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Genesis 38 · a question people ask

Why is this story in the middle of Joseph's?

In the text

Genesis doesn't say. It records that this happened "At that time" (38:1), after the brothers sold Joseph (37:28), and chapter 39 picks up Joseph's story where 37:36 left it (39:1). Later Judah offers to become a slave in place of his brother Benjamin (44:33). And Tamar's son Perez is the ancestor of David (Ruth 4:18-22) and appears in Jesus' genealogy (Matthew 1:3).

The verses

“At that time, Judah went down from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.”
Genesis 38:1 · World English Bible
“The Midianites sold him into Egypt to Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, the captain of the guard.”
Genesis 37:36 · World English Bible
“Joseph was brought down to Egypt. Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, the captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the hand of the Ishmaelites that had brought him down there.”
Genesis 39:1 · World English Bible
“Now therefore, please let your servant stay instead of the boy, my lord’s slave; and let the boy go up with his brothers.”
Genesis 44:33 · World English Bible

From Favor's study of Genesis 38

Genesis 38: More righteous than I

Judah left his brothers, lost two sons, and kept his daughter-in-law Tamar waiting for a son he never gave her. She found a way to bear children in his family, and when Judah recognized his own pledge he said, "She is more righteous than I". Her son Perez became an ancestor of David and of Jesus.

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Scripture quotations are from the World English Bible, which is in the public domain. Every answer cites the verses it rests on. What we believe · All Bible questions