Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 38:23
And Judah said, Let her take [it] to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.
23. Let her take it to her ] i.e. let her retain the pledges, lest by making enquiries Judah should be exposed to shame.
Fuente: The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges
Verse 23. Lest we be shamed] Not of the act, for this he does not appear to have thought criminal; but lest he should fall under the raillery of his companions and neighbours, for having been tricked out of his signet, bracelets, and staff, by a prostitute.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
Note, that fornication was esteemed sinful and shameful amongst the heathens.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
And Judah said, let her take [it] to her,…. The pledge, and make no further inquiry after her;
lest we be shamed; Judah for committing fornication, which even among Heathens, at least at that time of day, was reckoned a shameful action; and be laughed at also, for committing such a pledge to an whore, who had tricked him out of it; and his friend Hirah for conniving at the sin, and being employed on such an errand:
behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her: who could be a witness for him, if there should be any occasion, that he was faithful to his promise.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
(23) Lest we be shamed.Maimonides asserts that Judah had committed no breach of the Law, the utmost therein commanded being that no Jewish woman should become a kedeshah (Deu. 23:17). But Judah evidently regards what he had done as shameful, and having big friends testimony, if needed, to prove that he had performed what he promised, he bears with the loss of his signet and staff, rather than let the people know that he had been guilty of an act which they too would condemn.
Fuente: Ellicott’s Commentary for English Readers (Old and New Testaments)
23. Let her take it to her That is, let her keep what she has obtained . He feared the shame, contempt, and ridicule, which he would incur by further attempts to recover his signet and cord, and preferred to lose them .
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
Gen 38:23 And Judah said, Let her take [it] to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.
Ver. 23. Lest we be shamed. ] His care was more to shun shame, than sin. How much better that heathen! Satis nobis persuasum esse debet, &c.; this we should be fully persuaded of, saith he, that although we could conceal the matter from all, both gods and men, yet we should do nothing covetously, nothing unjustly, nothing against chastity, or common honesty. a Though I were sure, saith another philosopher, b that all men would be ignorant of what evil I do, and that all the gods would forgive it me; yet, for the filthiness that is in sin, I would not commit it. Plato condemns the poets for saying, that it were no matter though men did commit sin, so they could hide it. c Si non caste, saltem caute. How much better the Christian poet! Turpe quid acturus, te, sine teste, time. “Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight,” though none else saw thee? said God to David. 2Sa 12:9 And David, in his sorrowful confession, saith as much to God upon the matter; “Against thee, thee only, have I sinned”; viz., in respect of the secrecy of my sin; therefore it is added, “and done this evil in thy sight.” Psa 51:4
Behold, I sent this kid, &c.
a Nihil tamen avare, nihil iniuste, nihil libidinose, nihil incontinenter esse faciendum. – Cicero Offic.
b Si scirem homines ignoraturos, et Deos ignoscituros, tamen propter peccati turpitudinem peccare non vellem. – Sen.
c W . – Auson.
d Quasi dicat, Ego steti promissis, hoc mihi sufficit.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
lest we: 2Sa 12:9, Pro 6:33, Rom 6:21, 2Co 4:2, Eph 5:12, Rev 16:15
be shamed: Heb. become a contempt
Reciprocal: Pro 5:9 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 38:23. Lest we be ashamed Either, 1st, Lest his sin should come to be known publicly; or, 2d, Lest he should be laughed at as a fool for trusting a whore with his signet and his bracelets. He expresses no concern about the sin, only about the shame. There are many who are more solicitous to preserve their reputation with men, than to secure the favour of God; lest we be ashamed, goes further with them than lest we be damned.
Fuente: Joseph Bensons Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
38:23 And Judah said, Let her take [it] to her, lest we be {g} shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.
(g) He fears man more than God.