38:2 There Judah saw the daughter of a Canaanite man 3 named Shua. 4 Judah acquired her as a wife 5 and had marital relations with her. 6
1 tn The Hebrew text simply has “because,” connecting this sentence to what precedes. For stylistic reasons the words “she did this” are supplied in the translation and a new sentence begun.
2 tn Heb “she saw that Shelah had grown up, but she was not given to him as a wife.”
3 tn Heb “a man, a Canaanite.”
4 tn Heb “and his name was Shua.”
5 tn Heb “and he took her.”
6 tn Heb “and he went to her.” This expression is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.
7 tn Heb “made war.”
8 sn On the geographical background of vv. 1-2 see J. P. Harland, “Sodom and Gomorrah,” The Biblical Archaeologist Reader, 1:41-75; and D. N. Freedman, “The Real Story of the Ebla Tablets, Ebla and the Cities of the Plain,” BA 41 (1978): 143-64.
9 tn The Hebrew verb נָכָה (nakhah) means “to attack, to strike, to smite.” In this context it appears that the strike was successful, and so a translation of “defeated” is preferable.