1
And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren, and turned in to a certainAdullamite, whose name was Hirah.
2
And Judahsaw there a daughter of a certainCanaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto her.
3
And she conceived, and bare a son; and he called his nameEr.
4
And she conceived again, and bare a son; and she called his nameOnan.
5
And she yet again conceived, and bare a son; and called his nameShelah: and he was at Chezib, when she bare him.
6
And Judahtook a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar.
7
And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORDslew him.
8
And Judahsaid unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and marry her, and raise upseed to thy brother.
9
And Onanknew 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 giveseed to his brother.
10
And the thing which he diddispleased the LORD: wherefore he slew him also.
11
Then saidJudah 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 Tamarwent and dwelt in her father's house.
12
And in process of time the daughter of ShuahJudah's wifedied; and Judah was comforted, and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friendHirah the Adullamite.
13
And it was toldTamar, saying, Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep.
14
And she puther widow's garmentsoff from her, and covered her with a vail, and wrapped herself, and sat in an openplace, which is by the way to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him to wife.
15
When Judah saw her, he thoughther to be an harlot; because she had coveredherface.
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 inlaw.) And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me?
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?
18
And he said, Whatpledge 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.
19
And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood.
20
And Judahsent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman's hand: but he found her not.
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 thisplace.
22
And he returned to Judah, and said, I cannotfind her; and also the men of the placesaid, that there was no harlot in this place.
23
And Judahsaid, Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed: behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her.
24
And it came to pass about threemonths after, that it was toldJudah, saying, Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judahsaid, Bring her forth, and let her be burnt.
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.
26
And Judahacknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gaveher not to Shelah my son. And he knew heragain no more.
27
And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb.
28
And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwifetook and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came outfirst.
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 calledPharez.
30
And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was calledZarah.