THE WIVES OF THE SONS OF JACOB

Judah was the first of the sons of Jacob to enter wedlock.
After the sale of Joseph to the Midianites, his brethren had
said to Judah, "If conditions were as before, our father
would provide wives for us now. As it is, he is entirely absorbed
by his grief for Joseph, and we must look about for
wives ourselves. Thou art our chief, and thou shouldst
marry first."

Judah's marriage with Alit the daughter of the noble
merchant Shua, which was consummated at Adullam, the
residence of his friend Hirah, or, as he was called later,
Hiram, king of Tyre, was not happy. His two oldest sons
died, and shortly thereafter his wife also. It was Judah's