Genesis 38:5-15

New American Standard Bible

⁵ She gave birth to yet another son and named him ^(A)Shelah; and it was at Chezib ^[a]that she gave birth to him.

⁶ Now Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. ⁷ But ^(B)Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord took his life. ⁸ Then Judah said to Onan, “^(C)Have relations with your brother’s wife and perform your duty as a brother-in-law to her, and raise up a ^[b]child for your brother.” ⁹ Now Onan knew that the ^[c](D)child would not be his; so when he had relations with his brother’s wife, he ^[d]wasted his seed on the ground so that he would not give ^[e]a child to his brother. ¹⁰ But what he did was displeasing in the sight of the Lord; so He ^(E)took his life also. ¹¹ Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “^(F)Remain a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up”; for he ^[f]thought, “I am afraid that he too may die like his brothers.” So Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.

¹² Now ^[g]after a considerable time Shua’s daughter, the wife of Judah, died; and when ^[h]the time of mourning was ended, Judah went up to his sheepshearers at ^(G)Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. ¹³ And Tamar was told, “Behold, your father-in-law is going up to ^(H)Timnah to shear his sheep.” ¹⁴ So she ^[i]removed her widow’s garments and ^(I)covered herself with a ^[j]veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gateway of ^[k]Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah had grown up, and ^(J)she 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.