The Scriptures 1998

Genesis 38:9-18 The Scriptures 1998 (ISR98)

9. And Onan knew that the offspring would not be his. And it came to be, when he went in to his brother’s wife, that he spilled on the ground, lest he should give an offspring to his brother.

10. But what he did displeased יהוה, so He took his life too.

11. Then Yehuḏah said to Tamar his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father’s house until my son Shĕlah is grown.” For he said, “Lest he also die as his brothers did.” And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house.

12. And after a long time the daughter of Shuwa, Yehuḏah’s wife, died. And Yehuḏah was comforted, and went up to his sheep-shearers at Timnah, he and his friend Ḥirah the Aḏullamite.

13. And it was reported to Tamar, saying, “See, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.”

14. And she took off her widow’s garments, and covered herself with a veil and wrapped herself, and sat at the entrance to Ěnayim which was on the way to Timnah. For she saw that Shĕlah was grown, and she was not given to him as a wife.

15. And Yehuḏah saw her, and reckoned her for a whore, for she had covered her face.

16. And he turned aside 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. And she said, “What do you give me to come in to me?”

17. And he said, “Let me send you a young goat from the flock.” And she said, “Do you give me a pledge until you send it?”

18. So he said, “What pledge should I give you?” And she said, “Your seal and your cord and your staff that is in your hand.” And he gave them to her, and went in to her, and she conceived by him.