Genesis:38

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* It came to pass at that time that Judah departed from his brothers , and visited a certain Adullamite whose name was Hirah . * And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was Shua , and he married her and went in to her . * So she conceived and bore a son , and he called his name Er . * She conceived again and bore a son , and she called his name Onan . * And she conceived yet again and bore a son , and called his name Shelah . He was at Chezib when she bore him . * Then Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn , and her name was Tamar . * But Er , Judah 's firstborn , was wicked in the sight of the LORD , and the LORD killed him . * And Judah said to Onan , "Go in to your brother 's wife and marry her , and raise up an heir to your brother ." * But Onan knew that the heir would not be his ; and it came to pass , when he went in to his brother 's wife , that he emitted on the ground , lest he should give an heir to his brother . * And the thing which he did displeased the LORD ; therefore He killed him also . * Then Judah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law , "Remain a widow in your father 's house till my son Shelah is grown ." For he said , "Lest he also die like his brothers ." And Tamar went and dwelt in her father 's house . * Now in the process of time the daughter of Shua , Judah 's wife , died ; and Judah was comforted , and went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah , he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite . * And it was told Tamar , saying , "Look , your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep ." * So she took off her widow 's garments , covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself , and sat in an open place which was on the way to Timnah ; for she saw that Shelah was grown , and she was not given to him as a wife . * When Judah saw her , he thought she was a harlot , because she had covered her face . * Then he turned to her by the way , and said , "Please let me come in to you "; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law . So she said , "What will you give me , that you may come in to me ?" * And he said , "I will send a young goat from the flock ." So she said , "Will you give me a pledge till you send it ? * Then he said , "What pledge shall I give you ?" So she said , "Your signet and cord , and your staff that is in your hand ." Then he gave them to her , and went in to her , and she conceived by him . * So she arose and went away , and laid aside her veil and put on the garments of her widowhood . * And Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his friend the Adullamite , to receive his pledge from the woman 's hand , but he did not find her . * Then he asked the men of that place , saying , "Where is the harlot who was openly by the roadside ?" And they said , "There was no harlot in this place ." * So he returned to Judah and said , "I cannot find her . Also , the men of the place said there was no harlot in this place ." * Then Judah said , "Let her take them for herself , lest we be shamed ; for I sent this young goat and you have not found her ." * And it came to pass , about three months after , that Judah was told , saying , "Tamar your daughter-in-law has played the harlot ; furthermore she is with child by harlotry ." So Judah said , "Bring her out and let her be burned !" * When she was brought out , she sent to her father-in-law , saying , "By the man to whom these belong , I am with child ." And she said , "Please determine whose these are--the signet and cord , and staff ." * So Judah acknowledged them and said , "She has been more righteous than I , because I did not give her to Shelah my son ." And he never knew her again . * Now it came to pass , at the time for giving birth , that behold , twins were in her womb . * And so it was , when she was giving birth , that the one put out his hand ; and the midwife took a scarlet thread and bound it on his hand , saying , "This one came out first ." * Then it happened , as he drew back his hand , that his brother came out unexpectedly ; and she said , "How did you break through ? This breach be upon you !" Therefore his name was called Perez . * Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand . And his name was called Zerah .

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