150. "And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite" (Beresheet 38:2). HE ASKS, Was he Canaanite? DID NOT THE FATHERS AVOID MARRYING AMONG THE CANAANITES? HE REPLIES, It has been explained by the friends THAT THE WORD CANAANITE MEANS 'MERCHANT.' "And she conceived, and bore a son, and he called his name Er" (Ibid. 3). Judah had three sons, but only one, Shelah, remained. THE MEANING OF "JUDAH WENT DOWN," IS THAT HE BEGOT SONS AND BURIED THEN, WHICH IS A DESCENT AND PUNISHMENT.

151. Rabbi Elazar, Rabbi Yosi, and Rabbi Chiya were walking along the road. Rabbi Yosi asks Rabbi Elazar: Why is it written in relation to Judah's firstborn, "And he called his name Er," USING THE MALE PRONOUN, and of the other two sons, "she called his name Onan," and "she called his name Shelah," USING THE FEMALE PRONOUN?

154. With the second son, the place was not yet mitigated AND RETURNED TO HOLINESS. That happened only when Shelah, who was the most important of them all, came. It is written, "And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of Hashem" (Beresheet 38:7), and "for the inclination of man's heart is evil from his youth" (Beresheet 8:21). THERE IT MEANS 'SPILLING SEMEN IN VAIN;' THUS, HERE IT MEANS HE WAS SPILLING blood, for he spilt semen on the ground. That is why "Hashem slew him" (Ibid.). Then, "Judah said to Onan, 'Go in to your brother's wife...'"

192. Tamar approached her father-in-law, who was next of kin to his dead sons AND THUS WORTHY OF TAKING HER IN LEVIRATE MARRIAGE. The reason for her act is stated in the verse, "For she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him to wife" (Beresheet 38:14). She therefore did this by her father-in-law.