Er

Er was the firstborn son of Judah, one of the twelve sons of Jacob, and his wife, the daughter of Shua, a Canaanite woman. Er's account is briefly mentioned in the Book of Genesis. According to the biblical account, Er was married to a woman named Tamar. However, Er's life was cut short due to his wickedness in the sight of the Lord. The Bible states, "But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; so the LORD put him to death" (Genesis 38:7). The nature of Er's wickedness is not specified in the text, but it was significant enough to warrant divine judgment.

Onan

Onan was the second son of Judah and the brother of Er. Following the death of Er, Judah instructed Onan to fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law by marrying Tamar, Er's widow, to produce offspring in Er's name. This practice, known as levirate marriage, was an important cultural and familial obligation in ancient Israel. The Bible records, "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'" (Genesis 38:8).

However, Onan was unwilling to produce offspring that would not be considered his own. The Scripture narrates, "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" (Genesis 38:9). Onan's actions were seen as disobedient and selfish, as he failed to honor his familial duty and the memory of his deceased brother. Consequently, the Lord's displeasure with Onan's actions led to his death: "What he did was wicked in the sight of the LORD, so He put Onan to death as well" (Genesis 38:10).

Theological and Moral Implications

The accounts of Er and Onan highlight themes of divine justice and the importance of obedience to God's commands. The deaths of Er and Onan serve as a reminder of the seriousness with which God views sin and disobedience. The narrative underscores the significance of family responsibilities and the cultural practices of the time, such as levirate marriage, which were designed to preserve family lineage and provide for widows.

The account of Er and Onan also sets the stage for the subsequent events involving Tamar, who, through her own actions, ensures the continuation of Judah's line, ultimately leading to the birth of Perez and Zerah. This lineage is significant in the biblical narrative, as it is through the line of Perez that King David and, ultimately, Jesus Christ are descended.