John Calvin Commentary Genesis 38:1

"And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah." — Genesis 38:1 (ASV)

And it came to pass at that time, that Judah. Before Moses proceeds in relating the history of Joseph, he inserts the genealogy of Judah, to which he devotes more labor, because the Redeemer was to derive his origin from that source; for the continuous history of that tribe, from which salvation was to be bought, could not remain unknown without loss.

And yet its glorious nobility is not celebrated here; instead, the greatest disgrace of the family is exposed. What is related here, far from inflating the minds of the sons of Judah, should rather cover them with shame. Now, although at first glance the dignity of Christ seems to be somewhat tarnished by such dishonor, yet since the “emptying” of which St. Paul speaks is also seen here, it rather contributes to his glory than detracts from it in the least degree.

1. We wrong Christ unless we consider him alone sufficient to blot out any ignominy arising from the misconduct of his ancestors, which gives unbelievers cause for offense.

2. We know that the riches of God’s grace shine chiefly in this: that Christ clothed himself in our flesh, intending to make himself of no reputation.

3. It was fitting that the race from which he sprang should be dishonored by reproaches, so that we, being content with him alone, might seek nothing besides him; indeed, that we might not seek earthly splendor in him, since carnal ambition is always too much inclined to such a course.

So, we may notice these two things: first, that peculiar honor was given to the tribe of Judah, which had been divinely elected as the source from which the salvation of the world should flow; and secondly, that the narrative of Moses is by no means honorable to the persons of whom he speaks, so that the Jews have no right to arrogate anything to themselves or to their fathers.

Meanwhile, let us remember that Christ derives no glory from his ancestors, and even that he himself has no glory in the flesh, but that his chief and most illustrious triumph was on the cross. Moreover, so that we may not be offended by the stains with which his ancestry was defiled, let us understand that by his infinite purity they were all cleansed, just as the sun, by absorbing whatever impurities are in the earth and air, purges the world.