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38
1 And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brothers, and he pitched his tent with a certain Adullamite whose name was Chirah. 2 And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shua; 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 she called his name Onan. 5 And she again bore another 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 first-born, whose name was Tamar. 7 And 'Er, Judah's first-born, was displeasing in the eyes of the Lord; and the Lord slew him. 8 And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto thy brother's wife, and take her, as her brother-in-law, and raise up seed to thy brother. 9 Onan thus knew that the seed should not be his, and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground, so as not to give seed unto his brother. 10 And the thing which he did was displeasing in the eyes of the Lord: wherefore he slew him also. 11 Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter-in-law, Remain a widow at thy father's house, till Shelah my son be grown; for he thought, Lest peradventure he die also, as his brothers have done. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father's house. 12 And many days had elapsed when the daughter of Shua, Judah's wife, died; and after Judah was comforted, he went up unto his sheep-shearers, he and his friend Chirah the Adullamite, to Timnah. 13 And it was told unto Tamar, saying, Behold, thy father-in-law goeth up to Timnah to shear his sheep. 14 And she put her widow's garments off from her, and covered herself with a vail, and concealed her face, and seated herself at the cross-road, which is by the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown, and she was not given unto him for wife. 15 And Judah saw her and thought her to be a harlot; because she had covered her face. 16 And he turned unto her by the way, and said, Go to, I pray thee, let me come in unto thee; [for he knew not that she was his daughter-in-law.] And she said, What wilt thou give me, that thou mayest come in unto me? 17 And he said, I will send thee a kid from the flock. And she said, If thou wilt give me a pledge, till thou send it. 18 And he said, What is the pledge which I shall give thee? And she said, Thy signet, and thy scarf, and thy staff that is in thy hand. And he gave them unto her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him. 19 And she arose, and went away, and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood. 20 And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite, to take the pledge out of the woman's hand; but he found her not. 21 Then he asked the men of her place, saying, Where is the harlot, that was at the cross-road on the highway? And they said, There hath been no harlot in this neighborhood. 22 And he returned to Judah, and said, I cannot find her; and also the men of the place have said, There hath been no harlot in this place. 23 And Judah said, Let her keep it, lest we be put to shame; behold, I sent this kid, and thou hast not found her. 24 And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told to Judah, saying, Tamar thy daughter-in-law hath played the harlot; and also, behold, she is with child by prostitution. And Judah said, Lead her forth, and let her be burnt. 25 When she was led forth, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child: and she said, Acknowledge, I pray thee, to whom belong these, the signet, the scarf, and staff. 26 And Judah acknowledged them, and said, She hath been more righteous than I; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her not again any more. 27 And it came to pass at the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb. 28 And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first. 29 And it came to pass, as he drew back his hand, that, behold his brother came out; and she said, How hast thou broken forth! this breach is upon thee: therefore his name was called Perez. 30 And afterward came out his brother, that had the scarlet thread upon his hand: and his name was called Zerach.

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