01:038:001 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.
01:038:002 And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose
name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her.
01:038:003 And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his name Er.
01:038:004 And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his
name Onan.
01:038:005 And she yet again conceived, and bare a son; and called his
name Shelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare him.
01:038:006 And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was
Tamar.
01:038:007 And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the
LORD; and the LORD slew him.
01:038:008 And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and
marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother.
01:038:009 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.
01:038:010 And the thing which he did displeased the LORD: wherefore he
slew him also.
01:038:011 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.
01:038:012 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.
01:038:013 And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth
up to Timnath to shear his sheep.
01:038:014 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.
01:038:015 When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot; because
she had covered her face.
01:038:016 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?
01:038:017 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?
01:038:018 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.
01:038:019 And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her,
and put on the garments of her widowhood.
01:038:020 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.
01:038:021 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.
01:038:022 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.
01:038:023 And Judah said, Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed:
behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.
01:038:024 And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told
Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the
harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And
Judah said, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.
01:038:025 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.
01:038:026 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 again no more.
01:038:027 And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold,
twins were in her womb.
01:038:028 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.
01:038:029 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.
01:038:030 And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet
thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zarah.