Page "Judah (biblical person)" Paragraph 7

Literary critics have focused on the relationship between the Judah story in chapter 38, and the Joseph story in chapters 37 and 39.

Victor Hamilton notes some “ intentional literary parallels ” between the chapters, such as the exhortation to “ identify ” ( 38: 25-26 and 37: 32-33 ).

Emerton regards the connections as evidence for including chapter 38 in the J corpus, and suggests that the J writer dovetailed the Joseph and Judah traditions.

Derek Kidner points out that the insertion of chapter 38 “ creates suspense for the reader ,” but Robert Alter goes further and suggests it is a result of the “ brilliant splicing of sources by a literary artist .” He notes that the same verb “ identify ” will play “ a crucial thematic role in the dénouement of the Joseph story when he confronts his brothers in Egypt, he recognizing them, they failing to recognize him.

" Similarly, J. P. Fokkelman notes that the " extra attention " for Judah in chapter 38, " sets him up for his major role as the brothers ' spokesman in Genesis 44.