38:1  And it came about at that time, that Judah departed from his brothers and visited a certain Adullamite, who had the name of Hirah.

38:2  Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite who had the name of Shua; and he took her and went in to her.

38:3  So she conceived and bore a son and he named him Er.

38:4  Then she conceived again and bore a son and named him Onan.

38:5  She bore still another son and named him Shelah; and she bore him at Chezib.

38:6  Now Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and she had the name of Tamar.

38:7  But Er, Judah's firstborn, did evil in the sight of the LORD, so the LORD took his life.

38:8  Then Judah said to Onan, "Go in to your brother's wife, and perform your duty as a brother-in-law to her, and raise up offspring for your brother."

38:9  Onan knew that the offspring would not belong to him; so when he went in to his brother's wife, he wasted his seed on the ground in order not to give offspring to his brother.

38:10  But what he did displeased the LORD; so He took his life also.

38:11  Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, "Remain a widow in your father's house until my son Shelah grows up"; for he thought, "I fear that he too may die like his brothers." So Tamar went and lived in her father's house.

38:12  Now after a considerable time Shua's daughter, the wife of Judah, died; and when the time of mourning had ended, Judah went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.

38:13  People told Tamar, "Behold, your father-in-law goes up to Timnah to shear his sheep."

38:14  So she removed her widow's garments and covered herself with a veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gateway of Enaim, which lies on the road to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah had grown up, and Reuben had given her Shelah as husband.

38:15  When Judah saw her, he believed she served as a harlot, for she had covered her face.

38:16  So he turned aside to her by the road, and said, "Here now, let me come in to you"; for he did not know that he talked to his daughter-in-law. And she said, "What will you give me, that you may come in to me?"

38:17  He said, therefore, "I will send you a young goat from the flock." She said, moreover, "Will you give a pledge until you send it?"

38:18  He said, "What pledge shall I give you?" And she said, " Your seal and your cord, and your staff that you have in your hand." So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him.

38:19  Then she arose and departed, and removed her veil and put on her widow's garments.

38:20  When Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman's hand, he did not find her.

38:21  He asked the men of her place, saying, "Where has the temple prostitute gone who we saw by the road at Enaim?" But they said, "We have found no temple prostitute here."

38:22  So he returned to Judah, and said, "I did not find her; and furthermore, the men of the place said, 'We have seen no temple prostitute here.'

38:23  Then Judah said, "Let her keep them, otherwise we will become a laughingstock. After all, I sent this young goat, but you did not find her."

38:24  Now about three months later people informed Judah informed, "Your daughter-in-law Tamar has played the harlot, and behold, she has become pregnant by harlotry." Then Judah said, "Bring her out and let us burn her!"

38:25  While they brought her out she sent to her father-in-law, saying, "I have become pregnant by the man to whom these things belong." And she said, " Please examine and see, who owns the signet ring and cords and staff ?"

38:26  Judah recognized them, and said, "I recognize you as more righteous than I, inasmuch as I did not give her to my son Shelah." And he did not have relations with her again.

38:27  It came about at the time she gave birth, that behold,she had twins in her womb.

38:28  Moreover, it took place while she gave birth, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, "This one came out first."

38:29  But it came about as he drew back his hand, that behold, his brother came out. Then she said, "What a breach you have made for yourself!" So they named him Perez.

38:30  Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand; and they named him Zerah.