Genesis 38:12-23

12Now 1after a considerable time Shua’s daughter, the wife of Judah, died; and when 2the time of mourning was ended, Judah went up to his sheepshearers at 3Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite. 13It was told to Tamar, “4Behold, your father-in-law is going up to 5Timnah to shear his sheep.” 14So she 6removed her widow’s garments and 7covered herself with a 8veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gateway of 9Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah had grown up, and 10she had not been given to him as a wife. 15When Judah saw her, he thought she was a harlot, for she had covered her face. 16So he turned aside to her by the road, and said, “11Here now, 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?” 17He said, therefore, “I will send you a 12young goat from the flock.” She said, moreover, “Will you give a pledge until you send it?” 18He said, “What pledge shall I give you?” And she said, “13Your 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. 19Then she arose and departed, and 14removed her 15veil and put on her widow’s garments.

20When Judah sent the 16young goat by his friend the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman’s hand, he did not find her. 21He asked the men of her place, saying, “Where is the temple prostitute who was by the road at Enaim?” But they said, “There has been no temple prostitute here.” 22So he returned to Judah, and said, “I did not find her; and furthermore, the men of the place said, ‘There has been no temple prostitute here.’” 23Then Judah said, “Let her 17keep them, otherwise we will become a laughingstock. 18After all, I sent this young goat, but you did not find her.”