And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah’s wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. (Genesis 38:12)
Judah had become a widower. Inasmuch as festivities were always connected with sheepshearing (see 1 Sam. 25:2-11; 2 Sam. 13:23), Judah could not attend till after the customary time of mourning had passed.
Mention is made of his friend Hirah accompanying him, because of the part he was to play in what follows (v. 20).
Timnath.
This place was situated in the mountains of Judah, as the expression “went up” shows, and was later allotted to the tribe of Judah (Joshua 15:57). The site, known today as Tibnah, lies about 4 mi. northeast of Adullam.