Study Desk

Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, "Stay in your father's house as a woman whose husband has died, until my son Shelah is grown." For he thought, "I am afraid that he also may die like his brothers." So Tamar went and lived in her father's house.

Now after a long time, Shua's daughter, the wife of Judah, died. And after the time of sorrow, Judah and his friend Hirah the Adullamite went to the men who cut the wool from his sheep at Timnah.

It was told to Tamar, "Your father-in-law is going to Timnah to cut the wool from his sheep."

He went to her at the side of the road, and said, "Here now, let me come in to you." He did not know that she was his daughter-in-law. And she said, "What will you give me to come in to me?"

Judah sent his friend the Adullamite to bring the young goat to the woman and take from her the things he had given as a promise. But he did not find her.

While she was giving birth, one put out a hand. The nurse took his hand and tied a red string around it, saying, "This one came out first."

But when he pulled away his hand, his brother was born. Then she said, "What an opening you have made for yourself!" So he was given the name of Perez.

After that, his brother came out with the red string around his hand. He was given the name Zerah.

The Lord was with Joseph, and all went well with him. He was in the house of his boss the Egyptian.

Now his boss saw that the Lord was with him. He saw how the Lord made all that Joseph did go well.

So Joseph found favor in his eyes, and worked only for him. Potiphar made him the one to watch over his house and take care of all that he owned.

And from the time that he watched over his house and all he owned, the Lord brought good to the Egyptian's house because of Joseph. The Lord brought good upon all that he owned in the house and in the field.

The time came when his boss's wife saw him, and she said, "Lie with me."

But he would not do it. He said to his boss's wife, "See, with me near, my boss does not worry about anything in the house. He has put all he owns in my care.

There is no one more important in this house than I. And he has held nothing from me except you, because you are his wife. How then could I do this sinful thing, and sin against God?"

Then one day Joseph went into the house to do his work. None of the men of the house were inside.

She caught him by his coat, saying, "Lie with me!" But he ran out of the house leaving the coat in her hand.

When she saw that he had left his coat in her hand and had run out of the house,

When he heard my loud cry, he left his coat with me and ran outside."

She kept his coat with her until his boss came home.