Genesis:38:1-24

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* It happened at that time that Judah went down from his brothers , and turned in to a certain Adullamite , whose name was Hirah . * There Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua ; he married her and went in to her , * and she conceived and bore a son , and he called his name Er . * Again she conceived and bore a son , and she called his name Onan . * Yet again she bore a son , and she called his name Shelah . She was in Chezib when she bore him . * And Judah took a wife for Er his first-born , and her name was Tamar . * But Er , Judah 's first-born , was wicked in the sight of the LORD ; and the LORD slew him . * Then 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 offspring for your brother ." * But Onan knew that the offspring would not be his ; so when he went in to his brother 's wife he spilled the semen on the ground , lest he should give offspring to his brother . * And what he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD , and he slew him also . * Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law , "Remain a widow in your father 's house , till Shelah my son grows up "--for he feared that he would die , like his brothers . So Tamar went and dwelt in her father 's house . * In course of time the wife of Judah , Shua 's daughter , died ; and when Judah was comforted , he went up to Timnah to his sheepshearers , he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite . * And when Tamar was told , "Your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep ," * she put off her widow 's garments , and put on a veil , wrapping herself up , and sat at the entrance to Enaim , which is on the road to Timnah ; for she saw that Shelah was grown up , and she had not been given to him in marriage . * When Judah saw her , he thought her to be a harlot , for she had covered her face . * He went over to her at the road side , and said , "Come , let me come in to you ," for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law . She said , "What will you give me , that you may come in to me ?" * He answered , "I will send you a kid from the flock ." And she said , "Will you give me a pledge , till you send it ?" * He said , "What pledge shall I give you ?" She replied , "Your signet and your cord , and your staff that is in your hand ." So he gave them to her , and went in to her , and she conceived by him . * Then she arose and went away , and taking off her veil she put on the garments of her widowhood . * When Judah sent the kid by his friend the Adullamite , to receive the pledge from the woman 's hand , he could not find her . * And he asked the men of the place , "Where is the harlot who was at Enaim by the wayside ?" And they said , "No harlot has been here ." * So he returned to Judah , and said , "I have not found her ; and also the men of the place said , `No harlot has been here .'" * And Judah replied , "Let her keep the things as her own , lest we be laughed at ; you see , I sent this kid , and you could not find her ." * About three months later Judah was told , "Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the harlot ; and moreover she is with child by harlotry ." And Judah said , "Bring her out , and let her be burned ."

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