דברי הימים א, פרק ב׳, פסוק ג׳

The genealogical records of the tribes open by detailing the family of Judah. This prominent placement is a deliberate mark of honor for the royal line of King David, which originates from this specific tribe [מצודת דוד]. Judah had three sons with a woman who is explicitly identified as a Canaanite. This detail clarifies that she was indeed of actual Canaanite descent, rather than simply the daughter of a merchant, a meaning the term sometimes carries elsewhere in the Bible [מלבי״ם]. Furthermore, the historical record indicates that each of these three sons was born from a separate pregnancy, rather than as twins [מלבי״ם].

The account then focuses on Er, Judah's firstborn, who committed a grave offense against God. His specific sin involved engaging in unnatural marital relations with his wife to intentionally prevent her from becoming pregnant [רש״י]. Because of this wickedness, God punished Er by ending his life prematurely [מצודת דוד].

A notable detail in this summary is the complete omission of the death of Judah's second son, Onan, who was also put to death by God [רלב״ג, ביאור שטיינזלץ]. This brief recounting aligns with the broader style of the book, which frequently summarizes rather than detailing every step of a historical chain of events [רלב״ג, מלבי״ם]. Beyond this stylistic choice, there is a fundamental moral distinction between the two brothers that explains why the focus remains solely on Er. Onan's sin was driven by personal interest, as he knew any child born would not legally bear his own name. In contrast, Er's actions were rooted in pure malice and wickedness. Because his behavior stemmed from entirely evil intentions, the record highlights his sin alone [מלבי״ם].