AT that time] Part of the story in this Chapter fell out after the selling of Joseph into Egypt, but that part concerning Judahs marriage was before; Some take the words [at that time] in respect of his taking of a wife, for the time betwixt Josephs selling into Egypt, and Jacobs sending for to sojourne there; (which was twenty three yeares (or as some reckon twentie two) as may be gathered by comparison of Chap. 37. 2. &41. 46.) and at the beginning of that account they conceive that Judah married the daughter of Shuah the Canaanite, for otherwise the story of Joseph may seeme abruptly to be left off and that of Judah to be unseasonably brought in: and secondly, they say that at that time when Joseph was sold into Egypt Judah dwelt in the presence of his brethren, and therefore it is likely that after this he made his choice of a Canaanitish confort: but neither of these reasons are convincing, for Judahs story might be brought in in this place because of the dignitie of his Tribe by the descent of Christ from him and Thamar according to that which is here reported of them, and because the most of these matters concerning him and his sons had their course in the time prefixed; and for that which is said of Judahs dwelling in the presence of his brethren, it will not inferre such a strict residence at home but that he might make a visit to a friend else-where, and there might see, and like, and steale an unmeet match with the daughter of a Canaanite. Therefore this notwithstanding the story of Judah may have its entrance before the selling of Joseph, and yet might be brought in here because the greater part of it followed after; and so at that time must be understood in some larger latitude, and be referred to the time of Jacobs continuance in Canaan, after his departure out of Mesopotamia; as it is set downe, Chap. 37. vers. 1. and accounting the time by the story of Joseph being seventeene yeares old when he was sold, and Judah being about twenty one yeares of age, seven yeares before that, that is, at fourteene yeares old he married, and in the three yeares next ensuing had three sonnes successively one after another, viz. Er. Onan, and Shelah; when Er his eldest sonne was about foureteene yeares of age he married him to Thamar, and Er for his wickednesse being smitten dead by God he gives Thamar to his second sonne Onan to raise up seed unto his eldest brother, who doing as wickedly, God doth as justly by him, and so he cutteth off him also; she then expecting the third sonne for the same reason that she had the second, and disappointed of her desire, in the disguise of an Harlot is used like an harlot by her father in law Judah, (who was now about thirtie yeares of age) by him she was mother of twinnes Pharez, and Zarah; Pharez being married at foureteene yeares old (as Er his elder brother, and father were) begat Hezron the same yeare, and the yeare after he begat Hamul, that yeare went Jacob into Egypt, and carried those two little ones with him in the fourtieth yeare of Josephs age; so that for the most of the story of this Chapter we may take the words at that time, or, in that time, for the time after the selling of Joseph into Egypt, onely Judahs marriage (as the ground of the ensuing passages) is related here, though it fell out before, because it was fit to mention things so coherent, together; all the story besides happened after the selling of Joseph into Egypt, and so the whole is most fitly set downe as one continued story in this place. The marriage of Judah, Er, and Pharez, at foureteene yeares old, especially Judah his begetting of Er, and Pharez his begetting of Hezron and Hamul about that age (and so it must be by computation of time, else they could not have beene borne to be brought with Jacob into Egypt, as they were, Genesis 46:12.) may seeme somewhat strange; and so are many things in Scripture, yea in the narration of this Chapter, yet it is not improbable, because in very many of that age there is a naturall abilitie for that purpose, and there wants not instances of some who were fathers sooner then at foureteene, as Ahaz was when he begat Hezekiah which is plaine by comparison of 2 Kin. 16. 2. &2 Kings 18:2. &2 Kings 17:1. and Doctor Rivet in his exercitation on this place out of Scaliger relates a story of one, who was under twelve yeares of age when he begat a child; but no doubt but there are divers instances of such early fruitfulnesse, as at fourteene, and might be more if men were usually married at that age. Judah went] Judah is singled out in this story from the rest of his brethren, and brought in with Thamar, because of these two (though wickedly made one) the holy Child Jesus was to be descended, according to his pedegree, Matth. 1. Adullamite] That is, one of the Citie of Adullam, called also Odollam, which in the division of Canaan fell to the Tribe of Judah: See Joshua 12:15. &Chap. 15. 35. situate in a lower part of the Countrey, where his father dwelt, and therefore he is said to goe downe thither; David made an escape from Achish King of Gath, and betooke him to a Cave there, 1 Samuel 22. vers. 1.