1And it came to pass at that time , that Judah went down from his brethren , and turned in to a certain Adullamite , whose name was Hirah . 2And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite , whose name was Shuah ; and he took her , and went in unto her. 3And she conceived , and bare a son ; and he called his name Er . 4And she conceived again, and bare a son ; and she called his name Onan . 5And she yet again conceived , and bare a son ; and called his name Shelah : and he was at Chezib , when she bare him. 6And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn , whose name was Tamar . 7And Er , Judah’s firstborn , was wicked in the sight of the LORD ; and the LORD slew him. 8And Judah said unto Onan , Go in unto thy brother’s wife , and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother . 9And Onan 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 , lest that he should give seed to his brother . 10And the thing which he did displeased the LORD : wherefore he slew him also. 11Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law , 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 .
Tamar's Deception
12And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah’s wife died ; and Judah was comforted , and went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath , he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite . 13And it was told Tamar , saying , Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep . 14And she put her widow’s garments off from her, and covered her with a vail , and wrapped herself , and sat in an open place , which is by the way to Timnath ; for she saw that Shelah was grown , and she was not given unto him to wife . 15When Judah saw her , he thought her to be an harlot ; because she had covered her face . 16And 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? 17And he said , I will send thee a kid from the flock . And she said , Wilt thou give me a pledge , till thou send it ? 18And he said , What pledge shall I give thee? And she said , Thy signet , and thy bracelets , and thy staff that is in thine hand . And he gave it her, and came in unto her, and she conceived by him. 19And she arose , and went away , and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood .
Judah's Recognition
20And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite , to receive his pledge from the woman’s hand : but he found her not. 21Then he asked the men of that place , saying , Where is the harlot , that was openly by the way side ? And they said , There was no harlot in this place . 22And he returned to Judah , and said , I cannot find her; and also the men of the place said , that there was no harlot in this place . 23And Judah said , Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed : behold, I sent this kid , and thou hast not found her. 24And 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 burnt . 25When she was brought forth , she sent to her father in law , saying , By the man , whose these are, am I with child : and she said , Discern , I pray thee, whose are these, the signet , and bracelets , and staff . 26And 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 again no more. 27And it came to pass in the time of her travail , that, behold, twins were in her womb . 28And 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 . 29And 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 be upon thee: therefore his name was called Pharez . 30And afterward came out his brother , that had the scarlet thread upon his hand : and his name was called Zarah .