Er: Son of Judah
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Er is a biblical figure mentioned in the Book of Genesis, recognized as the firstborn son of Judah, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, also known as Israel. His account is primarily found in Genesis 38, which provides insight into his life and the circumstances surrounding his untimely death.

Family Lineage and Background

Er was born to Judah and the daughter of Shua, a Canaanite woman. This union is significant as it highlights the intermingling of the Israelites with the Canaanite population, a recurring theme in the ancestral narratives of the patriarchs. Judah, Er's father, was a prominent figure among the sons of Jacob and played a crucial role in the history of the Israelite tribes.

Marriage to Tamar

Er's marriage to Tamar is a pivotal event in his brief biblical account. Genesis 38:6 states, "Now Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar." This marriage, however, did not produce any offspring due to Er's premature death.

Er's Wickedness and Death

The Bible provides a succinct yet profound statement regarding Er's character and fate. Genesis 38:7 records, "But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; so the LORD put him to death." The nature of Er's wickedness is not detailed in the text, leaving it to the reader's interpretation. However, the severity of his actions is underscored by the divine judgment he received, resulting in his death.

Theological Implications

Er's account serves as a sobering reminder of the consequences of wickedness and disobedience to God. His death, as an act of divine judgment, reflects the holiness and justice of God, who holds individuals accountable for their actions. This narrative also sets the stage for the subsequent events involving Tamar, Judah, and the continuation of the Messianic line through Perez, Tamar's son by Judah.

Legacy and Lineage

Although Er's life was cut short, his account is intricately connected to the broader narrative of Judah's family and the lineage of the tribe of Judah. The tribe would later become one of the most significant tribes of Israel, producing notable figures such as King David and, ultimately, Jesus Christ, as outlined in the genealogies of the New Testament.

Er's brief mention in the Scriptures serves as a testament to the complex and often challenging history of the patriarchs and their descendants, illustrating the interplay of divine sovereignty and human responsibility in the unfolding of God's redemptive plan.
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Genesis 38:3,6,7
And she conceived, and bore a son; and he called his name Er.
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Genesis 46:12
And the sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah, and Pharez, and Zarah: but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. And the sons of Pharez were Hezron and Hamul.
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Numbers 26:19
The sons of Judah were Er and Onan: and Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan.
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1 Chronicles 2:3
The sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah: which three were born to him of the daughter of Shua the Canaanitess. And Er, the firstborn of Judah, was evil in the sight of the LORD; and he slew him.
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Library

Genealogy According to Luke.
... Cosan, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, 29 the ... Jericho by Joshua"Joshua 2:1-24],
the son of Nahshon [he was prince of the tribe of Judah during the ...
/.../mcgarvey/the four-fold gospel/iv genealogy according to luke.htm

C. The Genealogy of Jesus. Ch. 3:23-38
... the son of Addi, the son of Cosam, the son of Elmadam, the son of Er, 29 the ... the
son of Arni, the son of Hezron, the son of Perez, the son of Judah, 34 the ...
/.../erdman/the gospel of luke an exposition/c the genealogy of jesus.htm

The Testament of Judah Concerning Fortitude, and Love of Money ...
... the fourth son born to my father, and my mother called me Judah, saying, I ... After
these things, my son Er took to wife Tamar, from Mesopotamia, a daughter of ...
/.../iv the testament of judah concerning.htm

Chapter xxxviii
... And there Judah saw the daughter of a Canaanite man whose name was Shun, and he
married her and ... And she conceived and bare a son and he called his name Er. ...
/.../leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxxviii.htm

Chapter xlvi
... and Ohad and Jachin and Zohar and Shaul, the son of the Canaanitish woman. And the
sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath and Merari. And the sons of Judah: Er and Onan ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xlvi.htm

Oracles on the Edge of Doom. (vii. 16-xviii Passim, xxii, Xlv. )
... What wilt thou say when they set 21 O'er thee as heads,(428 ... mouth of Jeremiah,(459)
in the fourth year of Jehoiakim, son of Josiah, king of Judah.(460) 2 ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/3 oracles on the edge.htm

Prophets and Prophets. (xxiii. 9-32, xxvii-xxix, Etc. )
... Benjamin, from Gibeon near Anathoth, Hananiah son of Azzur ... Jeconiah and all the exiles
of Judah that went ... Jerusalem's prophets Godlessness starts o'er the land. ...
//christianbookshelf.org/smith/jeremiah/2 prophets and prophets xxiii.htm

Faustus States his Objections to the Morality of the Law and the ...
... lay hold of him when he came from the field, ending sometimes in their hiring him
from one another for the night; [785] or, again, how his son Judah slept with ...
/.../faustus states his objections to.htm

Chapter xxv
... tribes that lay nearest to Midian"Judah, Manasseh, Reuben ... abandoned this rendering
for "he opposed" " er legte sich ... the history of Isaac, the son of Abraham ...
//christianbookshelf.org/leupold/exposition of genesis volume 1/chapter xxv.htm

The Incarnation and Birth of Christ
... Benjamin, the son of my right hand ... consent of a willing people, was crowned king
of Israel and Judah. ... Our poor barren hearts ne'er produced one fruit, or flower ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 2 1856/the incarnation and birth of.htm

Resources
Who was Tamar in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

Who was Judah in the Bible? | GotQuestions.org

What is a levirate marriage? | GotQuestions.org

Er: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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Er

Er: A Son of Shelah

Er: An Ancestor of, Jesus

Er: Son of Judah

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Er: An Ancestor of, Jesus
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