9
Onanknew that the offspring would not be his; so when he went in to his brother'swife, he wasted his seed on the ground in order not to giveoffspring to his brother.
11
Then Judahsaid to his daughter-in-lawTamar, "Remain a widow in your father'shouseuntil my sonShelahgrows up"; for he thought, "I am afraid that he too may die like his brothers." So Tamarwent and lived in her father'shouse.
12
Now after a considerabletimeShua'sdaughter, the wife of Judah, died; and when the time of mourning was ended, Judahwent up to his sheepshearers* at Timnah, he and his friendHirah the Adullamite.
14
So she removed her widow'sgarments and covered herself with a veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gateway of Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah had grown up, and she had not been given to him as a wife.
16
So he turnedaside to her by the road, and said, "Herenow, let me come in to you"; for he did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, "What will you give me, that you may come in to me?"
18
He said, "Whatpledge shall I give you?" And she said, "Your seal 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.
21
He asked the men of her place, saying, "Where is the templeprostitutewho was by the road at Enaim?" But they said, "There has beennotempleprostitutehere."
24
Now it was about threemonths later that Judah was informed, "Your daughter-in-lawTamar has played the harlot, and behold, she is also with child by harlotry." Then Judahsaid, "Bring her out and let her be burned!"
25
It was while she was being brought out that she sent to her father-in-law, saying, "I am with child by the man to whomthesethings belong." And she said, "Pleaseexamine and see, whosesignetring and cords and staff are these?"
26
Judahrecognized them, and said, "She is morerighteousthan I, inasmuch** as I did not give her to my sonShelah." And he did not haverelations with her again*.
27
It came about at the time she was givingbirth, that behold, there were twins in her womb.
H'n.jib.B ~yimw{a.t heNih.w H'T.dil te[.B yih.y;w
28
Moreover, it tookplace while she was givingbirth, one put out a hand, and the midwifetook and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, "Thisonecame out first."
29
But it came about as he drewback his hand, that behold, his brothercame out. Then she said, "What a breach you have made for yourself!" So he was named*Perez.