Genesis 38

And it happened at that time that Judas went down from his brothers and came as far as a certain man, an Odollamite, whose name was Iras.

And Judas saw there a daughter of a Chananite man, whose name was Saua; and he took her and went in to her.

And she conceived and bore a son, and called his name Er.

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

And she bore yet again a son, and called his name Selom; and she was in Chasbi when she bore them.

And Judas took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Thamar.

And Er, Judas' firstborn, was wicked before the Lord, and God killed him.

And Judas said to Aunan, Go in to your brother's wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up seed for your brother.

But Aunan, knowing that the seed would not be his, it came about that whenever he went in to his brother's wife, he poured it out upon the ground, so as not to give seed to his brother.

And it appeared evil before God that he did this, and he put this one also to death.

And Judas said to Thamar his daughter-in-law, Remain a widow in your father's house until Selom my son becomes great; for he said, Lest this one also die like his brothers. And Thamar departed and dwelt in her father's house.

And the days were multiplied, and Saua the wife of Judas died. And Judas, having been comforted, went up to those shearing his sheep, he and Iras his shepherd the Odollamite, to Thamna.

And it was reported to Thamar his daughter-in-law, saying, Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Thamna to shear his sheep.

And she took off from herself the garments of her widowhood, and put on a light summer veil and adorned herself, and sat at the gates of Ainan, which is on the way to Thamna; for she saw that Selom had become great, but he had not given her to him as a wife.

And Judas, seeing her, thought her to be a prostitute, for she had covered her face, and he did not recognize her.

And he turned aside to her by the way and said to her, 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 if you come in to me?

And he said, I will send you a kid of the goats from the flock. And she said, If you will give a pledge until you send it.

And he said, What pledge shall I give you? And she said, Your ring and your necklace and the staff that is in your hand. And he gave them to her and went in to her, and she conceived by him.

And rising up she went away, and took off the summer veil from herself, and put on the garments of her widowhood.

And Judas sent the kid from the goats by the hand of his shepherd the Odollamite, to receive back the pledge from the woman; and he did not find her.

And he asked the men of that place, Where is the prostitute who was in Ainan by the road? And they said, There was no prostitute here.

And he returned to Judas and said, I did not find her; and the men of that place say there is no prostitute here.

And Judas said, Let her keep them, only lest we be laughed at: I indeed sent this kid, but you did not find her.

And it happened after three months that it was reported to Judas, saying, Thamar your daughter-in-law has played the harlot, and behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judas said, Bring her out, and let her be burned.

But as she was being led out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, By the man whose these things are, I am with child. And she said, Recognize whose is the ring and the necklace and this staff.

And Judas recognized them and said, Thamar has been justified rather than I, because I did not give her to Selom my son. And he did not continue to know her again.

And it happened, when she was giving birth, that in her case also there were twins in her womb.

And it happened, while she was giving birth, that the one put forth his hand; and the midwife took and bound scarlet upon his hand, saying, This one shall come out first.

But as he drew his hand back in, immediately his brother came out; and she said, Why has a breach been broken through because of you? And she called his name Phares.

And after this his brother came out, upon whose hand was the scarlet; and she called his name Zara.