Kejadian 38:26
Konteks38:26 Judah recognized them and said, “She is more upright 1 than I am, because I wouldn’t give her to Shelah my son.” He did not have sexual relations with her 2 again.
Kejadian 44:10
Konteks44:10 He replied, “You have suggested your own punishment! 3 The one who has it will become my slave, 4 but the rest of 5 you will go free.” 6
[38:26] 1 tn Traditionally “more righteous”; cf. NCV, NRSV, NLT “more in the right.”
[38:26] sn She is more upright than I. Judah had been irresponsible and unfaithful to his duty to see that the family line continued through the levirate marriage of his son Shelah. Tamar fought for her right to be the mother of Judah’s line. When she was not given Shelah and Judah’s wife died, she took action on her own to ensure that the line did not die out. Though deceptive, it was a desperate and courageous act. For Tamar it was within her rights; she did nothing that the law did not entitle her to do. But for Judah it was wrong because he thought he was going to a prostitute. See also Susan Niditch, “The Wronged Woman Righted: An Analysis of Genesis 38,” HTR 72 (1979): 143-48.
[38:26] 2 tn Heb “and he did not add again to know her.” Here “know” is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.
[44:10] 3 tn Heb “Also now, according to your words, so it is.” As the next statement indicates, this does mean that he will do exactly as they say. He does agree with them the culprit should be punished, but not as harshly as they suggest. Furthermore, the innocent parties will not be punished.
[44:10] 4 tn Heb “The one with whom it is found will become my slave.”
[44:10] 5 tn The words “the rest of” have been supplied in the translation for clarification and for stylistic reasons.
[44:10] 6 tn The Hebrew word נָקִי (naqi) means “acquitted,” that is, free of guilt and the responsibility for it.
[44:10] sn The rest of you will be free. Joseph’s purpose was to single out Benjamin to see if the brothers would abandon him as they had abandoned Joseph. He wanted to see if they had changed.
