Interesting Facts

• Shelah was the third son born to Judah by Aliyath, the daughter of Shua, a Canaanite man.
• Following the deaths of his older brothers, Er and Onan, his father Judah intended for Shelah to marry their widow, Tamar.
• Judah later hesitated to give Tamar to Shelah as he grew older, fearing that Shelah might also die like his brothers.
• Despite Judah’s initial intention, Shelah did not marry Tamar, partly due to the actions of Judah’s wife, Bedsu’el, who did not permit the marriage.
• Shelah is listed among the sons of Judah who came down to Egypt with Jacob.

Genealogy

• Shelah was the third son of Judah.
• His mother was Aliyath (also called Betasu’el), the daughter of Shua, a Canaanite man.
• His older brothers were Er and Onan, who both died in the land of Canaan.
• His father, Judah, initially intended for him to marry Tamar, his deceased brothers’ widow, to raise up seed for Er.
• He is listed among the offspring of Judah who came to Egypt, although the sources provided do not explicitly mention any wives or children of Shelah.

Historical Context

Shelah’s story unfolds in the context of the early patriarchal society of Canaan, where the continuation of family lineage through marriage and procreation was highly valued. The practice of levirate marriage, where a surviving brother was expected to marry his deceased brother’s widow, is central to the narrative involving Tamar and Judah’s sons. Judah’s initial adherence to this custom by promising Shelah to Tamar, followed by his reluctance due to the deaths of Er and Onan, reveals the anxieties surrounding the survival of the family line. The intervention of Judah’s wife in preventing the marriage to Tamar further illustrates the familial dynamics and influences on marital decisions during this period. The fact that Shelah is later listed among those who went to Egypt with Jacob indicates his continued presence within the family structure despite the unresolved situation with Tamar in Canaan.

Narrative

Shelah’s personal narrative within the provided sources is somewhat limited, primarily existing in the shadow of the events concerning his older brothers and Tamar. He is introduced as the youngest of Judah’s three sons by his Canaanite wife. Following the deaths of Er and Onan, Judah instructs Tamar to remain a widow until Shelah grows up, implying an intention for him to fulfill the levirate duty. However, as Shelah matures, Judah’s fear of losing another son prevents him from fulfilling this promise. The text from Jubilees further clarifies that Judah’s wife, Bedsu’el, actively prevented Shelah from marrying Tamar. Consequently, Shelah does not marry Tamar, and the responsibility of raising seed for Er ultimately falls upon Judah himself. Shelah’s lack of direct action or dialogue in the narrative highlights his passive role in these significant family events. Despite the complexities surrounding his potential marriage to Tamar, Shelah is later mentioned as being among Jacob’s descendants who journeyed to Egypt, suggesting he continued as part of the family despite the disrupted expectations regarding his role in maintaining the family lineage in Canaan.