Why did God kill Er?

[QuietTempest]

When I was pulling up information on Onan earlier, I reread Gen. 38. I'm a little confused about why God killed Er..? I don't really see anything that would have warranted his death...? I figured if anyone could answer, it would be someone here.


(38:2-4)
"And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite ... and he took her, and went in unto her."
Judah has casual sex with a Canaanite woman which results in two sons, Er and Onan.

(38:7) "And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord slew him."


Was he born disfigured? Did he somehow disobey God? Was God still peeved that he was born out of wedlock? What made Er, the firstborn son to Judah and [twin?] brother to Onan, so offensive to God?

 

[BarbB]

GE 38:1 At that time, Judah left his brothers and went down to stay with a man of Adullam named Hirah. [2] There Judah met the daughter of a Canaanite man named Shua. He married her and lay with her; [3] she became pregnant and gave birth to a son, who was named Er. [4] She conceived again and gave birth to a son and named him Onan. [5] She gave birth to still another son and named him Shelah. It was at Kezib that she gave birth to him.

GE 38:6 Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. [7] But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the LORD's sight; so the LORD put him to death.

NIV

My NIV says that Judah married the woman. Also, it doesn't indicate that they were twins, not that it matters. The important thing is that God slew Er. He must have been really wicked to have that happen.

Not disfigured, ugly, illegitimate which he wasn't because his parents were married, but wicked. The Lord killed Ananias and Sapphira on the spot in front of their church when they lied about the proceeds of a land sale.

 

[£amb]

When I was pulling up information on Onan earlier, I reread Gen. 38. I'm a little confused about why God killed Er..? I don't really see anything that would have warranted his death...? I figured if anyone could answer, it would be someone here.


(38:2-4)
"And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite ... and he took her, and went in unto her."
Judah has casual sex with a Canaanite woman which results in two sons, Er and Onan.

(38:7) "And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord slew him."


Was he born disfigured? Did he somehow disobey God? Was God still peeved that he was born out of wedlock? What made Er, the firstborn son to Judah and [twin?] brother to Onan, so offensive to God?

1 At that time, Judah left his brothers and went down to stay with a man of Adullam named Hirah. 2 There Judah met the daughter of a Canaanite man named Shua. He married her and lay with her; 3 she became pregnant and gave birth to a son, who was named Er. 4 She conceived again and gave birth to a son and named him Onan. 5 She gave birth to still another son and named him Shelah. It was at Kezib that she gave birth to him.
6 Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 But Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the LORD's sight; so the LORD put him to death.

Judah married Shua and they had 3 sons. There are no details of why Er was killed except that the Lord found him wicked.

 

[Adstar]

When I was pulling up information on Onan earlier, I reread Gen. 38. I'm a little confused about why God killed Er..? I don't really see anything that would have warranted his death...? I figured if anyone could answer, it would be someone here.


(38:2-4)
"And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite ... and he took her, and went in unto her."
Judah has casual sex with a Canaanite woman which results in two sons, Er and Onan.

(38:7) "And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord slew him."


Was he born disfigured? Did he somehow disobey God? Was God still peeved that he was born out of wedlock? What made Er, the firstborn son to Judah and [twin?] brother to Onan, so offensive to God?

Hello QuietTempest

The scriptures do not say what Er did that was evil. It does not say when Er died.

It is dangerous to speculate on cause when the bible has given no cause. The scriptures do not always go into in depth detail. You will find more instances like this in scriptures. Not often but you will find more.


All Praise The Ancient Of Days

 

[pinkieposies]

When I was pulling up information on Onan earlier, I reread Gen. 38. I'm a little confused about why God killed Er..? I don't really see anything that would have warranted his death...? I figured if anyone could answer, it would be someone here.

(38:2-4)
"And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite ... and he took her, and went in unto her."
Judah has casual sex with a Canaanite woman which results in two sons, Er and Onan.

(38:7) "And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord slew him."


Was he born disfigured? Did he somehow disobey God? Was God still peeved that he was born out of wedlock? What made Er, the firstborn son to Judah and [twin?] brother to Onan, so offensive to God?

Judah took a pagan wife {From Canaan}. If you read further, somewhere around there in the OT {I'm sorry I can't remember where }, you will see that God forbade his people marry into pagan/heathen families. His people were to be an undefiled nation. He killed him because his father disobeyed. It was a punishment for his rebellion and wickedness.

Erin

 

[QuietTempest]

Judah took a pagan wife {From Canaan}. If you read further, somewhere around there in the OT {I'm sorry I can't remember where }, you will see that God forbade his people marry into pagan/heathen families. His people were to be an undefiled nation. He killed him because his father disobeyed. It was a punishment for his rebellion and wickedness.

Erin

So you're saying he was killed for his father's transgression?

 

[pinkieposies]

So you're saying he was killed for his father's transgression?

Yes. Just as we are born wicked sinners because of Adam's sin.

Erin

 

[BarbB]

So you're saying he was killed for his father's transgression?

...All we know is that both the brothers were killed by God for their wickedness.

And why would God punish the children of the man who would be the ancestor of Christ? Lion of Judah. Of all Abraham's sons, Judah was most highly honored by posterity by virtue of his descendent, Jesus!

 

[QuietTempest]

Be advised that most Christians would disagree with that interpretation. The rest of us have said "we don't know". All we know is that both the brothers were killed by God for their wickedness.

And why would God punish the children of the man who would be the ancestor of Christ? Lion of Judah. Of all Abraham's sons, Judah was most highly honored by posterity by virtue of his descendent, Jesus!

I understand. Just making sure I understood that particular interpretation.

 

[Lisa0315]

Be advised that most Christians would disagree with that interpretation. The rest of us have said "we don't know". All we know is that both the brothers were killed by God for their wickedness.

And why would God punish the children of the man who would be the ancestor of Christ? Lion of Judah. Of all Abraham's sons, Judah was most highly honored by posterity by virtue of his descendent, Jesus!

I disagree. The whole point is BECAUSE Judah was the ancestor of Christ. God did not allow Christ to be descended from a Canaanite because they were beyond wicked. Practically, the whole book of Leviticus is written about the sins of Canaan, and how the earth spewed them out. The Children of Israel were warned to not become like the children of Canaan or the land would spew them out as well. All of the abomination laws were a result of the Canaanite sin.

The first born son is hugely important in the lineage of Christ. Judah married outside the will of God, but God's will prevailed.

Lisa

 

[BarbB]

I understand. Just making sure I understood that particular interpretation.

Yep, sounds as though you understood it right.

 

[BarbB]

I disagree. The whole point is BECAUSE Judah was the ancestor of Christ. God did not allow Christ to be descended from a Canaanite because they were beyond wicked. Practically, the whole book of Leviticus is written about the sins of Canaan, and how the earth spewed them out. The Children of Israel were warned to not become like the children of Canaan or the land would spew them out as well. All of the abomination laws were a result of the Canaanite sin.

The first born son is hugely important in the lineage of Christ. Judah married outside the will of God, but God's will prevailed.

Lisa

What about Rahab? What about Ruth? Judah wasn't the first born son. Neither was Isaac or Jacob. The first shall be last, etc. ????

This is not a forum for debate but if you care to start a thread somewhere I'd be glad to chime in. I'll edit my post so that it's not seen as debating.

 

[Lisa0315]

What about Rahab? What about Ruth? Judah wasn't the first born son. Neither was Isaac or Jacob. The first shall be last, etc. ????

This is not a forum for debate but if you care to start a thread somewhere I'd be glad to chime in. I'll edit my post so that it's not seen as debating.

Yeah, you are right about all of the above. I keep forgetting the non-debate rules. I do think the key is in the Canaanite heritage though.

Lisa