[[Genesis 37|<< Genesis 37]] | [[Genesis|Genesis]] | [[Genesis 39|Genesis 39 >>]] ### Genesis 38 1 AND it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certain Adullamite, whose name _was_ Hirah. ^1 2 And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name _was_ Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her. ^2 3 And she conceived, and bore a son; and he called his name Er. ^3 4 And she conceived again, and bore a son; and she called his name Onan. ^4 5 And she yet again conceived, and bore a son; and called his name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bore him. ^5 6 And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name _was_ Tamar. ^6 7 And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him. ^7 8 And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother. ^8 9 And Onan 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, lest that he should give seed to his brother. ^9 10 And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also. ^10 11 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 said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren _did_. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house. ^11 12 ¶ And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. ^12 13 And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goes up to Timnath to shear his sheep. ^13 14 And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place, which _is_ by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife. ^14 15 When Judah saw her, he thought her _to_ _be_ an harlot; because she had covered her face. ^15 16 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? ^16 17 And he said, I will send _thee_ a kid from the flock. And she said, Wilt thou give _me_ a pledge, till thou send _it?_ ^17 18 And he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy bracelets, and thy staff that _is_ in thine hand. And he gave _it_ her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him. ^18 19 And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood. ^19 20 And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive _his_ pledge from the woman's hand: but he found her not. ^20 21 Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Where _is_ the harlot, that _was_ openly by the way side? And they said, There was no harlot in this _place_. ^21 22 And he returned to Judah, and said, I cannot find her; and also the men of the place said, _that_ there was no harlot in this _place_. ^22 23 And Judah said, Let her take _it_ to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her. ^23 24 ¶ And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law has played the harlot; and also, behold, she _is_ with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt. ^24 25 When she _was_ brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these _are_, _am_ I with child: and she said, Discern, I pray thee, whose _are_ these, the signet, and bracelets, and staff. ^25 26 And Judah acknowledged _them_, and said, She has been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more. ^26 27 ¶ And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins _were_ in her womb. ^27 28 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. ^28 29 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 _be_ upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez. ^29 30 And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah. ^30