Genesis 38 states that Onan was punished by death for what? For "the thing which he did," which had just been described: a contracepted act of sex.
**Well, Judah reneged too,**
Judah, a widower at the time (not that that okayed unmarried sex), THOUGHT he messed around with a prostitute, for Tamar veiled her face, and dressed the part (nowadays, dressing like a harlot seems to be the norm. But, that’s a whole nuther topic). Tamar turns up pregnant. Judah had no idea he was the father, UNTIL presented with his signet, bracelets, and staff, which he had given to the ‘harlot’.
Judah acknowledged then and there. No renegging.
Onan basically performed deceptive practice, before God, and man (especially Tamar).
Couples that use the monthly timing practice are using contraception. They just don’t use any devices. But, the ‘pill’ has got to be one of the most society and health damaging man-made creations ever. We’re not Catholic, and my wife has never used it. The side effects alone should be enough to shun it.
The shaming at the gate happened when the man refused to enter into the covenant of marriage. Onan entered into the marriage, but refused to carry through.
That conclusion is in my view erroneous even though 'contraception' was involved.... In the end, the 'thing that Onan did' was to try to circumvent God's law by thinking that he could get away with adultery by exploiting the one exception that God had allowed. He was essentially punished by death for mocking God.
Oh?
The text SAYS...
But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so when he went in to his brother’s wife he spilled the semen on the ground, lest he should give offspring to his brother.