Gen 38 | NASB2020 | 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 as a wife and had relations with her. 3 And she conceived and gave birth to a son, and he named him ^eEr. 4 Then she conceived again and gave birth to a son, and she named him ^fOnan. 5 She gave birth to yet another son and named him ^gShelah; and it was at Chezib ^{▼▼Lit when}that she gave birth to 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, “ ^jHave relations with your brother’s wife and perform your duty as a brother-in-law to her, and raise up a ^{▼▼Lit seed}child for your brother.” 9 Now Onan knew that the ^{▼▼Lit seed
,} ^mchild would not be his; so when he had relations with his brother’s wife, he ^{▼▼Lit spilled on the ground}wasted his seed on the ground so that he would not give ^{▼▼Lit seed}a child 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, “ ^qRemain 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 And Tamar was told, “Behold, your father-in-law is going up to ^vTimnah to shear his sheep.” 14 So she ^{▼▼Lit removed from herself}removed her widow’s garments and ^xcovered herself with a ^{▼▼Or shawl}veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gateway of ^{▼▼In Josh 15:34, Enam}Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah had grown up, and ^aashe had not been given to him as a wife. 15 When Judah saw her, he assumed she was a prostitute, 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 have relations with you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, “What will you give me, that you may have relations with me?” 17 He said, therefore, “I will send you a ^{▼▼Lit kid of goats}young goat from the flock.” She then said, “Will you give a pledge until you send it?” 18 He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” And she said, “ ^adYour seal and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” So he gave them to her and had relations with her, and she conceived by him. 19 Then she got up 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 people 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 people 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 ^{▼▼Lit informed, saying}informed, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar has prostituted herself, and behold, she is also pregnant by prostitution.” Then Judah said, “Bring her out and ^akhave her burned!” 25 It was while she was being brought out that she sent word to her father-in-law, saying, “I am pregnant by the man to whom these things belong.” She also said, “ ^alPlease examine and see, whose signet ring and cords and staff are these?” 26 And Judah recognized them, and said, “ ^amShe is more righteous than I, since ^anI 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 ^aptwins in her womb. 28 Moreover, it took place while she was giving birth, that one baby 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
,} ^arPerez. 30 Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand; and he was named ^{▼▼I.e., a dawning or brightness
,} ^atZerah.