The sons of Judah; Er, and Onan, and Shelah: which three were born unto him of the daughter of Shua the Canaanitess. And Er, the firstborn of Judah, was evil in the sight of the LORD; and he slew him.
Judah's sons were Er, Onan, and Shelah. These three were born to him by the daughter of Shua, a Canaanite woman. Er, Judah's oldest son, was wicked in the Lord's eyes, so God killed him.
This verse records Judah's three sons and notes that God took the life of the eldest, Er, because of his wickedness.
📚 Historical Context
This genealogy traces the lineage of Judah, one of Jacob's twelve sons whose tribe would become prominent in Israel's history. The mention of Er's wickedness and divine judgment connects to the fuller story told in Genesis 38, where God's justice is displayed even within the chosen family line. The Chronicler includes both the honorable and shameful parts of Israel's ancestry to show God's sovereignty in working through imperfect people.
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