He said, “What pledge will I give you?” She said, “Your signet and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” He gave them to her, and came in to her, and she conceived by him.
ExplanationCommentary
Verse 18. Staff. These were all marks of dignity. “Kings made use of spears, or sceptres, before they wore a diadem.” Trogus. 43. Calmet.—Juda might blame himself for exposing these valuable things, and divesting himself of all his dignity, to gratify his unjustifiable passion. If some have excused both the parties concerned, the Scripture at least sufficiently shews in what light we ought to consider their conduct. Juda himself thought her worthy of death; though in some sense, she was juster than himself, verse 24. 26. Bible.—She was guilty of a sort of adultery, being engaged to Sela; and also of incest, and so forth; whereas the fault of Juda, through ignorance of her person, was simply fornication; which is, however, always contrary to the law of nature, as the pagans themselves confessed. Grot. in Matt. v. Calmet.—From Christ’s choosing to be born of such progenitors, we may learn to adore his humility and tender regard for sinners. Bible.