Question about Gen 38

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veryconfused

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In Gen 38.6-10, was Onan killed because
  1. he spilled his seed,
  2. he didn’t want Judah to take his children (ie Onans biological kids)?
 
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veryconfused:
In Gen 38.6-10, was Onan killed because
  1. he spilled his seed,
  2. he didn’t want Judah to take his children (ie Onans biological kids)?
Click to expand...
The former.

– Mark L. Chance.
 
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mlchance:
The former.

– Mark L. Chance.
Click to expand...

To elaborate a bit - the former, because he was unwilling to perpetuate his brother’s name and descent, in the present case by marrying and begetting sons by his brother’s widow: the “levirate law” of Deuteronomy (I think) prescribes that the brother of a dead man who has a left a widow should do just that.​

 
Gottle of Geer said:
## To elaborate a bit - the former, because he was unwilling to perpetuate his brother’s name and descent, in the present case by marrying and begetting sons by his brother’s widow: the “levirate law” of Deuteronomy (I think) prescribes that the brother of a dead man who has a left a widow should do just that. ##
Click to expand...

No. The death penalty was not applied in cases of a brother “unwilling to perpetuate his brother’s name and descent.” The punishment for that crime prescribed by Mosaic law was public humiliation, not death. Onan’s crime of “spilling his seed” was more severe.

– Mark L. Chance.
 
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