Genesis 38:1-11 ▼

1 And it came to pass at that time that Judah went down from his brothers, and settled to a man, an Adullamite, and his name was Hirah.

2 And Judah saw there a daughter of a man, a Canaanite, and his name was Shua. And he took her and went in to her.

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

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

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

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

7 And Er, firstborn of Judah, was evil in the eyes of YHWH; and YHWH killed him.

8 And Judah said to Onan, “Go in to the wife of your brother and perform the dury of a brother-in-law to her and raise up seed for your brother.”

9 And Onan knew that the seed would not belong to him. And it came to pass, when he went in to the wife of his brother, that he destroyed it on the earth, so that he would not give seed to his brother.

10 And what he did was evil in the eyes of YHWH, and He killed him also.

11 And Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in the house of your father until Shelah my son is grown.” For he said, “Lest he also die like his brothers.” And Tamar went and dwelt in the house of her father.