Genesis 38:1-14 ▼

1 AND it came to pass at that time that Judah went down from his brothers, and turned in to a certain Arlemite, whose name was Hirah.

2 And Judah saw there the daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah; and he took her, and went in unto 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 he called his name Onan.

5 And she conceived again, and bore a son; and he called his name Shelah; and after she bore him she stopped bearing.

6 And Judah took a wife for Er, his first-born, whose name was Tamar.

7 And Er, Judah's first-born, was wicked in the sight of the LORD; and the LORD slew him.

8 And Judah said to Onan, Go in to your brother's wife, and perform the duty of a brother-in-law to her, and raise up an offspring to your brother.

9 And Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; and it came to pass when he went in unto his brother's wife that he spilled the semen on the ground, lest that he should raise an offspring to his brother.

10 And the thing which he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD; wherefore he slew him also.

11 Then said Judah to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, Remain a widow in your father's house, until my son Shelah grows up; for he said. Lest he die also, as his brothers did. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house.

12 And in the course of time Shuah's daughter, the wife of Judah, died; and Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Arlemite.

13 And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold your father-in-law is going up to Timnath to shear his sheep.

14 And she put off her widow's dress, and adorned herself, and covered her face with a veil, and sat down at the parting of the road to Timnath; for she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she was not given to him to wife.