Genesis 38:1,2 And it came to pass at that time, that Judah went down from his brethren and turned in to a certain Adullamite.(an inhabitant of Adullam), whose name was Hirah. And Judah saw there a daughter of a certain Canaanite, whose name was Shuah. And he took her and went in unto her.

Genesis 38:3-6 And she conceived and bare a son and he called his name Er. And she conceived again and bare a son and she called his name Onan. And she yet again conceived and bare a son and called his name Shelah. And he was at Chezib, when she bare him. And Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, whose name was Tamar.

Genesis 38:7 And Er, Judah's firstborn, was wicked in the sight of God and God slew him.

Genesis 38:8,9 And Judah said unto Onan, Go in unto your brother's wife and have sex with her and raise up seed to your brother. And Onan knew that a child thereof would not be his and it came to pass, when he went in unto his brother's wife, that he spilled it on the ground.(pulled out his penis before he released any sperm in her), lest that he should give seed to his brother.

Onan despised his brother and made sure he wasn't going to create a child with the woman his dead brother had been with. Shortsighted Onan couldn't see that perhaps God was working in all this situation. Usually best to follow the advice of the elders in your family, but always use your own wisdom to be sure.

Genesis 38:10 And the thing which he did displeased God, wherefore he slew him also.

Genesis 38:11,12 Then said Judah to Tamar his daughter in law, Remain a widow at your father's house, till Shelah my son be grown in case he die also, as his brothers have. And Tamar went and dwelt in her father’s house. And in process of time the daughter of Shuah Judah's wife died and Judah after being comforted went up unto his sheepshearers to Timnath, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.

Genesis 38:13-24 And it was told Tamar, saying, Behold your father in law is going to Timnath where his sheep are being sheared. And she put her widow's garments off from her and covered her face with a vail and wrapped herself and sat in an open place, which is by the way to Timnath, for she saw that Shelah was grown and she was not given unto him to wife. When Judah saw her, he thought her to be an harlot, because she had covered her face. And he turned unto her by the way and said, let me come in unto thee, for he knew not that she was his daughter in law. And she said, What will you give me that you may come in unto me? And he said, I will send you a kid from the flock. And she said, Will you give me a pledge, till you send it? And he said, What pledge shall I give you? And she said, Your signet, your bracelets and your staff that you are now carrying. And he gave it to her and came in unto her and she conceived by him. And she arose and went away and removed her vail and put back on the garments of her widowhood. And Judah sent the kid by the hand of his friend the Adullamite to receive what he had given the woman as a pledge of his word to deliver the kid. pledge from th, but he found her not anywhere around. Then he asked the men of that place, saying, Where is the harlot that was openly by the way side? And they said, There was no harlot in this place. And he returned to Judah and said, I cannot find her and also the men of the place said that there was no harlot around here. And Judah said, We'll wait for her to contact us, lest we be shamed in looking around for a harlot. You looked for her with the kid I said I'd deliver and she wasn't around to receive it. And it came to pass about three months after, that it was told Judah, saying, Tamar your daughter in law has played the harlot and also, behold, she is with child by whoredom. And Judah said, Bring her forth and let her be burnt.

Genesis 38:25,26 When she was brought forth, she sent to her father in law, saying, By the man, whose these are, am I with child. And she said, Discern, I pray you, whose are these, the signet and bracelets and staff. And Judah acknowledged them and said, She has been more righteous than I, because that I gave her not to Shelah my son. And he knew her again no more.

Genesis 38:27-30 And it came to pass in the time of her travail.(pregnancy), that behold, twins were in her womb. And it came to pass, when she travailed.(giving birth), that the one baby put out his hand and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This one came out first. And it came to pass as the hand of this baby drew back in, that behold, his brother came out, therefore his name was called Pharez.(means 'breech birth'). And afterward came out his brother that had the scarlet thread upon his hand and his name was called Zarah.(means 'rising').

This story is significant because as.Easton's Bible Dictionary.tells us: From the elder of the twin sons of Judah the royal line of David sprang:.Ruth 4:18-22. Also."The chief of all the captains of the host".was of the children of Perez/Pharez:.1Chronicles 27:3; Matthew 1:3.

Genesis 39:1 And Joseph was brought down to Egypt and Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him of the hands of the Ishmeelites.(correct spelling is Ishmaelites, descendents of Ishmael, who was son of Abraham from his handmaid Hagar), which had brought him down thither.

Genesis 39:2-5 And God was with Joseph and he was a prosperous man and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that God was with him and that God made all that he did to prosper in his hand. And Joseph found grace in his sight and he served him. And he made him overseer over his house and all that he had he put into his hand. And it came to pass from the time that he had made him overseer in his house and over all that he had, that God blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake and the blessing of God was upon all that he had in the house and in the field.

Genesis 39:6-13 And he left all that he had in Joseph's hand and he knew not ought he had, save the bread which he did eat. And Joseph was a goodly individual and well favoured. And it came to pass after these things, that his master's wife cast her eyes upon Joseph and she said, Lie with me. But he refused and said unto his master's wife, Behold, my master wotteth not what is with me in the house and he hath committed all that he hath to my hand; There is none greater in this house than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God? And it came to pass, as she spake to Joseph day by day, that he hearkened not unto her, to lie by her or to be with her. And it came to pass about this time that Joseph went into the house to do his business and there was none of the men of the house there within. And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me. And he left his garment in her hand and fled and got him out. And it came to pass, when she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and was fled forth,

Genesis 39:14 That she called unto the men of her house and spake unto them, saying, See, he has brought in an Hebrew unto us to mock us.

Genesis 39:15-20 He came in unto me to lie with me and I cried with a loud voice. And it came to pass, when he heard that I lifted up my voice and cried that he left his garment with me and fled and got him out. And she laid up his garment by her until her husband came. And she spake unto him according to these words, saying, The Hebrew servant, which you have brought unto us, came in unto me to mock me. And it came to pass, as I lifted up my voice and cried, that he left his garment with me and fled out. And it came to pass, when his master heard the words of his wife, which she spake unto him, saying, After this manner did your servant to me; that his wrath was kindled. And Joseph's master took him and put him into the prison, a place where the king's prisoners were bound. And he was there in the prison..(*)

Genesis 39:21 But God was with Joseph and showed him mercy and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

Genesis 39:22 And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners that were in the prison and whatsoever they did there, he was in charge of it.

Genesis 39:23 The keeper of the prison looked not to any thing that was under his hand, because God was with him.
 

....continues to Chapter 40

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