She put her widow's garments off, &c. Some excuse her conduct in this by suggesting that she believed the promise made to Abraham and his seed, particularly that of the Messiah, and that she was therefore desirous to have a child by one of that family, that she might have the honour, or at least stand fair for being the mother of the Messiah. She covered her with a veil It was the custom of harlots in those times to cover their faces, that though they were not ashamed, yet they might seem to be so: the sin of uncleanness did not go so bare-faced as it now doth.
Related Commentaries of Genesis 38:14
Genesis 38:14
14 And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an openc place, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.