Genesis 38:1: “At that time, Judah left his brothers and went down to stay with a man of Adullam named Hirah.”
In order to feed their flocks and herds the sons of Jacob had been crisscrossing the entire land of Canaan. Presently, they were on their way back and planned to reach Beersheba the following day.
Reuben and Judah were sitting by the fire during the last watch of the night. “I can’t stand it”, Judah said. Reuben had a funny feeling about him. As of lately, his brother had become more and more withdrawn. “What are you trying to say?” he asked. Judah shrugged his shoulders and said: “I have to get out of here.” Reuben wasn’t surprised to hear that, but he fought back, “You’re going to betray your family and leave us?” he countered, “Where is your honor, son of Jacob?” Judah’s face looked tired and for a while nothing was said. Again Reuben spoke up and said: “I know we have our problems, but we are family. We stick together, in good and in bad times.” Judah sighed: “Look, Reuben – I love our family and my plan is to stay in Canaan. But I need some distance. Our father’s grief is killing me.”
Frustrated, Reuben got up and stood by the fire, undecided what to do while Judah remained seated, staring into the flames. Without taking his eyes off the fire he answered Reuben’s unspoken question: “I’m going to talk with dad as soon as we return home. I plan to leave immediately after our meeting.”
It was roughly a year ago that the sons of Jacob had sold their brother Joseph to a slave trader. They had made it look like an animal had killed him and their father had been depressed ever since.
Jacob sat with his son Benjamin when Judah came to see him. Seeing the serious expression on Judah’s face he turned to Benjamin and said: “Why don’t you go out and play with your friends before supper?”
After Benjamin had left, Jacob looked at his son questioningly and said: “Tell me what’s wrong. You look like you’ve lost half of our herds.” Judah sat down next to his father avoiding eye contact. “Dad”, he began, “My friend Hirah has offered me a business partnership and I think I’m going to accept it.” Alarmed his father looked at him, asking: “What business partnership are you talking about?” Judah replied: “Hirah’s livestock has multiplied to the point that he needs help. Our reputation precedes us. He knows we are good breeders and shepherds and he wants me to become his business partner. We will split profit and loss equally. I think this is a fair deal.” His father looked profoundly sad. A tear trickled down his face and ran into his beard. “So you’re leaving me too?” he whispered in a toneless voice. “Yes”, Judah replied. “But I won’t be far and will keep in touch. I’m moving to Elah Valley, Father.” Jacob only shook his head and for a while nothing was said. Finally he dismissed his son. “May God be with you,” he said gravely and did not return his son’s kiss goodbye.
The following day Judah packed his few belongings, saddled his donkey and headed northwest. At the end of the day he saw the first terebinth trees of the region. The Valley of Elah emerged from the desert like the Garden of Eden. Near Kezib, which had a public well, Hirah had established his home camp. The size of his herds was nowhere near Jacob’s amount of livestock, but then Hirah also did not have twelve sons to look after his sheep and goats. He grinned when he saw Judah and rushed to greet him: “Welcome my friend! I take it, you’re accepting the deal that we have been talking about?” Judah smiled back at him and nodded: “Yes, I’m on board!” Hirah put an arm around his shoulder and directed him to the campfire. “Sit down and relax,” he said, “I’ll see to it that your donkey gets fed.”
Many years had passed and the time approached for Jacob’s father Isaac to see eternity. At the age of 180 years he was gathered to his forefathers. Jacob sent for his brother Esau and together they buried him in the family tomb at Machpelah, near Mamre where their grandparents Abraham and Sarah had been laid to rest.
Around the same time Judah married Shua, the daughter of a Canaanite, and became the proud father of three sons: Er, his firstborn, Onan his middle child and his youngest son Shelah. He moved to Kezib to raise his family and continued to partner with his friend Hirah in the livestock business.
Judah’s sons grew like palm trees and soon his firstborn Er was of marriageable age. Judah found a bride for him and the wedding was arranged. She was a quiet and unassuming girl, but what Judah noticed right away were her eyes. Although her frame looked delicate, her eyes betrayed an inner strength to be reckoned with. Her name was Tamar.