Judah's son dies and Judah fails to keep his promise to his widowed daughter-in-law Tamar. She disguises herself and conceives by Judah, who finally admits she is more righteous than he.
1 And 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 .
2 And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite , whose name was Shuah ; and he took her , and went in unto her.
3 And she conceived , and bare a son ; and he called his name Er .
4 And she conceived again, and bare a son ; and she called his name Onan .
5 And she yet again conceived , and bare a son ; and called his name Shelah : and he was at Chezib , when she bare him.
6 And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn , whose name was Tamar .
7 And Er , Judah's firstborn , was wicked in the sight of the LORD ; and the LORD slew him.
8 And Judah said unto Onan , Go in unto thy brother's wife , and marry her, and raise up seed to thy brother .
9 And 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 .
10 And the thing which he did displeased the LORD : wherefore he slew him also.
11 Then 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 .
12 And 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 .
13 And it was told Tamar , saying , Behold thy father in law goeth up to Timnath to shear his sheep .
14 And 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 .
15 When Judah saw her , he thought her to be an harlot ; because she had covered her face .
16 And 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?
17 And he said , I will send thee a kid from the flock . And she said , Wilt thou give me a pledge , till thou send it?
18 And 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.
19 And she arose , and went away , and laid by her vail from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood .
20 And 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.
21 Then 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.
22 And 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.
23 And Judah said , Let her take it to her, lest we be shamed : behold, I sent this kid , and thou hast not found her.
24 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 burnt .
25 When 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 .
26 And 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.
27 And it came to pass in the time of her travail , that, behold, twins were in her womb .
28 And 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 .
29 And 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 .
30 And afterward came out his brother , that had the scarlet thread upon his hand : and his name was called Zarah .