Theologische Nuggets IV (Genesis 34 - 44:26)

Genesis 38:30 + Zusammenfassung

Danach kam sein Bruder heraus, der den roten Faden um seine Hand hatte. Und man nannte ihn Serach.

Serach sollte der eigentliche Erstgeborene sein. Wie Anfangs gesagt spiegelt die Geschichte zwischen Serach und und Perez all die Erstgeborenen-Streitigkeiten aus den vergangenen Geschichten. 

 Und so endet erstmal der Exkurs über die Geschichte Judas, bevor es wieder in die Geschichte Josefs im nächsten Kapitel hineingeht. 

Inspiration faithfully records the faults of good men, those who were distinguished by the favor of God; indeed, their faults are more fully presented than their virtues. This has been a subject of wonder to many, and has given the infidel occasion to scoff at the Bible. But it is one of the strongest evidences of the truth of Scripture, that facts are not glossed over, nor the sins of its chief characters suppressed. The minds of men are so subject to prejudice that it is not possible for human histories to be absolutely impartial. Had the Bible been written by uninspired persons, it would no doubt have presented the character of its honored men in a more flattering light. But as it is, we have a correct record of their experiences. Men whom God favored, and to whom He entrusted great responsibilities, were sometimes overcome by temptation and committed sin, even as we at the present day strive, waver, and frequently fall into error. Their lives, with all their faults and follies, are open before us, both for our encouragement and warning. If they had been represented as without fault, we, with our sinful nature, might despair at our own mistakes and failures. But seeing where others struggled through discouragements like our own, where they fell under temptations as we have done, and yet took heart again and conquered through the grace of God, we are encouraged in our striving after righteousness. As they, though sometimes beaten back, recovered their ground, and were blessed of God, so we too may be overcomers in the strength of Jesus. On the other hand, the record of their lives may serve as a warning to us. It shows that God will by no means clear the guilty. He sees sin in His most favored ones, and He deals with it in them even more strictly than in those who have less light and responsibility

Ellen Gould White, The Story of Patriarchs and Prophets as Illustrated in the Lives of Holy Men of Old, Bd. 1 of Conflict of the Ages Series (Pacific Press Publishing Association, 1890), 238.

Folgender Chiasmus könnte uns helfen, die Geschichte einzuordnen:

A Judah's Sons and Tamar (38:1–6)

    B Tamar's Threat to Judah's Sons (38:7–11)

        C Tamar Deceives Judah (38:12–14

          D Judah Impregnates Tamar (38:15–19)

        C′ Tamar Steals Judah's Pledge (38:20–23) 

   B′ Judah's Threat to Tamar (38:24–26)

A′ Judah's Sons by Tamar (38:27–30)

K. A. Mathews, Genesis 11:27–50:26, Bd. 1B of The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 2005), 713.