Judah (Biblical figure)

In Genesis (the first book of the Bible) Judah (יְהוּדָה "Praise", Standard Hebrew Yəhuda, Tiberian Hebrew Yəhûḏāh) is the fourth son of Jacob and Leah, born in Padan-aram (Genesis xxix. 35), and the founder of the Hebrew tribe that bears his name.

In rabbinic literature

With reference to I Chronicles v. 2, Judah is represented by the rabbis as chief over his brothers, who obeyed him and who did nothing without his approval; he is styled "the king" (Midrash Genesis Rabbah lxxxiv. 16; Test. Patr., Judah, 1). He is therefore held responsible by the rabbis for the deception that his brothers practised upon their father by sending to him Joseph's coat dipped in the blood of a young lamb (Gen. xxxvii. 31-32). Judah was punished for it in a similar manner, Tamar sending to him his pledge, saying, "Discern, I pray thee, whose are these" (Gen. xxxviii. 25; Gen. R. lxxxiv. 19, lxxxv. 12). The death of his wife and his two sons (Gen. xxxviii. 7-12) is also considered by Midrash Tanhuma (Tan., Vayiggash, 10) as a divine retribution for the suffering which he caused his father by selling Joseph.

Related Topics:
Rabbi - Midrash

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According to Midrash Genesis Rabbah xcv. 1 and Midrash Tanhuma, l.c., Jacob suspected Judah of having killed Joseph; Tanhuma even adds that it was Judah himself who brought Joseph's coat to Jacob. Judah's attempt to rescue Joseph (Gen. xxxvii. 26) is considered insufficient; for, as he was the chief, he should have brought Joseph on his shoulders to his father (Genesis Rabbah lxxxv. 4). His brothers, on seeing their father's grief, deposed Judah and excommunicated him, saying: "If he, our chief, had ordered us to bring Joseph home, we would have done so" (Midrash Exodus Rabbah xlii. 2; Tan., Vayesheb, 12). Judah atoned for that fault by confessing that it was he who had given Tamar the pledge; and he was rewarded for that confession by a share in the future world (Soṭah 7b).

Related Topics:
Excommunicated - Midrash Exodus Rabbah

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"Bat Shua'" (Gen. xxxviii. 12), according to Jubilees, xxxiv. 20, was the name of Judah's wife, while in Sefer ha-Yashar (section Vayesheb) her name is given as Illit.

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