Jubilees 41

In the forty-fifth jubilee, Judah took a wife for his firstborn Er from the daughters of Aram. Her name was Tamar.

REF And Judah took for Er a wife named Tamar, from the daughters of Aram.

But Er was wicked, and the Lord put him to death. He left no children.

REF But Er was wicked, and the Lord slew him.

Judah said to Onan: Go in to your brother's wife and perform the duty of a brother-in-law. Raise up offspring for your brother.

REF And Judah said to Onan: 'Perform the duty of a husband's brother.'

Onan knew the offspring would not be counted as his. He spilled his seed on the ground. The Lord put him to death.

REF And Onan spilled it on the ground, and the Lord slew him also.

Judah told Tamar to wait for Shelah, but Bat-shua would not let her son go to Tamar. Then Bat-shua died.

REF And Judah withheld Shelah from Tamar. And Bathshua died.

Tamar took off her widow's garments, put on a veil, adorned herself, and sat at the entrance to the road leading to Timnath.

REF And Tamar put on a veil and sat at the gate to Timnath.

When Judah passed by, he thought she was a prostitute. He went in to her.

REF And Judah thought she was a harlot, and went in to her.

She said: Give me a pledge. He gave her his staff, cord, and signet ring. She conceived by him.

REF And she said: 'Give me a pledge.' And he gave her his staff and signet.

Judah sent a young goat but could not find her. The local people said: There is no prostitute here.

REF And Judah sent a kid but did not find her.

Judah was told Tamar was pregnant and said: Bring her out and burn her.

REF And Judah was told Tamar was with child, and said: 'Bring her forth and burn her.'

She sent the signet ring, cord, and staff to her father-in-law with the message: Identify whose these are.

REF And she sent the signet and staff to Judah.

Judah recognized them and said: Tamar is more righteous than I, because I did not give her to my son Shelah. He did not lie with her again.

REF And Judah said: 'Tamar is more righteous than I.'

For this reason she was not burned — because she had sought her rightful offspring from the line of Judah.

REF And for this reason she was not burned.

Because of this, it is written on the heavenly tablets: Do not burn any daughter of Israel for sexual immorality, but let her be judged according to the law.

REF And it is written on the heavenly tablets: Do not burn any daughter of Israel for this.

Tamar gave birth to two sons: Perez and Zerah.

REF And Tamar bore Perez and Zerah.

Judah acknowledged his sin and said: I have sinned. He repented of this transgression.

REF And Judah acknowledged his sin and repented.

This sin was recorded on high against Judah, and forgiveness was not granted until he made atonement.

REF And this sin was written on high until he made atonement.

This is the decree concerning all who commit sexual sin: they shall be brought to judgment.

REF And this is ordained concerning all who commit fornication.

If any man commits adultery and his sin is reported, he shall not be purified from his impurity.

REF And if any man commit this sin, he shall not be cleansed.

Such is the commandment concerning all sexual immorality, for it is an abomination before the Lord.

REF And thus was the command concerning all fornication.

This sin cannot be atoned for in the man's favor, but only in the woman's — for she acted because wrong had been done to her.

REF And this iniquity shall not be expiated in the man's favour, but only in the woman's.

We commanded the children of Israel that there must be no impurity among them.

REF And we commanded Israel that there should be no uncleanness.

Guard against impurity in Israel. For Israel is a holy nation and a people set apart for the Lord.

REF For Israel is a holy nation.

In the second year, Judah mourned for his wife. He went up to shear his sheep and found consolation.

REF And Judah mourned and was comforted.

Shelah married and had sons. Judah was blessed, and his sons grew and multiplied.

REF And Shelah married, and Judah was blessed.

Perez grew and was blessed. Hezron was born to him.

REF And Perez grew, and Hezron was born to him.

Er and Onan died, but Shelah, Perez, and Zerah lived, along with their descendants.

REF And Er and Onan died; Shelah, Perez, and Zerah lived.

All these things were recorded in the books of Judah's generations on the heavenly tablets.

REF And all these things were written on the heavenly tablets.