AB - Genesis - 38

38:1  And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brothers, and came as far as to a certain man of Adullam, whose name was Hirah.

38:2  And Judah saw there the daughter of a Canaanite man, whose name was Shua; and he took her, and went in to her.

38:3  And she conceived and bore a son, and called his name, Er.

38:4  And she conceived and bore a son again, and called his name, Onan.

38:5  And she again bore a son, and called his name, Shelah; and she was in Chezib when she bore them.

38:6  And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar.

38:7  And Er, the firstborn of Judah, was wicked before the Lord; and God killed him.

38:8  And Judah said to Onan, Go in to your brother's wife, and marry her as her brother-in-law, and raise up seed to your brother.

38:9  And Onan, knowing that the seed would not be his-and 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.

38:10  And his doing this appeared evil before God; and He killed him also.

38:11  And Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, Remain a widow in the house of your father-in-law, until Shelah my son is grown; for he said, lest he also die as his brothers; and Tamar departed, and sat in the house of her father.

38:12  And the days were fulfilled, and Shua, Judah's wife, died; and Judah, being comforted, went to them that sheared his sheep, himself and Hirah the Adullamite, to Timna.

38:13  And it was told Tamar his daughter-in-law, saying, Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timna, to shear his sheep.

38:14  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 Timna, for she saw that Shelah was grown; but she was not given to him as a wife.

38:15  And when Judah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot; for she covered her face, and he did not recognize her.

38:16  And he went out of his way to her, and said to her, Let me come in to you; for he knew not that she was his daughter-in-law; and she said, What will you give me if you should come in to me?

38:17  And he said, I will send you a kid of the goats from my flock. And she said, Well, if you will give me a pledge, until you send it.

38:18  And he said, What is the pledge that I shall give you? And she said, Your ring, and your bracelet, and the staff in your hand; and he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him.

38:19  And she arose and departed, and took off her veil, and put on the garments of her widowhood.

38:20  And Judah sent the kid of the goats by the hand of his shepherd the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman; but he did not find her.

38:21  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.

38:22  And he returned to Judah, and said, I have not found her; and the men of the place say, There is no harlot here.

38:23  And Judah said, Let her have them, but let us not be ridiculed; I sent this kid, but you have not found her.

38:24  And it came to pass after three months, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar your daughter-in-law has grievously played the harlot, and behold she is with child by harlotry; and Judah said, Bring her out, and let her be burned.

38:25  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 ring this is, and bracelet and staff.

38:26  And Judah acknowledged them, and said, Tamar is more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son: and he never knew her again.

38:27  And it came to pass when she was in labor, that she also had twins in her womb.

38:28  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.

38:29  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 you? And she called his name Perez.

38:30  And after this came forth his brother, on whose hand was the scarlet thread; and she called his name, Zerah.