Judah and Tamar
Genesis 38, verse 1. It came to pass at that time that Judah departed from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite whose name was Hirah. Genesis 38, verse 2. Then Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and went in to her. Genesis 38, verse 3. So she conceived and bore a son, and called his name Er. Genesis 38, verse 4. She conceived again and bore a son, and called his name Onan. Genesis 38, verse 5. She conceived yet again and bore a son, and called his name Shelah. She was at Chezib when she bore them. Genesis 38, verse 6. Then Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. Genesis 38, verse 7. But Er, Judah's firstborn, was evil in the sight of the Lord, and God killed him. Genesis 38, verse 8. So Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother's wife and marry her, and as her brother-in-law raise up seed to your brother.” Genesis 38, verse 9. But Onan knew the seed would not be his; and it came to pass that whenever he went in to his brother's wife, he emitted his semen on the ground, lest he should give seed to his brother. Genesis 38, verse 10. But the thing he did appeared evil in the sight of the Lord; therefore, He also put him to death. Genesis 38, verse 11. Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father's house till my son Shelah is grown.” For he said, “Lest he also die like his brothers.” So Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house. Genesis 38, verse 12. Now in the process of time, the daughter of Shua, Judah's wife, died; and Judah was comforted and went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his shepherd, Hirah the Adullamite. Genesis 38, verse 13. So it was told Tamar, saying, “Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.” Genesis 38, verse 14. Thus she took off her widow's garments, covered herself with a veil, made herself beautiful, and sat down near the gates of Ainan on the way past Timnah; for she saw Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife. Genesis 38, verse 15. When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute, because she had covered her face and he did not recognize her. Genesis 38, verse 16. Then he turned to her by the way, and said, “Let me come in to you”; for he did not know she was his daughter-in-law. So she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?” Genesis 38, verse 17. He replied, “I will send a young goat from the flocks.” So she said, “Will you give me a pledge till you send it?” Genesis 38, verse 18. Then he said, “What pledge shall I give you?” So she said, “Your ring and cord, and the staff in your hand.” Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him. Genesis 38, verse 19. So she arose and went away, and laid aside her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood. Genesis 38, verse 20. Thus Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his shepherd the Adullamite to receive his pledge from the woman, but he did not find her. Genesis 38, verse 21. Then he asked the men of that place, saying, “Where is the prostitute who was in Ainan by the roadside?” They replied, “There was no prostitute here.” Genesis 38, verse 22. So he returned to Judah and said, “I cannot find her. Also, the men of the place said no prostitute had been there.” Genesis 38, verse 23. Then Judah said, “Let her have them, lest we should become a laughingstock; for I sent this young goat but you did not find her.” Genesis 38, verse 24. Thus it came to pass, about three months after, that Judah was told, saying, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has committed fornication and is pregnant because of her adultery.” So Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned.” Genesis 38, verse 25. When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.” So she said, “Determine whose these are—the ring, the cord, and the staff.” Genesis 38, verse 26. So Judah acknowledged them and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” But he never knew her again. Genesis 38, verse 27. Then it came to pass, at the time for giving birth, that behold, twins were in her womb. Genesis 38, verse 28. So it was, when she was giving birth, that the one put out his hand; and the midwife took a scarlet thread and bound it on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” Genesis 38, verse 29. Then it happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said, “How did you break through? This breach be upon you.” Therefore she called his name Perez. Genesis 38, verse 30. Afterward his brother came out, with the scarlet thread on his hand; and she called his name Zerah.