1 I t came to pass at that time that Judah departed from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite whose name was Hirah.

2 A nd Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua, and he married her and went in to her.

3 S o she conceived and bore a son, and he called his name Er.

4 S he conceived again and bore a son, and she called his name Onan.

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

6 T hen Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.

7 B ut Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of the Lord, and the Lord killed him.

8 A nd Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother’s wife and marry her, and raise up an heir to your brother.”

9 B ut Onan knew that the heir would not be 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 A nd the thing which he did displeased the Lord; therefore He killed him also.

11 T hen Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “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 in her father’s house.

12 N ow in the process of time the daughter of Shua, Judah’s wife, died; and Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.

13 A nd it was told Tamar, saying, “Look, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”

14 S o she took off her widow’s garments, covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife.

15 W hen Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, because she had covered her face.

16 T hen he turned to her by the way, and said, “Please let me come in to you”; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. So she said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?”

17 A nd he said, “I will send a young goat from the flock.” So she said, “Will you give me a pledge till you send it? ”

18 T hen he said, “What pledge shall I give you?” So she said, “Your signet and cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” Then he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him.

19 S o she arose and went away, and laid aside her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood.

20 A nd Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand, but he did not find her.

21 T hen he asked the men of that place, saying, “Where is the harlot who was openly by the roadside?” And they said, “There was no harlot in this place. ”

22 S o he returned to Judah and said, “I cannot find her. Also, the men of the place said there was no harlot in this place. ”

23 T hen Judah said, “Let her take them for herself, lest we be shamed; for I sent this young goat and you have not found her.”

24 A nd it came to pass, about three months after, that Judah was told, saying, “Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the harlot; furthermore she is with child by harlotry.” So Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!”

25 W hen she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “By the man to whom these belong, I am with child.” And she said, “Please determine whose these are —the signet and cord, and staff.”

26 S o Judah acknowledged them and said, “She has been more righteous than I, because I did not give her to Shelah my son.” And he never knew her again.

27 N ow it came to pass, at the time for giving birth, that behold, twins were in her womb.

28 A nd so it was, when she was giving birth, that the one put out his hand; and the midwife took a scarlet thread and bound it on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.”

29 T hen it happened, as he drew back his hand, that his brother came out unexpectedly; and she said, “How did you break through? This breach be upon you!” Therefore his name was called Perez.

30 A fterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand. And his name was called Zerah.