Bible Trivia - 1/25/2009

Question: Which book tells the story of Onan?

Answer: Genesis. (Genesis 38:7-10)

Comments: Onan was the second son of Judah. After his older brother, Er, died, Er's wife Tamar was given to Onan in accordance with the custom of Levirite marriage. Levirite marriage is a type of marriage in which a widow is required to marry one of her husband's brothers after her husband's death to assure that the deceased's line is prolonged. Onan refused to impregnate Tamar as her children would be considered his brother's and not his own.

Then Judah said to Onan, "Go in to your brother's wife, and perform your duty as a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother." Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so when he went in to his brother's wife, he wasted his seed on the ground in order not to give offspring to his brother. (Genesis 38:8-9, NASB)

Onan's selfishness displeased God and he died shortly thereafter. (Genesis 38:10) Today the term onanism can refer to the "pulling out" method of birth control.

Note: This re-enactment of this scandalous Biblical scene is provided by the Brick Testament.