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The Legacy of Er: A Cautionary Tale

How Did Er Impact History?

Genesis 46:20

To Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera the priest of On, bore to him.

Sorrow and regret underscore the consequences of sin and the importance of living a righteous life in the eyes of God
Sorrow and regret underscore the consequences of sin and the importance of living a righteous life in the eyes of God

Key Facts

Term Name

Er

Role

Son of Dinah and Hamor / Firstborn of Judah and Tamar

Born

c. 15th century BC

Died

c. 15th century BC (died in Egypt)

Key Takeaways

Who Was Er in the Bible?

Er is briefly mentioned in Genesis 46:20 as the firstborn son of Dinah, Jacob’s daughter, and the Hivite Hamor.

His name appears in Jacob’s family genealogy, underscoring his place in the extended lineage of Israel, though the biblical text provides no further details about his life or character.

Finding one's place within the larger narrative of faith and family, and trusting in the divine plan that guides us all, even when our own stories seem briefly told or overlooked, for it is in the silence and the stillness that we find our true purpose and meaning, and the courage to trust in the unknown, and to follow the path that has been laid out before us, with faith, and hope, and love, as our guides, and the promise of a brighter tomorrow, that shines like a beacon, in the darkness, and illuminates the way, forward, into the unknown, with the assurance, that we are not alone, but are part of a larger story, that is still being written, and that our lives, are a testament, to the power, of faith, and the human spirit, to overcome, and to thrive, in the face of adversity, and to find, our true purpose, and meaning, in the stillness, and the silence, and the darkness, and the light, that guides us, on our journey, through the ups, and downs, of life, and the twists, and turns, that we encounter, along the way, with the promise, of a brighter tomorrow, that shines like a beacon, in the darkness, and illuminates the way, forward, into the unknown, with the assurance, that we are not alone, but are part of a larger story, that is still being written, and that our lives, are a testament, to the power, of faith, and the human spirit, to overcome, and to thrive, in the face of adversity, and to find, our true purpose, and meaning, in the stillness, and the silence, and the darkness, and the light, that guides us, on our journey, through the ups, and downs, of life, and the twists, and turns, that we encounter, along the way
Finding one's place within the larger narrative of faith and family, and trusting in the divine plan that guides us all, even when our own stories seem briefly told or overlooked, for it is in the silence and the stillness that we find our true purpose and meaning, and the courage to trust in the unknown, and to follow the path that has been laid out before us, with faith, and hope, and love, as our guides, and the promise of a brighter tomorrow, that shines like a beacon, in the darkness, and illuminates the way, forward, into the unknown, with the assurance, that we are not alone, but are part of a larger story, that is still being written, and that our lives, are a testament, to the power, of faith, and the human spirit, to overcome, and to thrive, in the face of adversity, and to find, our true purpose, and meaning, in the stillness, and the silence, and the darkness, and the light, that guides us, on our journey, through the ups, and downs, of life, and the twists, and turns, that we encounter, along the way, with the promise, of a brighter tomorrow, that shines like a beacon, in the darkness, and illuminates the way, forward, into the unknown, with the assurance, that we are not alone, but are part of a larger story, that is still being written, and that our lives, are a testament, to the power, of faith, and the human spirit, to overcome, and to thrive, in the face of adversity, and to find, our true purpose, and meaning, in the stillness, and the silence, and the darkness, and the light, that guides us, on our journey, through the ups, and downs, of life, and the twists, and turns, that we encounter, along the way

Er’s Place in Jacob’s Family

Er, mentioned in Genesis 38:3 as the firstborn son of Judah and Tamar, is part of the lineage of Jacob’s son Judah, and his name is linked to his brothers Onan and Shelah.

His inclusion in the genealogy (Genesis 38:3) underscores the biblical emphasis on tracing lines of descent, particularly the continuation of Judah’s line through Shelah after Er’s death.

What We Can Learn From Er’s Story

Er’s brief mention in Scripture underscores the Bible’s intentional focus on tracing God’s redemptive plan through genealogies, even when individuals are only fleetingly named.

By preserving his name, the text highlights God’s sovereignty in shaping family histories to fulfill His promises, as seen in the lineage of Judah (Genesis 38:3) and Jacob’s extended family (Genesis 46:20).

Further Reading

Key Scripture Mentions

Genesis 38:3

Mentions Er as the firstborn son of Judah and Tamar, whose death led to Onan’s levirate duty.

Genesis 46:20

States that Er, the firstborn of Dinah, died in Egypt for being 'evil in the sight of the Lord.'

Related Concepts

Judah (Figures)

Er’s father (in Genesis 38) and a key patriarch in the lineage of Jesus.

Genealogy (Theological Concepts)

The biblical practice of tracing lineage to establish divine promises and heritage.

Egypt (Places)

The land where Er died, central to Jacob’s family’s history and God’s covenantal purposes.

Glossary

places

Egypt

The land where Er died, significant in Jacob’s family’s sojourn and God’s redemptive narrative.

Hivite Territory

The region associated with Hamor, Er’s Hivite father, reflecting intermarriage in Canaan.

figures

Dinah

Jacob’s daughter and Er’s mother, whose story appears in Genesis 34 and 46.

Hamor

The Hivite father of Er, linked to Dinah’s intermarriage in Genesis.

Judah

Er’s father (in Genesis 38) and patriarch of the tribe from which Jesus descended.

Tamar

Judah’s widow who bore Perez after Er’s death, continuing the line of Judah.

Shelah

Er’s brother (in Genesis 38) who succeeded him in the line of Judah.

theological concepts

Divine Judgment

God’s moral evaluation of Er’s character, as stated in Genesis 46:20.

Redemptive Plan

God’s sovereign orchestration of genealogies to fulfill His promises through lineage.

terms

Levirate Marriage

The practice requiring a man to marry his brother’s widow, as seen in Onan’s duty after Er’s death.