Judah tooke a wife for] Now Judah hath a sonne h useth his owne right to dispose of him in marriage, and thereby sheweth the wrong he did unto his father, in marrying himselfe without his consent; children many times use their parents so, as they would not be used themselves by their children, when they have them; it would make them more apprehensive of their dutie, and better disposed to doe it, if they would thinke when they are children what they would require of their owne if God doe them the honour to make them parents. Thamar] Some Jewish Doctors would have her to be the daughter of the High-priest Melchisedech, because Judah doomes her to that death, which in case of whoredome was to be inflicted on the Priests daughter, Leviticus 21:9. but the computation of time will not allow him at this time to have a daughter young enough to beare children, for he died one hundred and sixteene yeares before this foule fact; It is more like Judah chose for his sonne, as he did for himselfe, a Canaanite, who if she were willing to leave the Religion of her Countrey for that which Judah professed, might be a good woman. Some doubt whether she were not rather a Philistine then a Canaanite, vers. 7. wicked in the sight of] All wickednesse is in the sight of the Lord, but of some it may be said, rather then of others; as secret sinnes may be said to be in his sight, because no eye but his can see them; and great sinnes and sinners are said to sinne in his sight, or before the Lord, as was said of Nimrod, Genesis 10:9. and the men of Sodome, Genesis 13:13. because they sinne with so much boldnesse as if they would professe impietie before his face; and he in justice sets an especiall eye, and observation upon them to reward them according to their wickednesse: What wickednesse this was is not set downe; it is thought by some to be the like that Onans was, vers. 9. but not of envie, but to preserve the beautie of his wife, which by bearing of children and giving suck would be impaired; but this was not like to be the consideration of one so young; some hainous and hatefull sinne certainly it was, both for kind and degree; and if it were of that kind it is not unlike it would have beene mentioned, as well as the sinne of his other brother; and because the wisdome of God thought fit to conceale it, it is not fit to be inquisitive after it. and the Lord slew him] By a wicked Angel, say some Popish Commentators, quoting for it Psalms 78:49. And some more particularly, that this wicked Angel was Asmodeus the slaughterer of the libidinous husbands of Sarah, Tob 3:7-8. but this is but their conceit; it was doubtlesse, whether immediately by the Lord, or by a good or bad Angel, such a stroke of divine vengeance as might be known to come from the hand of God. He was but young about fourteene yeares of age; (as hath beene noted in the first verse) at this age, and beyond, many make account they have a priviledge for youthfull prankes, though profane or impure, but they should Remember their Creator in the dayes of their youth, Ecclesiastes 12:1. lest they provoke him to be their destroyer, either in the midst of their dayes, Psalms 55:23. or sooner, as he was to Er in this place, and to his brother Onan, vers. 10. and yet sooner, as he was to the little children who mocked the Prophet, 2 Kings 2:24.