Genesis 38:1-11

1And it came about at that time, that Judah 1departed from his brothers and 2visited a certain 3Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. 2Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite whose name was 4Shua; and he took her as a wife and had relations with her. 3And she conceived and gave birth to a son, and he named him 5Er. 4Then she conceived again and gave birth to a son, and she named him 6Onan. 5She gave birth to yet another son and named him 7Shelah; and it was at Chezib 8that she gave birth to him.

6Now Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7But 9Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord took his life. 8Then Judah said to Onan, “10Have relations with your brother’s wife and perform your duty as a brother-in-law to her, and raise up a 11child for your brother.” 9Now Onan knew that the 1213child would not be his; so when he had relations with his brother’s wife, he 14wasted his seed on the ground so that he would not give 15a child to his brother. 10But what he did was displeasing in the sight of the Lord; so He 16took his life also. 11Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “17Remain a widow in your father’s house until my son Shelah grows up”; for he 18thought, “I am afraid that he too may die like his brothers.” So Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.