well enough! Footnote: a Mat_24:5 and Mat_24:23-24, Jhn_5:43. 

 

It’s getting late – time is running out.

 

1Co 10:11  And all these came upon them as examples, and they were written as a warning to us, on whom the ends of the ages have come, 

1Co 10:12  so that he who thinks he stands, let him take heed lest he fall. 

1Co 10:13  No trial has overtaken you except such as is common to man, and Elohim is trustworthy, who shall not allow you to be tried beyond what you are able, but with the trial shall also make the way of escape, enabling you to bear it.