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Friday, July 11th, 2025
the Week of Proper 9 / Ordinary 14
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Bible Encyclopedias
Onan

Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature

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O´nan (strong, stout), second son of Judah, who, being constrained by the obligations of the ancient Levirate law to espouse Tamar, his elder brother's widow, took means to frustrate the intention of this usage, which was to provide heirs for a brother who had died childless. This crime, rendered without excuse by the allowance of polygamy, and the seriousness of which can scarcely be appreciated but in respect to the usages of the times in which it was committed, was punished by premature death (, sq.)

 

 

 

 

Bibliography Information
Kitto, John, ed. Entry for 'Onan'. "Kitto's Popular Cyclopedia of Biblical Literature". https://www.studylight.org/​encyclopedias/​eng/​kbe/​o/onan.html.
 
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