Er

Er is the firstborn son of Judah, the fourth son of Jacob and Leah, and his wife, the Canaanite woman Shua. Er's account is briefly mentioned in the Book of Genesis. According to Genesis 38:6-7 , "Now Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; so the LORD put him to death." The specific nature of Er's wickedness is not detailed in the biblical text, but it was significant enough to warrant divine judgment. Er's untimely death sets the stage for the subsequent events involving his brothers, Onan and Shelah, and his widow, Tamar.

Onan

Onan is the second son of Judah and Shua. Following the death of his brother Er, Onan is instructed by Judah to perform the duty of a levirate marriage with Tamar, Er's widow, to produce offspring in Er's name. Genesis 38:8-10 recounts, "Then Judah said to Onan, 'Sleep with your brother’s wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to raise up offspring for your brother.' But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to avoid providing offspring for his brother. What he did was wicked in the sight of the LORD, so He put Onan to death as well." Onan's actions are seen as a direct defiance of the levirate marriage custom, which was intended to preserve the family line and inheritance. His refusal to fulfill this duty, coupled with his deceitful actions, led to his death by divine intervention.

Shelah

Shelah is the third son of Judah and Shua. After the deaths of Er and Onan, Judah promises Tamar that she will be given to Shelah in marriage when he comes of age. However, Judah does not fulfill this promise, fearing that Shelah might also die like his brothers. Genesis 38:11 states, "Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, 'Live as a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up.' For he thought, 'He may die too, like his brothers.' So Tamar went to live in her father’s house." Shelah's role in the narrative is more passive compared to his brothers, as he does not directly interact with Tamar in the biblical account. Eventually, Tamar takes matters into her own hands to secure her place in Judah's family, leading to the birth of Perez and Zerah, who are significant in the lineage of King David and ultimately, Jesus Christ.

The accounts of Er, Onan, and Shelah highlight themes of family duty, divine justice, and the complexities of human relationships within the context of God's covenant people. These narratives serve as a backdrop to the unfolding account of God's redemptive plan through the lineage of Judah.