Luckily for Tamar, it was the custom of the time that the next oldest brother would marry his sister in law in order to give her children. Next in line was Onan. Judah told his son that he must do his duty and impregnate Tamar so she could fulfill her only purpose in being alive.

But the problem for Onan was that he liked things the way they were. As it stood, his father’s inheritance would be divided between him and his other brother Shelah. But if Onan gave Tamar a son, then that son would get a full portion of Judah’s inheritance, leaving Onan with quite a bit less. What a nuisance that would be.

Mind you, Tamar was pretty darned cute. Onan wondered to himself if he could have it both ways.

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