Study Desk

Reuben further said to them, "Shed no blood. Throw him into this pit that is in the wilderness, but do not lay hands on him"—that he might rescue him out of their hands, to restore him to his father.

So it came about, when Joseph reached his brothers, that they stripped Joseph of his tunic, the varicolored tunic that was on him;

Judah said to his brothers, "What profit is it for us to kill our brother and cover up his blood?

"Come and let us sell him to the Ishmaelites and not lay our hands on him, for he is our brother, our own flesh." And his brothers listened to him.

Now Reuben returned to the pit, and behold, Joseph was not in the pit; so he tore his garments.

He returned to his brothers and said, "The boy is not there; as for me, where am I to go?"

So Jacob tore his clothes, and put sackcloth on his loins and mourned for his son many days.

Then all his sons and all his daughters arose to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. And he said, "Surely I will go down to Sheol in mourning for my son." So his father wept for him.

And it came about at that time, that Judah departed from his brothers and visited a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah.

Now Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar.

But Er, Judah's firstborn, was evil in the sight of the LORD, so the LORD took his life.

Onan knew that the offspring would not be his; so when he went in to his brother's wife, he wasted his seed on the ground in order not to give offspring to his brother.

But what he did was displeasing in the sight of the LORD; so He took his life also.

Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, "Remain a widow in your father's house until my son Shelah grows up"; for he thought, "I am afraid that he too may die like his brothers." So Tamar went and lived in her father's house.

Now after a considerable time Shua's daughter, the wife of Judah, died; and when the time of mourning was ended, Judah went up to his sheepshearers at Timnah, he and his friend Hirah the Adullamite.

It was told to Tamar, "Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep."

So he turned aside to her by the road, and said, "Here 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?"

When Judah sent the young goat by his friend the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the woman's hand, he did not find her.

Moreover, it took place while she was giving birth, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, "This one came out first."

But it came about as he drew back his hand, that behold, his brother came out. Then she said, "What a breach you have made for yourself!" So he was named Perez.