Then Judah said to Er's brother Onan: Go sleep with your brother's widow. Fulfill your obligation to her as her husband's brother. That way your brother may have descendants. Onan knew that the children would not belong to him. So when he had intercourse with his brother's widow, he let the semen spill on the ground, assuring that there would be no children for his brother. What he did displeased Jehovah. So Jehovah killed him also.

The children of Israel had many children. They became so numerous and strong that the land was filled with them.

for it did not shut the doors of the womb on me to hide trouble from my eyes.

Children are an inheritance from Jehovah. They are a blessing from him. The children born to a man when he is young are like arrows in the hand of a warrior. Blessed is the man who has filled his quiver with them. He will not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the city gate.

This is what Jehovah of Hosts, the God of Israel, says to all those who were taken captive from Jerusalem to Babylon: Build houses and live in them. Plant gardens and eat what they produce. Get married and have sons and daughters. Find wives for your sons and let your daughters get married so they can have sons and daughters. Grow in number there and do not decrease.

Now when she had weaned Loruhamah, Gomer conceived, and gave birth to another son.

They were born from God. It was not from blood, or the will of the flesh, or the will of man.