Judah and Tamar

Judah departed from his brothers and married the daughter of a Canaanite named Shua, with whom he had three sons: Er, Onan, and Shelah (Genesis 38:2-5). Judah obtained a wife named Tamar for Er, but the Lord took Er’s life because he was wicked. Judah then instructed Onan to fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to Tamar, but Onan spilled his semen on the ground to avoid giving his brother an heir, so the Lord took his life as well (Genesis 38:6-10). Judah told Tamar to remain a widow in her father's house until Shelah grew up, though he secretly feared Shelah would also die. After a long time, Judah's wife died, and he went to Timnah to shear his sheep.

When Tamar was told Judah was going to Timnah, she removed her widow's garments, covered her face with a veil, and sat at the entrance to Enaim. She did this because Shelah had grown up, but she had not been given to him as a wife (Genesis 38:14). Judah saw her and, thinking she was a prostitute because her face was covered, offered her a young goat from the flock. Tamar requested his seal, cord, and staff as a pledge until the goat arrived. Judah agreed and slept with her, and she conceived. Tamar then returned home and put her widow's garments back on. When Judah sent his friend to deliver the goat and retrieve his pledge, the men of the place said there had been no shrine prostitute there, and Judah could not find her (Genesis 38:20-23).

About three months later, Judah was informed that Tamar had played the prostitute and was pregnant. Judah ordered that she be brought out and burned. As she was being brought out, she sent the seal, cord, and staff to her father-in-law, stating that the owner of these items was the father of her child. Judah recognized the items and declared that she was more righteous than he, because he had not given her to his son Shelah (Genesis 38:24-26). The text does not say that he had relations with her again.