Genesis 38:7

“And Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, etc.] That is, exceedingly wicked, as this phrase signifies, (<011313>Genesis 13:13), was guilty of some very heinous sin, but what is not mentioned; according to the Targum of Jonathan and Jarchi, it was the same with his brother Onan’s, (<013809>Genesis 38:9), which it is suggested he committed, lest his wife should prove with child, and lose her beauty; but if it had been the same with his, it would have been expressed as well as his. An Arabic writer f1668 says, that he cohabited with his wife not according to the course of nature, but in the “sodomitical” way: and the Lord slew him; by his immediate hand, striking him dead…”

“- The Family of Judah 1. עדלם ‛ǎdûllâm, ‘Adullam, “righteousness.” חירה chı̂yrâh Chirah, “nobility?” 2. שׁוּע shûa‛, Shua‘, “luck, riches, cry.” 3. ער ‛êr, ‘Er, “watching.” 4. אונן 'ônân, Onan, “strong.” 5. שׁלה shēlâh, Shelah, “request? rest.” כזיב kezı̂yb Kezib, “falsehood.” 6. תמר tāmār, Tamar, “palm.” 12. תמנה tı̂mnâh, Timnah, “counted or assigned.” 14. עינים 'êynayı̂m, ‘Enaim, “two fountains.” 29. פרץ perets, Perets, “breach.” This strange narrative is an episode in the history of Joseph; but an integral part of the “generations” of Jacob. It is loosely dated with the phrase “at that time.” This does not indicate a sequel to the preceding record, the proper phrase for…”

“38:7-10 In this story, the Lord is mentioned as the sovereign judge who took the lives of Judah’s evil sons. 38:7 That Er was a wicked man is not surprising, since his mother was a Canaanite and his father a wayward Israelite.”