And she conceived yet again and bore a son, and called his name (A)Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him.

Then Judah (B)took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was (C)Tamar. But (D)Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, (E)and the Lord killed him. And Judah said to Onan, “Go in to (F)your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.” But Onan knew that the heir would not be (G)his; and it came to pass, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he emitted on the ground, lest he should give an heir to his brother. 10 And the thing which he did [a]displeased the Lord; therefore He killed (H)him also.

11 Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, (I)“Remain a widow in your father’s house till my son Shelah is grown.” For he said, “Lest he also die like his brothers.” And Tamar went and dwelt (J)in her father’s house.

12 Now in the process of time the daughter of Shua, Judah’s wife, died; and Judah (K)was comforted, and went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. 13 And it was told Tamar, saying, “Look, your father-in-law is going up (L)to Timnah to shear his sheep.” 14 So she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and (M)sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah; for she saw (N)that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife. 15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face.

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Footnotes

  1. Genesis 38:10 Lit. was evil in the eyes of

She gave birth to still another son and named him Shelah.(A) It was at Kezib that she gave birth to him.

Judah got a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.(B) But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the Lord’s sight;(C) so the Lord put him to death.(D)

Then Judah said to Onan, “Sleep with your brother’s wife and fulfill your duty to her as a brother-in-law to raise up offspring for your brother.”(E) But Onan knew that the child would not be his; so whenever he slept with his brother’s wife, he spilled his semen on the ground to keep from providing offspring for his brother. 10 What he did was wicked in the Lord’s sight; so the Lord put him to death also.(F)

11 Judah then said to his daughter-in-law(G) Tamar,(H) “Live as a widow in your father’s household(I) until my son Shelah(J) grows up.”(K) For he thought, “He may die too, just like his brothers.” So Tamar went to live in her father’s household.

12 After a long time Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua,(L) died. When Judah had recovered from his grief, he went up to Timnah,(M) to the men who were shearing his sheep,(N) and his friend Hirah the Adullamite(O) went with him.

13 When Tamar(P) was told, “Your father-in-law is on his way to Timnah to shear his sheep,”(Q) 14 she took off her widow’s clothes,(R) covered herself with a veil(S) to disguise herself, and then sat down(T) at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah.(U) For she saw that, though Shelah(V) had now grown up, she had not been given to him as his wife.

15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute,(W) for she had covered her face.

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