Genesis:38

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* And it came to pass at that time , that (note :)Moses describes the genealogy of Judah , because the Messiah should come from him .(:note ) Judah went down from his brethren , and turned in to a certain Adullamite , whose name [was ] Hirah . * And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite , whose name [was ] Shuah ; (note :)A relationship which nonetheless was condemned by God .(:note ) and he took her , and went in unto her . * So she conceiued and bare a sonne , and he called his name Er . * And she conceiued againe , &amp ; bare a sonne , and she called his name Onan . * Moreouer she bare yet a sonne , whome she called Shelah : and Iudah was at Chezib when she bare him . * Then Iudah tooke a wife to Er his first borne sonne whose name was Tamar . * Now Er the first borne of Iudah was wicked in the sight of the Lord : therefore the Lord slewe him . * And Judah said unto Onan , Go in unto thy brother 's wife , and marry her , and raise (note :)This order was for the preservation of the stock , since the child begotten by the second brother would have the name and inheritance of the first : a practice which is abolished in the New Testament .(:note ) up seed to thy brother . * And Onan knewe that the seede should not be his : therefore when he went in vnto his brothers wife , he spilled it on the grounde , least he should giue seede vnto his brother . * And it was wicked in the eyes of the Lord , which he did : wherefore he slewe him also . * Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law , (note :)For she could not marry in any other family so long as Judah would retain her in his .(:note ) Remain a widow at thy father 's house , till Shelah my son be grown : for he said , Lest peradventure he die also , as his brethren [did ]. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father 's house . * And in processe of time also the daughter of Shuah Iudahs wife dyed . Then Iudah , when he had left mourning , went vp to his sheepe sherers to Timnah , he , and his neighbour Hirah the Adullamite . * And it was tolde Tamar , saying , beholde , thy father in lawe goeth vp to Timnah , to shere his sheepe . * Then she put her widowes garments off from her , and couered her with a vaile , and wrapped her selfe , and sate downe in Pethah-enaim , which is by the way to Timnah , because she sawe that Shelah was growen , and she was not giuen vnto him to wife . * When Iudah sawe her , he iudged her an whore : for she had couered her face . * And he turned unto her by the way , and said , Go to , I pray thee , let me come in unto thee ; (for he (note :)God miraculously blinded him so that he could not know her by her voice .(:note ) knew not that she [was ] his daughter in law .) And she said , What wilt thou give me , that thou mayest come in unto me ? * Then said he , I will sende thee a kid of the goates from the flocke ; she said , Well , if thou wilt giue me a pledge , till thou sende it . * Then he saide , What is the pledge that I shall giue thee ? And she answered , Thy signet , and thy cloke , and thy staffe that is in thine hande . So he gaue it her , and lay by her , and she was with childe by him . * Then she rose , and went and put her vaile from her and put on her widowes raiment . * And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his (note :)That his wickedness might not be known to others .(:note ) friend the Adullamite , to receive [his ] pledge from the woman 's hand : but he found her not . * Then asked he the men of that place , saying , Where is ye whore , that sate in Enaim by the way side ? And they answered , There was no whore here . * He came therefore to Iudah againe , and said , I can not finde her , and also the men of the place said , There was no whore there . * And Judah said , Let her take [it ] to her , lest we be (note :)He fears man more than God .(:note ) shamed : behold , I sent this kid , and thou hast not found her . * And it came to pass about three months after , that it was told Judah , saying , Tamar thy daughter in law hath played the harlot ; and also , behold , she [is ] with child by whoredom . And Judah said , Bring her forth , and let her be (note :)We see that the Law , which was written in man 's heart , taught them that adultery should be punished with death , even though no law had been given yet .(:note ) burnt . * When she was brought foorth , she sent to her father in law , saying , By the man , vnto whom these things pertaine , am I with childe : and saide also , Looke , I pray thee , whose these are , the seale , and the cloke , and the staffe . * And Judah acknowledged [them ], and said , She hath been (note :)That is , she ought rather to accuse me than I her .(:note ) more righteous than I ; because that I gave her not to Shelah my son . And he knew her again for the horror of the sin condemned him . no more . * Now , when the time was come that she should be deliuered , beholde , there were twinnes in her wombe . * And when she was in trauell , the one put out his hand : and the midwife tooke and bound a red threde about his hand , saying , This is come out first . * And it came to pass , as he (note :)Their heinous sin was signified by this monstrous birth .(:note ) drew back his hand , that , behold , his brother came out : and she said , How Or the separation between you and your brother . hast thou broken forth ? [this ] breach [be ] upon thee : therefore his name was called Pharez . * And afterward came out his brother that had the red threde about his hande , and his name was called Zarah .

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