Genesis 38-39

(February 16, 2014)
The contrast drawn by these two chapters is remarkable and, I believe, intentional.  On the one hand, we have Judah and his sexual indiscretions.  On the other hand, we have Joseph and his willingness to abide by the law of the Lord and not to lie with Potiphar’s wife.  Judah is prepared to condemn his daughter-in-law for doing the same thing that he did (until he finds that he is the guilty co-conspirator), while Joseph flees and is cast into prison anyhow.

It is clear to me, with what I am learning about the reasons for keeping scripture, is that this text is attempting to demonstrate why the ruling line of Israel is to come through Joseph.  What makes that even more astonishing is that this is in the scriptures that we primarily acquired through the efforts of Judah.  And yet we have them, which adds (in my opinion) to their credibility.  If this was a creation of around 700 BC in Judah (the common assumption), these two chapters would not have been in the book – and they certainly wouldn’t be side by side to the condemnation of Judah.