Genesis 38

1 And it came to pass at that time that Judas went down from his brethren, and came as far as to a certain man of Odollam, whose name was Iras.

And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brothers, and he pitched his tent with a certain Adullamite whose name was Chirah.

2 And Judas saw there the daughter of a Chananitish man, whose name was Sava; and he took her, and went in to her.

And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shua; and he took her, and went in unto her.

3 And she conceived and bore a son, and called his name, Er.

And she conceived, and bore a son; and he called his name 'Er.

4 And she conceived and bore a son again; and called his name, Aunan.

And she conceived again, and bore a son; and she called his name Onan.

5 And she again bore a son; and called his name, Selom: and she was in Chasbi when she bore them.

And she again bore another son; and she called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bore him.

6 And Judas took a wife for Er his first-born, whose name was Thamar.

And Judah took a wife for 'Er his first-born, whose name was Tamar.

7 And Er, the first-born of Judas, was wicked before the Lord; and God killed him.

And 'Er, Judah's first-born, was displeasing in the eyes of the Lord; and the Lord slew him.

8 And Judas said to Aunan, Go in to thy brother's wife, and marry her as her brother-in-law, and raise up seed to thy brother.

And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and take her, as her brother-in-law, and raise up seed to thy brother.

9 And Aunan, knowing that the seed should not be his—it came to pass when he went in to his brother's wife, that he spilled [it] upon the ground, so that he should not give seed to his brother's wife.

Onan thus knew that the seed should not be his, and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, so as not to give seed unto his brother.

10 And his doing this appeared evil before God; and he slew him also.

And the thing which he did was displeasing in the eyes of the Lord: wherefore he slew him also.

11 And Judas said to Thamar, his daughter-in-law, Sit thou a widow in the house of thy father-in-law, until Selom my son be grown; for he said, lest he also die as his brethren; and Thamar departed, and sat in the house of her father.

Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter-in-law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown; for he thought, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brothers have done. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.

12 And the days were fulfilled, and Sava the wife of Judas died; and Judas, being comforted, went to them that sheared his sheep, himself and Iras his Shepherd the Odollamite, to Thamna.

And many days had elapsed when the daughter of Shua, Judah's wife, died; and after Judah was comforted, he went up unto his sheep-shearers, he and his friend Chirah the Adullamite, to Timnah.

13 And it was told Thamar his daughter-in-law, saying, Behold, thy father-in-law goeth up to Thamna, to shear his sheep.

And it was told unto Tamar, saying, Behold, thy father-in-law goeth up to Timnah to shear his sheep.

14 And having taken off the garments of her widowhood from her, she put on a veil, and ornamented her face, and sat by the gates of Aenan, which is in the way to Thamna, for she saw that Selom was grown; but he gave her not to him for a wife.

And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered herself with a vail, and concealed her face, and seated herself at the cross-road, which is by the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him for wife.

15 And when Judas saw her, he thought her to be a harlot; for she covered her face, and he knew her not.

And Judah saw her and thought her to be a harlot; because she had covered her face.

16 And he went out of his way to her, and said to her, Let me come in to thee; for he knew not that she was his daughter-in-law; and she said, What wilt thou give me if thou shouldest come in to me?

And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; [for he knew not that she was his daughter-in-law.] And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me?

17 And he said, I will send thee a kid of the goats from my flock; and she said, [Well], if thou wilt give me an earnest, until thou send it.

And he said, I will send thee a kid from the flock. And she said, If thou wilt give me a pledge, till thou send it.

18 And he said, What is the earnest that I shall give thee? and she said, Thy ring, and thy bracelet, and the staff in thy hand; and he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him.

And he said, What is the pledge which I shall give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy scarf, and thy staff that is in thy hand. And he gave them unto her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.

19 And she arose and departed, and took her veil from off her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.

And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.

20 And Judas sent the kid of the goats by the hand of his shepherd the Odollamite, to receive the pledge from the woman; and he found her not.

And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to take the pledge out of the woman's hand; but he found her not.

21 And he asked the men of the place, Where is the harlot who was in Aenan by the way-side? and they said, There was no harlot here.

Then he asked the men of her place, saying, Where is the harlot, that was at the cross-road on the highway? And they said, There hath been no harlot in this neighborhood.

22 And he returned to Judas, and said, I have not found her; and the men of the place say, There is no harlot here.

And he returned to Judah, and said, I cannot find her; and also the men of the place have said, There hath been no harlot in this place.

23 And Judas said, Let her have them, but let us not be ridiculed; I sent this kid, but thou hast not found her.

And Judah said, Let her keep it, lest we be put to shame; behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.

24 And it came to pass after three months, that it was told Judas, saying, Thamar thy daughter-in-law has grievously played the harlot, and behold she is with child by whoredom; and Judas said, Bring her out, and let her be burnt.

And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told to Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter-in-law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by prostitution. And Judah said, Lead her forth, and let her be burnt.

25 And as they were bringing her, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, I am with child by the man whose these things are; and she said, See whose is this ring and bracelet and staff.

When she was led forth, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Acknowledge, I pray thee, to whom belong these, the signet, the scarf, and staff.

26 And Judas knew [them], and said, Thamar is cleared rather than I, forasmuch as I gave her not to Selom my son: and he knew her not again.

And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her not again any more.

27 And it came to pass when she was in labour, that she also had twins in her womb.

And it came to pass at the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.

28 And it came to pass as she was bringing forth, one thrust forth his hand, and the midwife having taken hold of it, bound upon his hand a scarlet [thread], saying, This one shall come out first.

And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first.

29 And when he drew back his hand, then immediately came forth his brother; and she said, Why has the barrier been cut through because of thee? and she called his name, Phares.

And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold his brother came out; and she said, How hast thou broken forth! this breach is upon thee: therefore his name was called Perez.

30 And after this came forth his brother, on whose hand was the scarlet thread; and she called his name, Zara.

And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zerach.