[The main character in the last section (chapters 37-50) of Genesis is Joseph. Here in chapter 38, however, there is an abrupt interruption concerning Judah and Tamar. At first, it may be difficult to understand how this chapter, which is a single tangle of illicit sexual relationships, fits into the story. Judah refuses to marry his youngest son to Tamar, she takes matters into her own hands and seduces her father-in-law, who willingly goes to her disguised as a prostitute. Placing the story of Judah in the middle of the story of Joseph creates a literary point. Two different paths emerge. Joseph flees from sexual immorality (), while Judah willingly enters into it with his eyes wide open.]
At that time, Judah went down [in terms of elevation, but also morally] from his brothers [in Hebron, see ] and turned to (pitched his tent at) a certain Adullamite named Kira [which means "noble"]. [Down to Adullam, which is located 20 km northwest of Hebron, there is an elevation difference of over 500 meters.]
After some time (many days), Shoa's daughter, Judah's wife, died. Judah was comforted and went up to his shepherds in Timnah, he and his friend the Adullamite Kira.
