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Genesis 46:12 - Judah's tragic lineage unfolds.

Genesis 46:12 - בראשית 46:12

Hebrew Text

וּבְנֵי יְהוּדָה עֵר וְאוֹנָן וְשֵׁלָה וָפֶרֶץ וָזָרַח וַיָּמָת עֵר וְאוֹנָן בְּאֶרֶץ כְּנַעַן וַיִּהְיוּ בְנֵי־פֶרֶץ חֶצְרוֹן וְחָמוּל׃

English Translation

And the sons of Yehuda; ῾Er, and Onan, and Shela, and Pereż, and Zeraĥ: but ῾Er and Onan died in the land of Kena῾an. And the sons of Pereż were Ḥeżron and Ḥamul.

Transliteration

Uvnei Yehuda Er ve'Onan ve'Shela va'Peretz va'Zarach vayamat Er ve'Onan be'eretz Kena'an vayihyu venei-Peretz Chetzron ve'Chamul.

Hebrew Leining Text

וּבְנֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֗ה עֵ֧ר וְאוֹנָ֛ן וְשֵׁלָ֖ה וָפֶ֣רֶץ וָזָ֑רַח וַיָּ֨מׇת עֵ֤ר וְאוֹנָן֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן וַיִּהְי֥וּ בְנֵי־פֶ֖רֶץ חֶצְרֹ֥ן וְחָמֽוּל׃
וּבְנֵ֣י יְהוּדָ֗ה עֵ֧ר וְאוֹנָ֛ן וְשֵׁלָ֖ה וָפֶ֣רֶץ וָזָ֑רַח וַיָּ֨מׇת עֵ֤ר וְאוֹנָן֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן וַיִּהְי֥וּ בְנֵי־פֶ֖רֶץ חֶצְרֹ֥ן וְחָמֽוּל׃

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Parasha Commentary

The Sons of Yehuda

The verse lists the sons of Yehuda: Er, Onan, Shela, Peretz, and Zerach. The Torah notes that Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan, while Peretz's lineage continued through his sons Chetzron and Chamul. This passage appears in Bereishit (Genesis) 46:12, within the context of Yaakov's family descending to Egypt.

Rashi's Explanation on Er and Onan

Rashi (Bereishit 38:7) explains that Er died because he was wicked—his sin being that he prevented Tamar from conceiving to preserve her beauty. Onan, following his brother's death, was obligated to perform yibum (levirate marriage) but instead "spilled his seed" (Bereishit 38:9), an act that was displeasing to Hashem. Thus, both died prematurely as a consequence of their actions.

The Significance of Peretz's Lineage

Peretz, the son of Yehuda and Tamar, is significant because his descendants include King David and ultimately the future Mashiach (see Rut Rabbah 4:12). The mention of Chetzron and Chamul here connects to the genealogical records in Divrei Hayamim (Chronicles), emphasizing the enduring legacy of Yehuda's tribe.

Midrashic Insights

  • The Midrash Tanchuma (Vayechi 12) teaches that Yehuda's suffering over the loss of his sons was part of his teshuvah (repentance) process after the incident with Tamar.
  • The Sforno notes that the deaths of Er and Onan in Canaan highlight that their sins were tied to the corrupt moral environment of the land, reinforcing the need for Bnei Yisrael to later leave Egypt and receive the Torah.

Halachic Implications

The story of Onan establishes the prohibition of hashchatat zera (wasting seed), a principle later codified by the Rambam (Hilchot Issurei Biah 21:18). This underscores the Torah's emphasis on the sanctity of marital relations and procreation.

📚 Talmud Citations

This verse is quoted in the Talmud.

📖 Yevamot 34b
The verse is referenced in a discussion about the lineage of Judah and the status of his sons, particularly Er and Onan, in the context of levirate marriage laws.
📖 Sotah 10b
The verse is cited in a discussion about the righteousness of Judah and his descendants, focusing on the story of Tamar and the birth of Perez and Zerah.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did Er and Onan die in the land of Canaan?
A: According to Rashi and the Talmud (Sanhedrin 92b), Er and Onan died young because of their sins. Er was wicked and did not want to have children with Tamar for selfish reasons, and Onan practiced 'wasting seed' (a grave sin in Jewish law) to avoid fulfilling his duty of levirate marriage (yibbum). Their deaths serve as a lesson about the consequences of immoral behavior.
Q: Who was Peretz, and why is he important?
A: Peretz was the son of Yehuda and Tamar, born from an unusual circumstance (Genesis 38). He became an ancestor of King David (as seen in the Book of Ruth 4:18-22) and thus part of the Messianic lineage. The Midrash (Bereishit Rabbah 12:6) highlights how even difficult beginnings can lead to greatness in Jewish history.
Q: What is the significance of listing Yehuda's descendants in this verse?
A: This verse connects the family line from Yehuda (one of Yaakov's 12 sons) to later important figures like King David. The Torah often traces lineages to show how key leaders emerge. Ramban explains that these details emphasize Divine providence in shaping Jewish history, especially the tribe of Yehuda, which became the royal tribe.
Q: How do the names Chetzron and Chamul (Peretz's sons) connect to later Torah events?
A: Chetzron became the ancestor of the Chezroni family (Numbers 26:6) and is part of King David's lineage (Ruth 4:18-19). Though Chamul isn't mentioned again, Rashi notes that all descendants of Yaakov who went down to Egypt were significant—some for their deeds, others for their potential roles in Jewish destiny.