Interesting Facts

• Onan was instructed by his father Judah to go in unto his deceased brother Er’s wife, Tamar, and marry her to raise up seed for his brother.
• Knowing that any offspring from this union would not be considered his own, Onan deliberately spilled his seed on the ground whenever he lay with Tamar.
• Onan’s action of spilling his seed was displeasing in the sight of the Lord.
• As a consequence of his actions, the Lord slew Onan as well.
• Similar to his brother Er, despite dying in the land of Canaan before the descent into Egypt, Onan is listed among the sons of Judah.

Genealogy

• Onan was the second son of Judah.
• His mother was the same as Er’s, although her specific name is not given in these excerpts, but it is mentioned that Er desired to marry within her Canaanite kin.
• He married Tamar, his deceased brother Er’s widow, according to the levirate custom.
• Onan had no offspring because he intentionally prevented conception when he lay with Tamar.
• His brothers were Er and Shelah. Perez and Zerah were born to Tamar later through Judah.

Historical Context

The events involving Onan occur within the patriarchal society of early Canaan, where the continuation of family lineage was of paramount importance. The custom of levirate marriage, where a surviving brother was obligated to marry his deceased brother’s widow to produce an heir for the deceased, underscores this value. Onan’s decision to defy this custom and prevent the raising of seed for his brother highlights a conflict between individual desires and societal expectations. The narrative emphasizes the divine significance of procreation and the consequences of actions deemed to undermine this principle, as evidenced by the Lord’s direct intervention in Onan’s death. This period precedes the Israelite sojourn in Egypt and reflects the familial and religious structures prevalent at that time.

Narrative

Onan’s story unfolds directly after the death of his elder brother, Er. Following the customs of the time, Judah instructed Onan to marry Tamar, his brother’s widow, and to raise up seed in Er’s name. However, Onan, knowing that any son born to Tamar would be considered Er’s heir and not his own, refused to fulfill the intended purpose of this union. Instead, the text explicitly states that “when he went in unto his brother’s wife, that he spilled it on the ground, lest that he should give seed to his brother”. This deliberate act of preventing conception was viewed as a grave offense. The sources indicate that “the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also”. Onan’s narrative serves as another example of divine judgment for actions perceived as wicked within the context of familial and procreative responsibilities. His death further complicates the situation for Judah and Tamar, eventually leading to the birth of Perez and Zerah through Judah himself, thus continuing the lineage despite the actions of his first two sons. Like Er, Onan’s inclusion in the list of those who came to Egypt seems to be for genealogical completeness, despite his death in Canaan.