John Calvin Commentary Genesis 38:26

"And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She is more righteous than I; forasmuch as I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more." — Genesis 38:26 (ASV)

And Judah acknowledged them. Tamar's open reproach proceeded from a desire for revenge. She does not seek an interview with her father-in-law to appease his mind; instead, with a deliberate contempt for death, she demands him as the companion of her doom. That Judah immediately acknowledges his fault is a proof of his honesty, for we see with how many fallacies nearly all are accustomed to cover their sins until they are dragged into the light and all means of denying their guilt have failed.

Here, though no one is present who could extort a confession by force or threats, Judah voluntarily stoops to make one and takes the greater share of the blame on himself. Yet, because he is silent about punishment when confessing his fault, we infer from this that those who are rigid in censuring others are much more lenient in forgiving themselves.

In this, therefore, we should imitate him: truth should prevail with us to such an extent that, without rack or torture, we should not be ashamed to confess before the whole world those sins with which God charges us. But we must avoid his partiality, lest, while harsh towards others, we spare ourselves.

This narrative also teaches us the importance of not condemning anyone unheard, not only because it is better that the innocent should be absolved than that a guilty person should perish, but also because a defense brings many things to light, which sometimes make a change in the form of judgment necessary.

She hath been more righteous than I. The expression is not strictly proper, for he does not simply approve of Tamar’s conduct. Instead, he speaks comparatively, as if he were saying that he had been unjustly and without cause angry with a woman by whom he himself might rather have been accused.

Moreover, the result shows how slowly the world proceeds in exacting punishment for crimes when no private person comes forward to avenge his own injury. An atrocious and horrible crime had been committed; as long as Judah thought himself aggrieved, he pressed on with vehemence, and the door of judgment was opened.

But now, when the accusation is withdrawn, both escape, though it was certainly the duty of all to rise up against them. Moses, however, intimates that Judah was sincerely penitent, because he knew his daughter-in-law again no more. He also confirms what I have said before, that by nature men are imbued with a great horror of such a crime.

For from where did it arise that he abstained from intercourse with Tamar, unless he judged naturally that it was infamous for a father-in-law to be connected with his daughter-in-law? Whoever attempts to destroy the distinction that nature dictates between what is base and what is honorable engages, like the giants, in open war with God.