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.

2And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah, and he took her and went in unto her.

3And she conceived and gave birth to a son, and he called his name Er.

4And she conceived again and gave birth to a son, and she called his name Onan.

5And she yet again conceived and gave birth to a son and called his name Shelah. And he was at Chezib, when she gave birth to him.

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

7And Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord and the Lord slew him.

8Then Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother’s wife and marry her and raise up seed to thy brother.

9And Onan knew that the seed would not be his, and it came to pass when he went in unto his brother’s wife, that he corrupted it on the ground, to not give seed to his brother.

10And the thing which he did displeased the Lord, and he slew him also.

11Then Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, Remain a widow at thy father’s house until Shelah, my son, is grown; for he said, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brethren did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house.

12¶ And many days passed and Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shuah, died; and Judah was comforted and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah, the Adullamite.

13And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold, thy father-in-law goes up to Timnath to shear his sheep.

14And she took off her widow’s garments and covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself and sat by the gate to the waters by the way to Timnath, for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.

15When Judah saw her, he thought her to be a harlot because she had covered her face.

16And he turned unto her by the way and said, Come now, 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 may come in unto me?

17And he said, I will send thee from the sheep a kid from the goats. And she said, Wilt thou give me a pledge until thou send it?

18Then he said, What pledge shall I give thee? And she said, Thy signet and thy mantel and thy staff that is in thine hand. And he gave them to her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him.

19And she arose and went away and took off her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood.

20And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend, the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand; but he did not find her.

21Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Where is the cult prostitute of the waters by the way side? And they said, There was no cult prostitute in this place.

22And he returned to Judah and said, I cannot find her; and also the men of the place said that there was no cult prostitute in this place.

23And Judah said, Let her take the things for herself lest we be shamed; behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.

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.

25When 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 mantel and staff.

26Then Judah acknowledged them, and said, She has been more righteous than I because I did not give her to Shelah, my son. And he knew her again no more.

27And it came to pass in the time of her travail that, behold, twins were in her womb.

28And 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.

29And it came to pass as he drew back his hand, that, behold, his brother came out; and she said, Why hast thou brought this breach upon thee? Therefore his name was called Pharez.

30And afterward his brother that had the scarlet thread upon his hand came out, and his name was called Zarah.

The Jubilee Bible 2000 (JUB) by Ransom Press International

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Berĕshith (Genesis) 38

1And at that time it came to be that Yehuḏah left his brothers, and turned aside to a man, an Aḏullamite whose name was Ḥirah.

2And Yehuḏah saw there a daughter of a certain Kena‛anite whose name was Shuwa. And he took her and went in to her.

3So she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Ěr.

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

5And she conceived yet again and bore a son, and called his name Shĕlah. And he was at Keziḇ when she bore him.

6And Yehuḏah took a wife for Ěr his first-born, and her name was Tamar.

7But Ěr, Yehuḏah’s first-born, was evil in the eyes of יהוה, and יהוה took his life.

8And Yehuḏah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.”

9And Onan knew that the offspring would not be his. And it came to be, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he spilled on the ground, lest he should give an offspring to his brother.

10But what he did displeased יהוה, so He took his life too.

11Then Yehuḏah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house until my son Shĕlah is grown.” For he said, “Lest he also die as his brothers did.” And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house.

12And after a long time the daughter of Shuwa, Yehuḏah’s wife, died. And Yehuḏah was comforted, and went up to his sheep-shearers at Timnah, he and his friend Ḥirah the Aḏullamite.

13And it was reported to Tamar, saying, “See, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”

14And she took off her widow’s garments, and covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat at the entrance to Ěnayim which was on the way to Timnah. For she saw that Shĕlah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife.

15And Yehuḏah saw her, and reckoned her for a whore, for she had covered her face.

16And he turned aside to her by the way, and said, “Please let me come in to you,” for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, “What do you give me to come in to me?”

17And he said, “Let me send you a young goat from the flock.” And she said, “Do you give me a pledge until you send it?”

18So he said, “What pledge should I give you?” And she said, “Your seal and your cord and your staff that is in your hand.” And he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him.

19And she arose and went away, and removed her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood.

20And Yehuḏah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend the Aḏullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand, but he did not find her.

21And he asked the men of that place, saying, “Where is the cult prostitute who was beside the way to Ěnayim?” And they said, “There was no cult prostitute in this place.”

22And he returned to Yehuḏah and said, “I have not found her. And the men of the place also said there was no cult prostitute in this place.”

23And Yehuḏah said, “Let her take them for herself, lest we become despised, for I sent this young goat and you have not found her.”

24And it came to be, about three new moons after, that Yehuḏah was informed, saying, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has whored, and see, she has conceived by whoring.” And Yehuḏah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!”

25When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am pregnant.” And she said, “Please examine whose these are: the seal and the cord and the staff.”

26And Yehuḏah examined and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shĕlah my son.” And he never knew her again.

27And it came to be, at the time for giving birth, that see, twins were in her womb.

28And it came to be, 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.”

29And it came to be, as he drew back his hand, that see, his brother came out! And she said, “How did you break through? This breach be upon you!” So his name was called Perets.

30And afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand. So his name was called Zeraḥ.

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