It happened at that time is literally “It was at that time.” If we take this expression to refer to a particular time, it means “at the time Joseph was being sold to Potiphar” (37.36). However, the expression is more commonly understood as a stylized opening to a story incident (familiar to readers of the King James Version as “And it came to pass at that time”).

In translation it is best to make that time as general as possible; for example, “It was about then,” “That is about when,” “During these times,” “Some time later.” However, some translators may find that a general reference to time is not sufficiently clear to serve as a story opener. In light of the suggested relation of chapter 38 to the rest of the Joseph story, we may say, for example, “While Jacob was still in mourning….”

Judah went down from his brothers: went down may describe the movement from the hill country of Judah at Hebron to Adullam at a lower elevation. The direction from Hebron is northwest, and the distance is about 19 kilometers (12 miles; note the locations on the map, page 19). However, there is another possible interpretation for went down: according to some, the Hebrew word may also mean “went south” in certain contexts. This interpretation is followed by Revised English Bible: “Judah parted from his brothers, and heading south he…” (Revised English Bible). However, this interpretation is debatable.

Turned into is literally “turned aside next to,” which in this context means he “settled” or “lived” with or near, or as Revised English Bible say, “Pitched his tent in company with.”

A certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah: that is, “a man from the village of Adullam,” “a native of Adullam.”

We may translate verse 1, for example, “During these times Judah left his brothers and went to a place called Adullam, where he settled near a man named Hirah who was a native of that place.”

Quoted with permission from Reyburn, William D. and Fry, Euan McG. A Handbook on Genesis. (UBS Helps for Translators). New York: UBS, 1997. For this and other handbooks for translators see here .