Genesis 37 is the beginning of one of the best-known stories in the Bible. Jacob/Israel settles down in Canaan, the land of his father Isaac. Israel loves his son Joseph more than any of his other children. Joseph was the first son of his beloved wife Rachel.

Israel treats Joseph better than the others and gives him a special coat. The original Hebrew says it is a coat with sleeves. This description is confusing to us, but perhaps it describes a sleeved coat rather than the sleeveless cloaks that were often worn over tunics. The description was apparently confusion when the first translations came out and so traditionally it became a coat of many colors.

Joseph doesn’t do anything to endear himself to his brothers. He tattles on two of his brothers when they do something wrong. He has dreams which he interprets as his brothers bowing down around him. One time he even describes a dream in which his father and mother bow down. This is one time Israel rebukes him. All in all Joseph is a real pill.

One day his brothers take the flocks away. Apparently they are gone for quite a while so Israel sends Joseph to see how they are doing and then report back. Joseph finds his brothers. As he is walking toward them they plot to get rid of him. Reuben encourages them not to hurt him but only to put him in a pit and leave him there. Reuben plans to return for Joseph later. The brothers put Joseph in the pit but Judah convinces them to sell Joseph to Ishmaelite traders. When Reuben looks into the pit he discovers that Joseph is gone and realizes he will be responsible for what happened to him. The brothers had taken the coat, so they dip it in goat’s blood. They take it to their father and concoct a story that Joseph was attacked by a wild animal. Israel is distraught.

Joseph is taken to Egypt and is sold to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s captains.

In Genesis 38 Judah moves out and marries a Canaanite woman.  They have three sons. Judah marries off his first son Er to a woman named Tamar. Er is wicked and God kills him. According to the custom of the day, when the oldest son dies before he has children, a younger son is to marry the oldest son’s wife and the children they have will belong to the oldest son. Judah marries Tamar off to his second son Onan. Onan didn’t want to father Er’s children so he pretends to have sex with Tamar. God is not happy with Onan and he also dies. Judah’s third son is too young to marry so Judah sends Tamar home to live in her father’s house.

Later, Judah’s wife dies. Tamar learns this and seeing that Shelah, Judah’s third son is of marrying age and yet Judah didn’t marry her off to him, Tamar approaches Judah. She covers her face like a prostitute would. Judah does not recognize her and has sex with her for comfort. In payment Tamar takes Judah’s signet ring, his cord, and his staff.

A few months later, Judah is told that Tamar has been sleeping around and is pregnant. According to custom Judah has the right to have her killed for adultery. But Tamar comes to Judah with his ring, his cord and his staff. Judah realizes what Tamar has done and allows her to live in his house. She has twins. This is the Tamar who is listed in Jesus’ genealogy in Matthew.

Psalm 9 is a song of praise. It tells of enemies being defeated. It acknowledged the Lord to be the judge of the world, who judges people with equity. The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed and those in trouble. He deserves our praise.