Genesis 9:23
Context9:23 Shem and Japheth took the garment 1 and placed it on their shoulders. Then they walked in backwards and covered up their father’s nakedness. Their faces were turned 2 the other way so they did not see their father’s nakedness.
Genesis 38:11
Context38:11 Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Live as a widow in your father’s house until Shelah my son grows up.” For he thought, 3 “I don’t want him to die like his brothers.” 4 So Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.
1 tn The word translated “garment” has the Hebrew definite article on it. The article may simply indicate that the garment is definite and vivid in the mind of the narrator, but it could refer instead to Noah’s garment. Did Ham bring it out when he told his brothers?
2 tn Heb “their faces [were turned] back.”
3 tn Heb “said.”
4 tn Heb “Otherwise he will die, also he, like his brothers.”
sn I don’t want him to die like his brothers. This clause explains that Judah had no intention of giving Shelah to Tamar for the purpose of the levirate marriage. Judah apparently knew the nature of his sons, and feared that God would be angry with the third son and kill him as well.