Matthew Poole and continuators on Genesis 38:1

1 AND it came to pass at that time ; that Judah went down from his brethren , and turned in to a certain Adullamite , whose name was Hirah.

This story is not without difficulty, if we consider how little time is allowed for all the events of this chapters, there being not above twenty three years between Iudahs marriage, and the birth of Pharez, yea and the birth of his sons too, Esrom and Hamul, who are said to go into Egypt with Iacob, Gen. 46. 12. But there are two ways proposed for the resolution of it, as the phrase, at that time, may be understood two ways, either 1. More largely, for the time since Iacobs return from Padan to Canaan, and so the History may be conceived thus; Iudah was married some years before the selling of Ioseph, though it be here mentioned after it and so out of its place, as being the foundation of all the following events, which are here placed together because they followed the selling of Ioseph. Iudah, and Er, and Onan, and afterward Pharez, are supposed each to marry and have a Child at fourteen years old, which though unusual, wants not examples both in sacred and prophane Writers. And they that will quarrel with the Scripture and question its authority for some such uncustomary occurrences which it relates shew more of impiety then wisdom in it, and shall do well to consider, that God might so order things by his Providence, and record such things in his word, upon the same account on which he hath put several other difficult passages in Scripture, partly to try and exercise mens Faith, Humility and Modesty; and partly to punish the evil minds of ungodly men, and for their sins to lay an occasion of stumbling and cavilling at the Scriptures before them that greedily seek and gladly catch at all such occasions. Or 2. More strictly, for the time following the sale of Ioseph, which seems the more probable way, and so the story lies thus; Iudah was now about twenty years old, when he married, and the three first years he hath three sons, Er, Onan, and Shelah: The two first marry, each when they were about seventeen years old. Three years after both their deaths, and when Shelah had been marriageable a year or two and was not given to Tamar, Iudah lies with Tamar and begets upon her Pharez. But as for Esrom and Hamul, they are said to go into Egypt with Iacob, as also Benjamins ten sons are said to go with him thither, to wit, in their fathers loins, because they were begotten by their Father in Egypt, whilest Iacob lived there, of which more in its proper place.

Probably in discontent, upon occasion of quarrels arisen among them about the selling of Ioseph, whereof Iudah was a great promoter, if not the first mover.

Of the City of Adullam. Of which see Ios. 12. 15. and 15. 35.