Genesis 38
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v1
At that time, Judah went down from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.
v2
There, Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite man named Shua. He took her, and went in to her.
v3
She conceived, and bore a son; and he named him Er.
v4
She conceived again, and bore a son; and she named him Onan.
v5
She yet again bore a son, and named him Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him.
v6
Judah took a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.
v7
Er, Judahโs firstborn, was wicked in Yahwehโs sight. So Yahweh killed him.
v8
Judah said to Onan, โGo in to your brotherโs wife, and perform the duty of a husbandโs brother to her, and raise up offspring for your brother.โ
v9
Onan knew that the offspring wouldnโt be his; and when he went in to his brotherโs wife, he spilled his semen on the ground, lest he should give offspring to his brother.
v10
The thing which he did was evil in Yahwehโs sight, and he killed him also.
v11
Then Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, โRemain a widow in your fatherโs house, until Shelah, my son, is grown up;โ for he said, โLest he also die, like his brothers.โ Tamar went and lived in her fatherโs house.
v12
After many days, Shuaโs daughter, the wife of Judah, died. Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheep shearers to Timnah, he and his friend Hirah, the Adullamite.
v13
Tamar was told, โBehold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.โ
v14
She took off the garments of her widowhood, and covered herself with her veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gate of Enaim, which is on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she wasnโt given to him as a wife.
v15
When Judah saw her, he thought that she was a prostitute, for she had covered her face.
v16
He turned to her by the way, and said, โPlease come, let me come in to you,โ for he didnโt know that she was his daughter-in-law. She said, โWhat will you give me, that you may come in to me?โ
v17
He said, โI will send you a young goat from the flock.โ She said, โWill you give me a pledge, until you send it?โ
v18
He said, โWhat pledge will I give you?โ She said, โYour signet and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand.โ He gave them to her, and came in to her, and she conceived by him.
v19
She arose, and went away, and put off her veil from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.
v20
Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend, the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the womanโs hand, but he didnโt find her.
v21
Then he asked the men of her place, saying, โWhere is the prostitute, that was at Enaim by the road?โ They said, โThere has been no prostitute here.โ
v22
He returned to Judah, and said, โI havenโt found her; and also the men of the place said, โThere has been no prostitute here.โโ
v23
Judah said, โLet her keep it, lest we be shamed. Behold, I sent this young goat, and you havenโt found her.โ
v24
About three months later, Judah was told, โTamar, your daughter-in-law, has played the prostitute. Moreover, behold, she is with child by prostitution.โ Judah said, โBring her out, and let her be burned.โ
v25
When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, โI am with child by the man who owns these.โ She also said, โPlease discern whose these areโthe signet, and the cords, and the staff.โ
v26
Judah acknowledged them, and said, โShe is more righteous than I, because I didnโt give her to Shelah, my son.โ He knew her again no more.
v27
In the time of her travail, behold, twins were in her womb.
v28
When she travailed, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, โThis came out first.โ
v29
As he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out, and she said, โWhy have you made a breach for yourself?โ Therefore his name was called Perez.
v30
Afterward his brother came out, who had the scarlet thread on his hand, and his name was called Zerah.