Genesis 46:12
The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah; but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul.
The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah;
Judah, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, is a significant figure in biblical history, as his lineage leads to King David and ultimately to Jesus Christ. The mention of his sons highlights the continuation of the covenantal promise through Judah's line. Er and Onan were Judah's first two sons, who were born to him by Shua's daughter, a Canaanite woman. Shelah was the third son, born after Er and Onan. Perez and Zerah were twins born to Judah and Tamar, his daughter-in-law, in a complex story of levirate marriage and familial duty (Genesis 38). This lineage is crucial as Perez becomes an ancestor of King David (Ruth 4:18-22) and is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:3).

but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.
Er and Onan's deaths are recorded in Genesis 38. Er was killed by God for his wickedness, and Onan was also struck down by God for refusing to fulfill his duty to provide offspring for his brother by Tamar. Their deaths in Canaan, the land promised to Abraham and his descendants, underscore the seriousness of God's covenant and the consequences of disobedience. This event also sets the stage for Judah's relationship with Tamar, leading to the birth of Perez and Zerah, which continues the Messianic line.

The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul.
Perez, despite the circumstances of his birth, becomes a key figure in the lineage of Israel. His sons, Hezron and Hamul, are part of the seventy members of Jacob's family who went to Egypt (Genesis 46:27). Hezron is particularly significant as he becomes an ancestor of King David (1 Chronicles 2:5-15) and is mentioned in the genealogy of Jesus (Matthew 1:3). This highlights the theme of God's sovereignty and grace, using unexpected and flawed individuals to fulfill His redemptive plan.

Persons / Places / Events
1. Judah
One of the twelve sons of Jacob, whose lineage is significant in the biblical account, leading to King David and ultimately to Jesus Christ.

2. Er and Onan
Sons of Judah who died in Canaan due to their wickedness, as described in Genesis 38. Their deaths highlight the consequences of disobedience to God.

3. Shelah
The surviving son of Judah, who did not die in Canaan and continued the family line.

4. Perez and Zerah
Twin sons of Judah and Tamar. Perez is particularly significant as an ancestor of King David and Jesus.

5. Hezron and Hamul
Sons of Perez, representing the continuation of Judah's lineage.
Teaching Points
The Importance of Lineage
The genealogy in Genesis 46:12 underscores the significance of family lines in God's redemptive plan. It reminds us that God works through generations to fulfill His promises.

Consequences of Sin
The deaths of Er and Onan serve as a sobering reminder of the consequences of sin and disobedience. It calls believers to live righteously and in accordance with God's will.

God's Sovereignty in Redemption
Despite human failures, God's plan prevails. The inclusion of Perez in the lineage of Christ demonstrates God's ability to bring redemption out of flawed circumstances.

Faithfulness Across Generations
The continuation of Judah's line through Perez and his descendants encourages believers to remain faithful, trusting that God is at work through their lives and families.
Bible Study Questions
1. How does the genealogy of Judah's descendants in Genesis 46:12 reflect God's faithfulness to His promises?

2. What lessons can we learn from the lives of Er and Onan about the consequences of disobedience?

3. In what ways does the account of Perez and Zerah illustrate God's ability to use unexpected circumstances for His purposes?

4. How does the lineage of Judah, leading to Jesus, encourage us to trust in God's long-term plans for our lives?

5. How can we apply the concept of generational faithfulness in our own families and communities today?
Connections to Other Scriptures
Genesis 38
Provides the backstory of Judah's family, including the events leading to the birth of Perez and Zerah.

Ruth 4
Traces the genealogy from Perez to King David, emphasizing the importance of this lineage in the history of Israel.

Matthew 1
The genealogy of Jesus Christ, which includes Perez, highlighting the fulfillment of God's promises through Judah's line.
The Beginning of the NationR.A. Redford Genesis 46:8-27
The Catalogue of the Children of IsraelT. H. Leale.Genesis 46:8-27
People
Aram, Ard, Areli, Arodi, Asenath, Ashbel, Asher, Becher, Bela, Belah, Benjamin, Beriah, Bilhah, Canaanitish, Carmi, Dan, Dinah, Egyptians, Ehi, Elon, Enoch, Er, Eri, Ezbon, Gad, Gera, Gershon, Guni, Haggai, Haggi, Hamul, Hanoch, Heber, Hezron, Huppim, Hushim, Imnah, Isaac, Ishuah, Issachar, Isui, Jachin, Jacob, Jahleel, Jahzeel, Jahziel, Jamin, Jashub, Jemuel, Jezer, Jimnah, Job, Joseph, Kohath, Laban, Leah, Levi, Malchiel, Manasseh, Merari, Muppim, Naaman, Naphtali, Ohad, Onan, Pallu, Perez, Phallu, Pharaoh, Pharez, Phuvah, Potipherah, Puah, Rachel, Reuben, Rosh, Sarah, Saul, Serah, Sered, Shaul, Shelah, Shillem, Shimron, Shuni, Simeon, Tola, Zarah, Zebulun, Zephon, Zerah, Zilpah, Ziphion, Zohar
Places
Beersheba, Canaan, Egypt, Goshen, On, Paddan-aram
Topics
Canaan, Death, Die, Died, Er, Hamul, Hezron, Judah, Onan, Perez, Pharez, Pherez, Shelah, Sons, Zarah, Zerah
Dictionary of Bible Themes
Genesis 46:5-12

     7266   tribes of Israel

Genesis 46:8-27

     7230   genealogies

Library
Estimate of the Scope and Value of Jerome's Writings.
General. The writings of Jerome must be estimated not merely by their intrinsic merits, but by his historical position and influence. It has already been pointed out that he stands at the close of the old Græco-Roman civilisation: the last Roman poet of any repute, Claudian, and the last Roman historian, Ammianus Marcellinus, died before him. Augustin survived him, but the other great Fathers, both in the East and in the West, had passed away before him. The sack of Rome by Alaric (410) and
St. Jerome—The Principal Works of St. Jerome

Four Shaping Centuries
'Now these are the names of the children of Israel, which came into Egypt: every man and his household came with Jacob. 2. Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah, 3. Issachar, Zebulun, and Benjamin, 4. Dan and Naphtali, Gad and Asher. 5. And all the souls that came out of the loins of Jacob were seventy souls: for Joseph was in Egypt already. 6. And Joseph died, and all his brethren, and all that generation. 7, And the children of Israel were fruitful, and increased abundantly, and multiplied, and waxed
Alexander Maclaren—Expositions of Holy Scripture

The Faith of Moses.
"By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months by his parents, because they saw he was a goodly child; and they were not afraid of the king's commandment. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter; choosing rather to be evil entreated with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; accounting the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures of Egypt: for he looked unto the recompense of reward. By faith he forsook
Thomas Charles Edwards—The Expositor's Bible: The Epistle to the Hebrews

The Hebrews and the Philistines --Damascus
THE ISRAELITES IN THE LAND OF CANAAN: THE JUDGES--THE PHILISTINES AND THE HEBREW KINGDOM--SAUL, DAVID, SOLOMON, THE DEFECTION OF THE TEN TRIBES--THE XXIst EGYPTIAN DYNASTY--SHESHONQ OR SHISHAK DAMASCUS. The Hebrews in the desert: their families, clans, and tribes--The Amorites and the Hebrews on the left bank of the Jordan--The conquest of Canaan and the native reaction against the Hebrews--The judges, Ehud, Deborah, Jerubbaal or Gideon and the Manassite supremacy; Abimelech, Jephihdh. The Philistines,
G. Maspero—History Of Egypt, Chaldaea, Syria, Babylonia, and Assyria, V 6

But in Order that we Fall not Away from Continence...
10. But in order that we fall not away from Continence, we ought to watch specially against those snares of the suggestions of the devil, that we presume not of our own strength. For, "Cursed is every one that setteth his hope in man." [1838] And who is he, but man? We cannot therefore truly say that he setteth not his hope in man, who setteth it in himself. For this also, to "live after man," what is it but to "live after the flesh?" Whoso therefore is tempted by such a suggestion, let him hear,
St. Augustine—On Continence

Genesis
The Old Testament opens very impressively. In measured and dignified language it introduces the story of Israel's origin and settlement upon the land of Canaan (Gen.--Josh.) by the story of creation, i.-ii. 4a, and thus suggests, at the very beginning, the far-reaching purpose and the world-wide significance of the people and religion of Israel. The narrative has not travelled far till it becomes apparent that its dominant interests are to be religious and moral; for, after a pictorial sketch of
John Edgar McFadyen—Introduction to the Old Testament

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