Page "Judah (biblical person)" Paragraph 14

Since rabbinical sources held Judah to have been the leader of his brothers, these sources also hold him responsible for this deception, even if it was not Judah himself who brought the coat to Jacob.

Even if Judah had been trying to save Joseph, the classical rabbinical sources still regard him negatively for it ; these sources argue that, as the leader of the brothers, Judah should have made more effort, and carried Joseph home to Jacob on his ( Judah's ) own shoulders.

These sources argue that Judah's brothers, after witnessing Jacob's grief at the loss of Joseph, deposed and excommunicated Judah, as the brothers held Judah entirely responsible, since they would have brought Joseph home if Judah had asked them to do so.

Divine punishment, according to such classical sources, was also inflicted on Judah in punishment ; the death of Er and Onan, and of his wife, are portrayed in by such classical rabbis as being acts of divine retribution.