After some time Judah’s wife, the daughter of Shua, died. After Judah was consoled, he left for Timnah to visit his sheepshearers, along with his friend Hirah the Adullamite.

Judah acquired a wife for Er his firstborn; her name was Tamar.

When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute because she had covered her face.

There Judah saw the daughter of a Canaanite man named Shua. Judah acquired her as a wife and had marital relations with her.

But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the Lord’s sight, so the Lord killed him.

Then Judah said to Onan, “Have sexual relations with your brother’s wife and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her so that you may raise up a descendant for your brother.”

So Judah and his brothers came back to Joseph’s house. He was still there, and they threw themselves to the ground before him.

Jacob sent Judah before him to Joseph to accompany him to Goshen. So they came to the land of Goshen.

Judah, your brothers will praise you. Your hand will be on the neck of your enemies, your father’s sons will bow down before you.

You are a lion’s cub, Judah, from the prey, my son, you have gone up. He crouches and lies down like a lion; like a lioness – who will rouse him?

She became pregnant again and had another son. She said, “This time I will praise the Lord.” That is why she named him Judah. Then she stopped having children.

Then Judah said to his brothers, “What profit is there if we kill our brother and cover up his blood?

At that time Judah left his brothers and stayed with an Adullamite man named Hirah.

Then Judah had his friend Hirah the Adullamite take a young goat to get back from the woman the items he had given in pledge, but Hirah could not find her.

So he returned to Judah and said, “I couldn’t find her. Moreover, the men of the place said, ‘There has been no cult prostitute here.’”

Judah said, “Let her keep the things for herself. Otherwise we will appear to be dishonest. I did indeed send this young goat, but you couldn’t find her.”

After three months Judah was told, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar has turned to prostitution, and as a result she has become pregnant.” Judah said, “Bring her out and let her be burned!”

Judah recognized them and said, “She is more upright than I am, because I wouldn’t give her to Shelah my son.” He did not have sexual relations with her again.

But Judah said to him, “The man solemnly warned us, ‘You will not see my face unless your brother is with you.’

The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan). The sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.