Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Genesis 38:17
And he said, I will send [thee] a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give [me] a pledge, till thou send [it]?
Verse 17. Wilt thou give me a pledge till thou send it?] The word erabon signifies an earnest of something promised, a part of the price agreed for between a buyer and seller, by giving and receiving of which the bargain was ratified; or a deposit, which was to be restored when the thing promised should be given. St. Paul uses the same word in Greek letters, , 2Co 1:22; Eph 1:14. From the use of the term in this history we may at once see what the apostle means by the Holy Spirit being the EARNEST, , of the promised inheritance; viz., a security given in hand for the fulfilment of all God’s promises relative to grace and eternal life. We may learn from this that eternal life will be given in the great day to all who can produce this erabon or pledge. He who has the earnest of the Spirit then in his heart shall not only be saved from death, but have that eternal life of which it is the pledge and the evidence. What the pledge given by Judah was, See Clarke on Ge 38:25.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
And he said, I will send [thee] a kid from the flock,…. Either from Timnath, where his flock was shearing, or rather from Adullam, where he lived; since it is probable he was now returning from Timnath, where he had been feasting and making merry with his shearers, and so in a disposition to commit such an action:
and she said, wilt thou give [me] a pledge, till thou send [it]? she made no objection to the hire or present, only required a pawn, or security for it till she had it; and this was her view indeed in asking an hire that she might have something to produce, should she prove with child by him, to convince him by whom it was.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
‘And he said, “I will send you a kid of the goats from the flock.” And she said, “Will you give me a pledge until you send it?” And he said, “What pledge shall I give you?” And she said, “Your signet, and your cord, and your staff which is in your hand.” And he gave them to her and came in to her and she conceived by him.’
Judah now offers the payment of a kid (compare Jdg 15:1). But clearly with no certainty that he will fulfil his promise a prostitute would want some guarantee. And Tamar has even more reason for her request. She asks for something as a pledge, an earnest. And the pledge she seeks is his signet, his cord and his staff, which he willingly gives in return for her services.
“Your signet and your cord.” The signet would be a cylinder carried on a cord round the neck and would be rolled over soft clay documents to authenticate them. It would be of no use to anyone else. Here we have clear evidence of the use of such writing materials by the family tribe. His staff would be personal to him identifying him in some way. While Judah does not realise it he is giving this woman a hold over him, but it indicates how common taking advantage of such prostitution was for he does not even consider the danger of blackmail.
“And she conceived by him.” Her aim is achieved. She has received effective seed from a near-kinsman of her husband. In the eyes of the people of that day she would be seen as perfectly justified. She is honouring the memory of her dead husband.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
I wish the same answer could be made of many a place now.
Fuente: Hawker’s Poor Man’s Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
Gen 38:17 And he said, I will send [thee] a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give [me] a pledge, till thou send [it]?
Ver. 17. Wilt thou give me. ] The love of money breeds noisome lusts. 1Ti 6:9 Harlots are sordida poscinummia, as Plautus hath it.
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
I will: Eze 16:33
a kid: Heb. a kid of the goats
Wilt thou: Gen 38:20, Gen 38:24, Gen 38:25, Pro 20:16, Luk 16:8
Reciprocal: Jdg 15:1 – a kid
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Gen 38:17-21. A kid from the flock A goodly price at which her chastity and honour were valued! Had the consideration been a thousand rams, and ten thousands of rivers of oil, it had not been a valuable consideration. The favour of God, the purity of the soul, the peace of the conscience, and the hope of heaven, are too precious to be exposed to sale at any such rates. It is a good account, if it be but true, of any place, that which they here gave, that there is no harlot in this place, for such sinners are the scandals and plagues of any place. Judah sits down content to lose his signet and his bracelets, and forbids his friend to make any further inquiry.