Gen 38 | NASB1995 | STEP | And it came about at that time , that Judah departed from his brothers and visited a certain Adullamite , whose name was Hirah .

Genesis 38

Judah and Tamar

1 And it came about at that time, that Judah ^{▼▼ Lit went down}departed from his brothers and ^{▼▼ Lit turned aside to}visited a certain ^cAdullamite, whose name was Hirah. 2 Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was ^dShua; and he took her and went in to her. 3 So she conceived and bore a son and he named him ^eEr. 4 Then she conceived again and bore a son and named him ^fOnan. 5 She bore still another son and named him ^gShelah; and it was at Chezib ^{▼▼ Lit when}that she bore him.

6 Now Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 But ⁱEr, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord took his life. 8 Then Judah said to Onan, ^j“Go in to your brother’s wife, and perform your duty as a brother-in-law to her, and raise up ^{▼▼ Lit seed}offspring for your brother.” 9 Onan knew that the ^{▼▼ Lit seed
,} ^moffspring would not be his; so when he went in to his brother’s wife, he ^{▼▼ Lit spilled on the ground}wasted his seed on the ground in order not to give ^{▼▼ Lit seed}offspring to his brother. 10 But what he did was displeasing in the sight of the Lord; so He ^ptook his life also. 11 Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, ^q“Remain a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up”; for he ^{▼▼ Lit said}thought, “I am afraid that he too may die like his brothers.” So Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.

12 Now ^{▼▼ Lit the days became many and}after a considerable time Shua’s daughter, the wife of Judah, died; and when ^{▼▼ Lit Judah was comforted, he}the time of mourning was ended, Judah went up to his sheepshearers at ^uTimnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. 13 It was told to Tamar, ^{▼▼ Lit saying, Behold}“Behold, your father-in-law is going up to ^wTimnah to shear his sheep.” 14 So she ^{▼▼ Lit removed from herself}removed her widow’s garments and ^ycovered herself with a ^{▼▼ Or shawl}veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gateway of ^{▼▼ In Jos.15.34, Enam}Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah had grown up, and ^abshe had not been given to him as a wife. 15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, for she had covered her face. 16 So he turned aside to her by the road, and said, ^{▼▼ Or Come, now}“Here now, let me come in to you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?” 17 He said, therefore, “I will send you a ^{▼▼ Lit kid of goats}young goat from the flock.” She said, moreover, “Will you give a pledge until you send it?” 18 He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” And she said, ^ae“Your seal and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him. 19 Then she arose and departed, and ^{▼▼ Lit removed from herself}removed her ^{▼▼ Or shawl}veil and put on her widow’s garments.

20 When Judah sent the ^{▼▼ Lit kid of goats by the hand of}young goat by his friend the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman’s hand, he did not find her. 21 He asked the men of her place, saying, “Where is the temple prostitute who was by the road at Enaim?” But they said, “There has been no temple prostitute here.” 22 So he returned to Judah, and said, “I did not find her; and furthermore, the men of the place said, ‘There has been no temple prostitute here.’” 23 Then Judah said, “Let her ^{▼▼ Lit take for herself}keep them, otherwise we will become a laughingstock. ^{▼▼ Lit Behold}After all, I sent this young goat, but you did not find her.”

24 Now it was about three months later that Judah was informed, ^{▼▼ Lit saying, Your}“Your daughter-in-law Tamar has played the harlot, and behold, she is also with child by harlotry.” Then Judah said, “Bring her out and ^allet her be burned!” 25 It was while she was being brought out that she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “I am with child by the man to whom these things belong.” And she said, ^am“Please examine and see, whose signet ring and cords and staff are these?” 26 Judah recognized them, and said, ^an“She is more righteous than I, inasmuch as ^aoI did not give her to my son Shelah.” And he did not ^{▼▼ Lit know her yet again}have relations with her again.

27 It came about at the time she was giving birth, that behold, there were ^aqtwins in her womb. 28 Moreover, it took place while she was giving birth, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” 29 But it came about as he drew back his hand, that behold, his brother came out. Then she said, “What a breach you have made for yourself!” So he was named ^{▼▼ I.e. a breach
,} ^asPerez. 30 Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand; and he was named ^{▼▼ I.e. a dawning or brightness
,} ^auZerah.