Genesis 38:1-9 ▼

1 And it came about at that time, that Judah departed from his brothers and visited a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.

2 Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua; and he took her as a wife and had relations with her.

3 And she conceived and gave birth to a son, and he named him Er.

4 Then she conceived again and gave birth to a son, and she named him Onan.

5 She gave birth to yet another son and named him Shelah; and it was at Chezib that she gave birth to him.

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

7 But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the sight of the LORD, so the LORD took his life.

8 Then Judah said to Onan, “Have relations with your brother’s wife and perform your duty as a brother-in-law to her, and raise up a child for your brother.”

9 Now Onan knew that the child would not be his; so when he had relations with his brother’s wife, he wasted his seed on the ground so that he would not give a child to his brother.