Chapter 38:
Judah marries the daughter of Shua. They have Er, Onan and Shelah. Judah takes Tamar to be the wife of Er. Er did what was evil in the sight of YHVH and he dies. Onan marries Tamar but he knows that the seed would not be his and he wasted it upon the ground, so YHVH causes hi. To die also. Judah tells Tamar to return to her father’s house nit, Shelah grows up. Judah’s wife dies. Judah goes to Timnah. Tamar hears that Judah is is Timna and she sees that Shelah has grown up and that she was not given to him to e his wife. She removes her widows garb and covers herself with a veil. She sa by the crossroads. Judah thinking she a harlot detours and asks t consort with her. He promises her a kid from The goats. She asks for a pledge until he sends the goat. She asks for his signet, wrap, and his staff. He gives the. To her, consorts with her, and she conceived by him.
Judah sends the goats via his friend, but they can’t find the “prostitute” by the crossroads. After 3 months Tamar is found to be pregnant. Judah demands that she be taken up and burned. She sends word to Judah saying “By the am to whom these belong I am with child”. Judah recognized, and wasn’t intimate with her anymore.
Tamar was pregnant with twins. One of the twins put his hand out, the midwife put a crimson thread around it, to know which emerged first. He drew back his hand and his brother emerged. She called his name Perez “breach” , and his with the crimson thread was Zerah “rising; shining”.
Chapter 39:
Joseph was appointed over Potiphar’s household. Joseph was handsome if firm and handsome of appearance. Potiphar’s wife pursued Joseph. Joseph refused adamantly. Potiphar’s wife lies about Joseph trying to rape her. She tells Potiphar and Joseph is placed in jail. Joseph was then placed in charge of the jail. Whatever Joseph did YHVH made successful.
Chapter 40:
The chamberlain of the Bakers, and the Chamberlain of the Cupbearers were placed in prison of the Chamberlain of the Butchers (Potiphar). Each of the, dreamt a dream, but there was no interpreter for it. He man tells his dream to Joseph. The Chamberlain of the Cupbearers is restored to his post. Joseph asks him to mention him to Pharaoh, as he was kidnapped and he hadn’t done anything wrong in Egypt either. The Chamberlain of the Bakers was hung. The Chamberlain of the Cupbearers did not remember Joseph.