Week 38

• Torah (T): Bereshiyt (Genesis) 38:1-30
• Prophets (P): Isaiah 37:31-37
• Apostolic (A): Matthew 1:1-17; Ephesians 5:1-14
• Additional (ADD): Jubilees 41:1-28

RELATED SCRIPTURES

• Deuteronomy 25:5-10 (T)
• 1 Chronicles 2:3-17 (T)
• Numbers 26:19-21 (T)
• 1 Chronicles 4:1, 21 (T)
• Ruth 4:12 (T)
• Leviticus 20:14 (T, ADD)
• Leviticus 18:15; Leviticus 20:12 (T, ADD)
• Leviticus 21:9 (T)
• 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 (ADD, T)
• 1 Corinthians 6:15-20 (T, ADD)
• 2 Corinthians 12:19-21 (ADD, T)
• 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (ADD)
• Deuteronomy 23:14 (ADD)
• Exodus 20:26; Exodus 28:40-43 (ADD)

RELATED ADDITIONAL READINGS

• Testament of Judah 1:48-54; 2:10-35 (T)
• Jubilees 20:1-7 (T, ADD)
• Jubilees 9:14-15 (T, ADD)
• A Commentary on the Law of Moses 4Q251, Fragment 11 & 12 (T)
• Prophecy of Joshua 4Q522 Col 2 (T)
• Genesis 38:1-30 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)

Note: (T) means the verse relates to that week’s Torah portion. (P) means the verse relates to that week’s Prophets portion. (A) means the verse relates to that week’s Apostolic portion. (ADD) means the verse relates to that week’s Additional portion.

Torah Portion (T)

38:1 And it came to pass, in that time, Judah went down from his brothers, and visited a certain Adullamite, whose name was Hirah. 2 There, Judah saw the daughter of a certain Canaanite man named Shua. He took her, and went in to her. 3 She conceived, and bore a son; and he named him Er. 4 She conceived again, and bore a son; and she named him Onan. 5 She yet again bore a son, and named him Shelah. He was at Chezib when she bore him. 6 Judah took a wife for Er, his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. 7 Er, the firstborn of Judah, was wicked in the sight of YHWH. So [Elohim]^(LXX) killed him. 8 Judah said to Onan, “Go in to your brother's wife, and perform the duty of a husband's brother to her, and raise up seed for your brother.” 9 Onan knew that the seed wouldn't be his; and when he went in to his brother's wife, he corrupted on the land, lest he should give seed to his brother. 10 The thing which he did was evil in the sight of YHWH, and [Elohim]^(LXX) killed him also. 11 Then Judah said to Tamar, his daughter-in-law, “Remain a widow in your father's house, until Shelah, my son, is grown up;” for he said, “Lest he also die, like his brothers.” Tamar went and lived in her father's house. 12 After many days, the daughter of Shua, the wife of Judah, died. Judah was comforted, and went up to his sheep shearers to Timnah, he and his shepherd Hirah, the Adullamite. 13 Tamar was told, “Behold, your father-in-law is going up to Timnah to shear his sheep.” 14 She took off the garments of her widowhood, and covered herself with her veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the gate of Enaim, which is on the way to Timnah; for she saw that Shelah was grown up, and she wasn't given to him as a wife. 15 When Judah saw her, he thought that she was a whore, for she had covered her face. 16 He turned to her by the way, and said, “Please come, let me come in to you,” for he didn't know that she was his daughter-in-law. She said, “What will you give me, that you may come in to me?” 17 He said, “I will send you a young goat from the flock.” She said, “Will you give me a pledge, until you send it?” 18 He said, “What pledge will I give you?” She said, “Your signet and your cord, and your staff that is in your hand.” He gave them to her, and came in to her, and she conceived by him. 19 She arose, and went away, and put off her veil from her, and put on the garments of her widowhood. 20 Judah sent the young goat by the hand of his shepherd, the Adullamite, to receive the pledge from the hand of the woman, but he didn't find her. 21 Then he asked the men of her place, saying, “Where is the whore, that was at Enaim by the road?” They said, “There has been no whore here.” 22 He returned to Judah, and said, “I haven't found her; and also the men of the place said, ‘There has been no whore here.' ” 23 Judah said, “Let her keep it, lest we be shamed. Behold, I sent this young goat, and you haven't found her.” 24 About three months later, Judah was told, “Tamar, your daughter-in-law, has whored. Moreover, behold, she is with child by whoring.” Judah said, “Bring her out, and let her be burned.” 25 When she was brought out, she sent to her father-in-law, saying, “I am with child by the man who owns these.” She also said, “Please discern whose these are—the signet, and the cords, and the staff.” 26 Judah acknowledged them, and said, “She is more righteous than I, because I didn't give her to Shelah, my son.” He knew her again no more. 27 In the time of her travail, behold, twins were in her womb. 28 When she travailed, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This came out first.” 29 As he drew back his hand, behold, his brother came out, and she said, “Why have you made a breach for yourself?” Therefore his name was called Perez. 30 Afterward his brother came out, who had the scarlet thread on his hand, and his name was called Zerah.

Prophets Portion (P)

37:31 The remnant that is escaped of the house of Judah will again take root downward, and bear fruit upward. 32 For out of Jerusalem a remnant will go out, and survivors will escape from Mount Zion. The zeal of YHWH of Armies will perform this.’ 33 “Therefore YHWH says concerning the king of Assyria, ‘He will not come to this city, nor shoot an arrow there, neither will he come before it with shield, nor cast up a mound against it. 34 He will return the way that he came, and he won’t come to this city,’ says YHWH. 35 ‘For I will defend this city to save it, for my own sake, and for my servant David’s sake.’ ” 36 Then the angel of YHWH went out and struck one hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the camp of the Assyrians. When men arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies. 37 So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed, went away, returned to Nineveh, and stayed there.

Apostolic Portion (A)

Matthew 1:1 A record of the genealogy of Yeshua the Messiah, the son of David, the son of Abraham. 2 Abraham became the father of Isaac. Isaac became the father of Jacob. Jacob became the father of Judah and his brothers. 3 Judah became the father of Perez and Zerah by Tamar. Perez became the father of Hezron. Hezron became the father of Ram. 4 Ram became the father of Amminadab. Amminadab became the father of Nahshon. Nahshon became the father of Salmon. 5 Salmon became the father of Boaz by Rahab. Boaz became the father of Obed by Ruth. Obed became the father of Jesse. 6 Jesse became the father of David the king. David became the father of Solomon by her who had been Uriah’s wife. 7 Solomon became the father of Rehoboam. Rehoboam became the father of Abijah. Abijah became the father of Asa. 8 Asa became the father of Jehoshaphat. Jehoshaphat became the father of Joram. Joram became the father of Uzziah. 9 Uzziah became the father of Jotham. Jotham became the father of Ahaz. Ahaz became the father of Hezekiah. 10 Hezekiah became the father of Manasseh. Manasseh became the father of Amon. Amon became the father of Josiah. 11 Josiah became the father of Jechoniah and his brothers at the time of the exile to Babylon. 12 After the exile to Babylon, Jechoniah became the father of Shealtiel. Shealtiel became the father of Zerubbabel. 13 Zerubbabel became the father of Abiud. Abiud became the father of Eliakim. Eliakim became the father of Azor. 14 Azor became the father of Zadok. Zadok became the father of Achim. Achim became the father of Eliud. 15 Eliud became the father of Eleazar. Eleazar became the father of Matthan. Matthan became the father of Jacob. 16 Jacob became the father of Joseph, the husband of Miriam, from whom was born Yeshua, who is called Messiah. 17 So all the generations from Abraham to David are fourteen generations; from David to the exile to Babylon fourteen generations; and from the carrying away to Babylon to the Messiah, fourteen generations.

Ephesians 5:1 Be therefore imitators of Elohim, as beloved children. 2 Walk in love, even as Messiah also loved us and gave himself up for us, an offering and a slaughter to Elohim for a sweet-smelling fragrance. 3 But whoring, and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be mentioned among you, as becomes holy ones; 4 nor filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate, but rather giving of thanks. 5 Know this for sure, that no sexually immoral person, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the Reign of Messiah and Elohim. 6 Let no one deceive you with empty words. For because of these things, the wrath of Elohim comes on the children of disobedience. 7 Therefore don’t be partakers with them. 8 For you were once darkness, but are now light in the Lord. Walk as children of light, 9 for the fruit of the [light]^(LXX) is in all goodness and righteousness and truth, 10 proving what is well pleasing to the Lord. 11 Have no fellowship with the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but rather even reprove them. 12 For it is a shame even to speak of the things which are done by them in secret. 13 But all things, when they are reproved, are revealed by the light, for everything that reveals is light. 14 Therefore he says, “Awake, you who sleep, and arise from the dead, and Messiah will shine on you.”

Additional Portion (ADD)

Between 1947 and 1956 approximately 15 Jubilees scrolls were found in five caves at Qumran, all written in Hebrew. The large number of manuscripts (more than for any biblical books except for Psalms, Deuteronomy, Isaiah, Exodus, and Genesis, in descending order) indicates that Jubilees was widely used at Qumran. A comparison of the Qumran texts with the Ethiopic version, performed by James VanderKam, found that the Ethiopic was in most respects an accurate and literalistic translation. Scholars have dated Jubilees to have been written sometime around 160-150 B.C.

41:1 And in the forty-fifth jubilee, in the second week [2165 A.M.], (and) in the second year, Judah took for his first-born Er, a wife from the daughters of Aram, named Tamar. 2. But he hated, and did not lie with her, because his mother was of the daughters of Canaan, and he wished to take him a wife of the kinsfolk of his mother, but Judah, his father, would not permit him. 3. And this Er, the first-born of Judah, was wicked, and the Lord slew him. 4. And Judah said unto Onan, his brother: “Go in unto thy brother’s wife and perform the duty of a husband’s brother unto her, and raise up seed unto thy brother.” 5. And Onan knew that the seed would not be his, (but) his brother’s only, and he went into the house of his brother’s wife, and spilt the seed on the ground, and he was wicked in the eyes of the Lord, and He slew him. 6. And Judah said unto Tamar, his daughter-in-law: “Remain in thy father’s house as a widow till Shelah my son be grown up, and I will give thee to him to wife.” 7. And he grew up; but Bêdsû’êl, the wife of Judah, did not permit her son Shelah to marry. And Bêdsû’êl, the wife of Judah, died in the fifth year of this week [2168 A.M.]. 8. And in the sixth year [2169 A.M.] Judah went up to shear his sheep at Timnah. And they told Tamar: “Behold thy father-in-law goeth up to Timnah to shear his sheep.” 9. And she put off her widow’s clothes, and put on a veil, and adorned herself, and sat in the gate adjoining the way to Timnah. 10. And as Judah was going along he found her, and thought her to be an harlot, and he said unto her: “Let me come in unto thee”; and she said unto him: “Come in,” and he went in. 11. And she said unto him: “Give me my hire”; and he said unto her: “I have nothing in my hand save my ring that is on my finger, and my necklace, and my staff which is in my hand.” 12. And she said unto him: “Give them to me until thou dost send me my hire”; and he said unto her: “I will send unto thee a kid of the goats”; and he gave them to her, (and he went in unto her,) and she conceived by him. 13. And Judah went unto his sheep, and she went to her father’s house. 14. And Judah sent a kid of the goats by the hand of his shepherd, an Adullamite, and he found her not; and he asked the people of the place, saying: “Where is the harlot who was here?” And they said unto him: “There is no harlot here with us.” 15. And he returned and informed him, and said unto him that he had not found her; “I asked the people of the place, and they said unto me: ‘There is no harlot here.'” And he said: “Let her keep (them) lest we become a cause of derision.” 16. And when she had completed three months, it was manifest that she was with child, and they told Judah, saying: “Behold Tamar, thy daughter-in-law, is with child by whoredom.” 17. And Judah went to the house of her father, and said unto her father and her brothers: “Bring her forth, and let them burn her, for she hath wrought uncleanness in Israel.” 18. And it came to pass when they brought her forth to burn her that she sent to her father-in-law the ring and the necklace, and the staff, saying: “Discern whose are these, for by him am I with child.” 19. And Judah acknowledged, and said: “Tamar is more righteous than I am. And therefore let them burn her not.” 20. And for that reason she was not given to Shelah, and he did not again approach her. 21. And after that she bare two sons, Perez and Zerah, in the seventh year of this second week [2170 A.M.]. 22. And thereupon the seven years of fruitfulness were accomplished, of which Joseph spake to Pharaoh. 23. And Judah acknowledged that the deed which he had done was evil, for he had lain with his daughter-in-law, and he esteemed it hateful in his eyes, and he acknowledged that he had transgressed and gone astray; for he had uncovered the skirt of his son, and he began to lament and to supplicate before the Lord because of his transgression. 24. And we told him in a dream that it was forgiven him because he supplicated earnestly, and lamented, and did not again commit it. 25. And he received forgiveness because he turned from his sin and from his ignorance, for he transgressed greatly before our Elohim; and every one that acteth thus, every one who lieth with his mother-in-law, let them burn him with fire that he may bum therein, for there is uncleanness and pollution upon them; with fire let them burn them. 26. And do thou command the sons of Israel that there be no uncleanness amongst them, for every one who lieth with his daughter-in-law or with his mother-in-law hath wrought uncleanness; with fire let them burn the man who hath lain with her, and likewise the woman, and He will turn away wrath and punishment from Israel. 27. And unto Judah we said that his two sons had not lain with her, and for this reason his seed was established for a second generation, and would not be rooted out. 28. For in singleness of eye he had gone and sought for punishment, namely, according to the judgment of Abraham, which he had commanded his sons (cf. Jubilees 20:4), Judah had sought to burn her with fire.

Related Scriptures

25:5 If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the dead will not be married outside to a stranger. Her husband’s brother will go in to her, and take her as his wife, and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her. 6 It will be that the firstborn whom she bears will succeed in the name of his brother who is dead, that his name not be blotted out of Israel. 7 If the man doesn’t want to take his brother’s wife, then his brother’s wife will go up to the gate to the elders, and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to raise up to his brother a name in Israel. He will not perform the duty of a husband’s brother to me.” 8 Then the elders of his city will call him, and speak to him. If he stands and says, “I don’t want to take her,” 9 then his brother’s wife will come to him in the face of the elders, and loose his sandal from off his foot, and spit in his face. She will answer and say, “So will it be done to the man who does not build up his brother’s house.” 10 His name will be called in Israel, “The house of him who had his sandal removed.”

3:3 The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, and Shelah; which three were born to him of Shua’s daughter the Canaanitess. Er, Judah’s firstborn, was wicked in the sight of YHWH; and he killed him. 4 Tamar his daughter-in-law bore him Perez and Zerah. All the sons of Judah were five. 5 The sons of Perez: Hezron and Hamul. 6 The sons of Zerah: Zimri, Ethan, Heman, Calcol, and Dara; five of them in all. 7 The son of Carmi: Achar, the troubler of Israel, who committed a trespass in the devoted thing. 8 The son of Ethan: Azariah. 9 The sons also of Hezron, who were born to him: Jerahmeel, Ram, and Chelubai. 10 Ram became the father of Amminadab, and Amminadab became the father of Nahshon, prince of the sons of Judah; 11 and Nahshon became the father of Salma, and Salma became the father of Boaz, 12 and Boaz became the father of Obed, and Obed became the father of Jesse; 13 and Jesse became the father of his firstborn Eliab, and Abinadab the second, and Shimea the third, 14 Nethanel the fourth, Raddai the fifth, 15 Ozem the sixth, David the seventh; 16 and their sisters were Zeruiah and Abigail. The sons of Zeruiah: Abishai, Joab, and Asahel, three. 17 Abigail bore Amasa; and the father of Amasa was Jether the Ishmaelite.

26:19 The sons of Judah: Er and Onan. Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan. 20 The sons of Judah after their families were: of Shelah, the family of the Shelanites; of Perez, the family of the Perezites; of Zerah, the family of the Zerahites. 21 The sons of Perez were: of Hezron, the family of the Hezronites; of Hamul, the family of the Hamulites.

4:1 The sons of Judah: Perez, Hezron, Carmi, Hur, and Shobal…21 The sons of Shelah the son of Judah: Er the father of Lecah, Laadah the father of Mareshah, and the families of the house of those who worked fine linen, of the house of Ashbea

4:12 Let your house be like the house of Perez, whom Tamar bore to Judah, of the seed which YHWH will give you by this young woman.

20:14 If a man takes a wife and her mother, it is wickedness. They will be burned with fire, both he and they, that there may be no wickedness among you.

Leviticus 18:15 You will not uncover the nakedness of your daughter-in-law. She is your son’s wife. You will not uncover her nakedness.

Leviticus 20:12 If a man lies with his daughter-in-law, both of them will surely be put to death. They have committed a perversion. Their blood will be upon themselves.

• G1608 ἐκπορνεύω ekporneuō – verb – to go a whoring, “give one’s self over to fornication”
• G4202 πορνεία porneia – noun feminine – illicit sexual intercourse; 1a) adultery, fornication, homosexuality, lesbianism, intercourse with animals etc. 1b) sexual intercourse with close relatives; 1c) sexual intercourse with a divorced man or woman
• G4203 πορνεύω porneuō – verb – 1) to whore one’s body to the lust of another 2) to give one’s self to unlawful sexual intercourse 2a) to commit fornication
• G1608 ἐκπορνεύω ekporneuō – verb – to go a whoring, “give one’s self over to fornication”
• G4204 πόρνη pornē – noun feminine – 1) a woman who sells her body for sexual uses 1a) a whore, a harlot, one who yields herself to defilement for the sake of gain 1b) any woman indulging in unlawful sexual intercourse, whether for gain or for lust
• G4205 πόρνος pornos – noun masculine – 1) a man who whores his body to another’s lust for hire 2) a male whore 3) a man who indulges in unlawful sexual intercourse, a fornicator

21:9 The daughter of any priest, if she profanes herself by whoring (G1608), she profanes her father. She will be burned with fire.

5:1 It is actually reported that there is whoring (G4202) among you, and such whoring (G4202) as is not even named among the Nations, that one has his father’s wife. 2 You are arrogant, and didn’t mourn instead, that he who had done this deed might be removed from among you. 3 For I most certainly, as being absent in body but present in spirit, have already, as though I were present, judged him who has done this thing. 4 In the name of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, you being gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, 5 are to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Yeshua. 6 Your boasting is not good. Don’t you know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump? 7 Purge out the old leaven, that you may be a new lump, even as you are unleavened. For indeed Messiah, our Pesach, has been slaughtered in our place. 8 Therefore let’s guard the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 9 I wrote to you in my letter to have no company with sexual sinners (G4205); 10 yet not at all meaning with the sexual sinners (G4205) of this world, or with the covetous and extortionists, or with idolaters; for then you would have to leave the world. 11 But as it is, I wrote to you not to associate with anyone who is called a brother who is a sexual sinner (G4205), or covetous, or an idolater, or a slanderer, or a drunkard, or an extortionist. Don’t even eat with such a person. 12 For what do I have to do with also judging those who are outside? Don’t you judge those who are within? 13 But those who are outside, Elohim judges. “Put away the wicked man from among yourselves.”

6:15 Don’t you know that your bodies are members of Messiah? Will I then take the members of Messiah and make them members of a whore (G4204)? May it never be! 16 Or don’t you know that he who is joined to a whore (G4204) is one body? For, “The two”, he says, “will become one flesh.” 17 But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit. 18 Flee whoring (G4202)! “Every sin that a man does is outside the body,” but he who commits whoring (G4203) sins against his own body. 19 Or don’t you know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from Elohim? You are not your own, 20 for you were bought with a price. Therefore glorify Elohim in your body and in your spirit, which are Elohim’s.

12:19 Again, do you think that we are excusing ourselves to you? In the sight of Elohim we speak in Messiah. But all things, beloved, are for your edifying. 20 For I am afraid that by any means, when I come, I might find you not the way I want to, and that I might be found by you as you don’t desire, that by any means there would be strife, zeal, outbursts of anger, factions, slander, whisperings, proud thoughts, or riots, 21 that again when I come my Elohim would humble me before you, and I would mourn for many of those who have sinned before now, and not repented of the uncleanness, whoring (G4202), and covetousness which they committed.

6:14 Don’t be unequally yoked* with unbelievers, for what fellowship do righteousness and iniquity have? Or what fellowship does light have with darkness? 15 What agreement does Messiah have with Belial? Or what portion does a believer have with an unbeliever? 16 What agreement does a temple of Elohim have with idols? For you are a temple of the living Elohim. Even as Elohim said, “I will dwell in them and walk in them. I will be their Elohim and they will be my people.” 17 Therefore Come out from among them, and be separate,’ says the Lord. ‘Touch no unclean thing. I will receive you. 18 I will be to you a Father. You will be to me sons and daughters,’ says the Lord Almighty.”

*Leviticus 19:19 (Septuagint text as translated in the Apostolic Bible Polyglot by Charles VanderPool)  My law you will keep. Your cattle you will not mate unequally yoked. And in your vineyard you will not scatter abroad diverse seed. And a garment of two materials being woven commingled you will not put upon yourself.

23:14 for YHWH your Elohim walks in the middle of your camp, to deliver you, and to give up your enemies before you. Therefore your camp will be holy, that he may not see an unclean thing in you, and turn away from you…17 There will be no whore (G4204) of the daughters of Israel, neither will there be a whore (G4203) of the sons of Israel.

Exodus 20:26 You will not go up by steps to my altar, that your nakedness may not be exposed to it.’

Exodus 28:40-43 “You will make tunics for Aaron’s sons. You will make sashes for them. You will make headbands for them, for glory and for beauty. 41 You will put them on Aaron your brother, and on his sons with him, and will anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister to me in the priest’s office. 42 You will make them linen undergarments  to cover over the flesh of nakedness. They will reach from the waist even to the thighs. 43 They will be on Aaron and on his sons, when they go in to the Appointed Tent, or when they come near to the altar to minister in the holy place, that they don’t bear iniquity, and die. This will be a statute forever to him and to his seed after him.

Additional Readings​

The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs is  comprised of the dying commands of the twelve sons of Jacob. It is part of the Oskan Armenian Orthodox Bible of 1666. Fragments of similar writings were found at Qumran, but opinions are divided as to whether these are the same texts.

The Testament of Judah (a portion of which is shown below) is primarily concerned with courage, monetary greed, and fornication. It begins by portraying Judah as idealistically courageous, involving bravery in front of wild beasts, as well as successful military expeditions, sometimes basing the narrative on acts that the canonical bible attributes to Jacob.

1:48 We came upon them, therefore, with wrath, and they all fled; and passing by another way, they fought my father, and he made peace with them. 49 And we did to them no hurt, and they became tributary to us, and we restored to them their spoil. 50 And I built Thamna, and my father built Pabael. 51 I was twenty years old when this war befell. And the Canaanites feared me and my brethren. 52 And I had much cattle, and I had for chief herdsman Iram the Adullamite. 53 And when I went to him I saw Parsaba, king of Adullam; and he spake unto us, and he made us a feast; and when I was heated he gave me his daughter Bathshua to wife. 54 She bare me Er, and Onan and Shelah; and two of them the Lord smote: for Shelah lived, and his children are ye.

2:10 And after these things my son Er took to wife Tamar, from Mesopotamia, a daughter of Aram. 11 Now Er was wicked, and he was in need concerning Tamar, because she was not of the land of Canaan. 12 And on the third night an angel of the Lord smote him. 13 And he had not known her according to the evil craftiness of his mother, for he did not wish to have children by her. 14 In the days of the wedding feast I gave Onan to her in marriage; and he also in wickedness knew her not, though he spent with her a year. 15 And when I threatened him he went in unto her, but he spilled the seed on the ground, according to the command of his mother, and he also died through wickedness. 16 And I wished to give Shelah also to her, but his mother did not permit it; for she wrought evil against Tamar, because she was not the daughters of Canaan, as she also herself was. 17 And I knew that the race of the Canaanites was wicked, but the impulse of youth blinded my mind. 18 And when I saw her pouring out wine, owing to the intoxication of wine I was deceived, and took her although my father had not counselled it. 19 And while I was away she went and took for Shelah a wife from Canaan. 20 And when I knew what she had done, I cursed her in the anguish of my soul. 21 And she also died through her wickedness together with her sons. 22 And after these things, while Tamar was a widow, she heard after two years that I was going up, to shear my sheep, and adorned herself in bridal array, and sat in the city Enaim by the gate. 23 For it was a law of the Amorites, that she who was about to marry should sit in fornication seven days by the gate. 24 Therefore being drunk with wine, I did not recognize her; and her beauty deceived me, through the fashion of her adorning. 25 And I turned aside to her, and said: Let me go in unto thee. 26 And she said: What wilt thou give me? And I gave her my staff, and my girdle, and the diadem of my reign in pledge. 27 And I went in unto her, and she conceived. 28 And not knowing what I had done, I wished to slay her; but she privily sent my pledges, and put me to shame. 29 And when I called her, I heard also the secret words which I spoke when lying with her in my drunkenness; and I could not slay her, because it was from the Lord. 30 For I said, Lest haply she did it in subtlety, having received the pledge from another woman. 31 But I came not again near her while I lived, because I had done this abomination in all Israel. 32 Moreover, they who were in the city said there was no harlot in the gate, because she came from another place, and sat for a while in the gate. 33 And I thought that no one knew that I had gone in to her. 34 And after this we came into Egypt to Joseph, because of the famine. 35 And I was forty and six years old, and seventy and three years lived I in Egypt.

20:1 And in the forty-second jubilee, in the first year of the †seventh† week, Abraham called Ishmael, and his twelve sons, and Isaac and his two sons, and the six sons of Keturah, and their sons. 2. And he commanded them that they should observe the way of the Lord; that they should work righteousness, and love each his neighbour, and act on this manner amongst all men; that they should each so walk with regard to them as to do judgment and righteousness on the land. 3. That they should circumcise their sons, according to the covenant which He had made with them, and not deviate to the right hand or the left of all the paths which the Lord had commanded us; and that we should keep ourselves from all fornication and uncleanness. 4. And if any woman or maid commit fornication amongst you, burn her with fire, and let them not commit fornication with her after their eyes and their heart; and let them not take to themselves wives from the daughters of Canaan; for the seed of Canaan will be rooted out of the land. 5. And he told them of the judgment of the giants, and the judgment of the Sodomites, how they had been judged on account of their wickedness, and had died on account of their fornication, and uncleanness, and mutual corruption through fornication. 6. “And guard yourselves from all fornication and uncleanness, And from all pollution of sin, Lest ye make our name a curse, And your whole life a hissing, And all your sons be destroyed by the sword, And ye become accursed like Sodom, And all your remnant as the sons of Gomorrah. 7. I implore you, my sons, love the Elohim of the heavens, And cleave ye to all His commandments. And walk not after their idols, and after their uncleannesses.

9:14 And thus the sons of Noaḥ divided unto their sons in the face of Noaḥ their father, and he bound them all by an oath, imprecating a curse on every one that sought to seize the portion which had not fallen (to him) by his lot. 15. And they all said, “So be it; so be it,” for themselves and their sons for ever throughout their generations till the day of judgment, on which the Lord Elohim will judge them with a sword and with fire, for all the unclean wickedness of their errors, wherewith they have filled the land with transgression and uncleanness and fornication and sin.

This commentary was found in the 4th Qumran cave and consists of interpretations and further insight on how the Torah (Law) of Moses was interpreted and actually lived out during the Second-Temple period and time of Yeshua.

Fragment 11 [… a priest’s wife will ea]t her husband’s bread [… children of his household] will eat his bread. Only a whore [or a harlot may not eat the holy bread…] all the treachery which a man might practice [against the LORD…] to eat, for it is an abomination [to the LORD… whoever does not have a] master or next of kin…

Fragment 12 Concerning nakedness […] Let no man take the w[ife of his father, let him not uncover the skirt of his father. Let no one take] his brother’s daughter or the daughter of [his] si[ster… Let no] man [uncover] the nakedness of [his] mo[ther’s] sister [… no woman will e the wife of the brother of] her father or the brother of her mother […] Let no man uncover the nakedness of [his mother…] Let no man take his daughter […]

In addition to three scrolls containing the Book of Joshua, the Qumran caves brought to light five previously unknown texts rewriting this book (4Q123, 4Q378, 4Q379, 4Q522, 5Q9). Column two of scroll 4Q522 (below) predicts the conquest of Zion by David and the building of the Temple.

… For behold a son is born to Jesse, son of Perez, son of Ju[dah] … [He is to take] the Rock of Zion and from there he is to possess the Amorites … to build a house for the Lord, the Elohim of Israel. Gold and silver … cedars and cypress trees will he br[ing from] Lebanon to build it. And the sons of … and David. The Lord will make (him) dwell in security … [The Lord of h]eaven will reside with him [for] ever. But now the Amorites are there and the Canaan[ites] … inhabitant whom I consider guilty, whom I have not sought … from you. And the Shilonite and the … I have made him a slave … And now … to a distance from … Eleazar …

Genesis 38:1-30 from the Jerusalem Targum aka Targum Pseudo-Jonathan (T)

Composed in Talmudic Israel (c.150 – c.250 A.D.). Targum Pseudo-Jonathan is a western targum (translation) of the Torah (Pentateuch) from the land of Israel (as opposed to the eastern Babylonian Targum Onkelos). Its correct title was originally Targum Yerushalmi (Jerusalem Targum), which is how it was known in medieval times. But because of a printer’s mistake it was later labeled Targum Jonathan, in reference to Jonathan ben Uzziel. Some editions of the Pentateuch continue to call it Targum Jonathan to this day. Most scholars refer to the text as Targum Pseudo-Jonathan. This targum is more than a mere translation. It includes much Aggadic material collected from various sources as late as the Midrash Rabbah as well as earlier material from the Talmud. It is effectively a combination of a commentary and a translation. In the portions where it is pure translation, it often agrees with the Targum Onkelos. The date of its composition is disputed. It cannot have been completed before the Arabic conquest as it refers to Mohammad’s wife Fatimah, but might have been initially composed in the 4th Century A.D. However, some scholars date it in the 14th Century.

Chapter 38 It was at that time that Jehuda had gone down from his property, and separated himself from his brethren, and had inclined to a man an Adullemite whose name was Hira, that Jehuda saw there the daughter of a merchant man whose name was Shuva, and he proselyted her, and entered with her. And she conceived and bare a son, and called his name Er, because he was to die without a child. And she conceived again, and bare a son, and called his name Onan, because his father would have to mourn for him. And she added, and bare a son, and called his name Shela, because her husband had forgotten her and was in cessation when she bare him. [JERUSALEM. And it was that she ceased.]

And Jehuda took a wife for Er his firstborn, a daughter of Shem the great, whose name was Tamar. But Er the firstborn of Jehuda was evil before the Lord because he had not given his seed unto his wife, and the anger of the Lord prevailed against him, and the Lord slew him. And Jehuda said unto Onan, Enter thou to thy brother’s wife, and marry her, and raise up seed unto the name of thy brother. And Onan knew that they would not call the children after his name, and it was, when he entered to the wife of his brother, that he corrupted his work upon the land, that he might not raise up children to his brother’s name. And what he did was evil before the Lord and he cut off his days also.

And Jehuda said to Tamar his daughter‑in‑law, Remain a widow in thy father’s house, till Shela my son be grown up. For he said, Lest he also die as his brethren Tamar went and remained in her father’s house.

And days multiplied and the daughter of Shuva, Jehuda’s wife, had died, and Jehuda was comforted. And Jehuda went up to the shearing of his flock, he and Hira his friend the Adullemite, to Timnath. And it was told to Tamar, saying, Behold, thy father‑in‑law cometh up to Timnath to shear his flock. And she put the dress of her widowhood from her, and covered herself with a veil, and wrapped herself, and sat in the dividing of the road where all eyes see, upon the way of Timnath. For she knew that Shela was grown up, yet she had not been given to him to be his wife. And Jehuda saw her; but she seemed in his face as an harlot, because she had provoked him to anger in his house, and Jehuda did not love her.[JERUSALEM. For she had enwrapped her face.] And he inclined to her in the way and said, Let me now go in with thee: for he knew not that she was his daughter‑in‑law. And she said What wilt thou give me to go in with me? And he said, I will send thee a kid of the goats from the flock. And she said, If thou wilt give me a pledge until thou shalt have sent. And he said, What pledge will I give thee? And she answered, Thy seal, and thy mantle, and thy staff which is in thy hand. And he gave (them) to her, and went in with her; and she conceived by him. And she arose and went, and put her veil from her, and put on the dress of her widowhood And Jehuda sent the kid of the goats by the hand of his friend the Adullemite, to bring back the pledge from the hand of the woman; but he found her not. And he asked the men of the place, saying, Where is the harlot who was in the sight of the eyes by the way ? And they said, There is no harlot here. And he returned to Jehuda and said, I could not find her: and the men of the place also said that no harlot was there. And Jehuda said, Lest she should have taken the pledge, lest we become a laughing stock, behold, I have sent this goat, and thou canst not find her.

And it was at the time of three months, that she was known to be with child: and it was told to Jehuda, saying Tamar thy daughter‑in‑law hath committed fornication and, behold, she is with child by fornication. And Jehuda said, Is she not the daughter of a priest. Let her be brought forth and burned.

Tamar was brought forth to be burned, and she searched for the three pledges, but found them not. Uplifting her eyes to the heavens above, she thus said, Mercy I implore from Thee, o Lord: answer Thou me in this hour of need, and enlighten mine eyes to find the three witnesses; and I will dedicate unto Thee from my loins three saints who will sanctify Thy name, and descend to the furnace of fire in the plain of Dura.

In that hour the Holy One, blessed be He, signed to Michael, who enlightened her eyes, that she found (the witnesses) and took and cast them before the, feet of the judges, and said, The man to whom these pledges belong is he by whom I am with child. Yet though I may be burned I do not make him manifest: nevertheless the Lord of the world will cause him in his heart to acknowledged them, and will deliver me from this great judgment.

Now when Jehuda saw them, he recognised them, and said in his heart, It is better for me to be ashamed in this world that passeth away, than be ashamed in the faces of my righteous fathers in the world to come. It is better that I burn in this world by a fire that is extinguished, than burn in the world to come with fire devouring fire. For measure is set against measure. This is according to that which I said to Jakob my father, Know now the robe of thy son; so am I now constrained to hear at the place of judgment, Whose are this seal and mantle and staff?

And Jehuda, acknowledged and said, Tamar is innocent; she is with child by me. And the Bath kol fell from heaven, and said, From before Me was this thing done, and let both be delivered from judgment. And Jehuda said, Because I gave her not to Shela my son, hath this happened to me. But he added not to know her again.

[JERUSALEM. 19. Her veil. 25. Tamar was brought forth to be burned with fire; and she sought the three witnesses but found them not. She lifted up her eyes on high and said For mercy I pray before the Lord. Thou art He, O Lord God, who answerest the afflicted in the hour of their affliction ; answer me in this the hour of my affliction, and I will dedicate to thee three saints in the valley of Dura, Hananva, Mishael, and Azarya.

[In that hour the Word of the Lord heard the voice of her supplication and said to Mikael Descend, and let her eyes have light….When she saw them, she took them, and cast them before the feet of the judges, saying By the man to whom these belong I am with child. But though I may be burned I declare him not, but confide in the Ruler of all the world the Lord who is witness between me and him, that He will give to the heart of the man to whom these belong, to ac­knowledge whose are these his ring, and mantle, and staff.

[And Jehuda recognised the three witnesses, and arose upon his feet and said, I pray you, my brethren, and ye men of the house of my fathers, to hear me. With the measure that a man measureth will it be measured to him; whether good measure or evil; and blessed is every man who confesseth his works. Because I took the coat of Joseph my brother and dipped it into the blood of a goat, and brought it before the feet of my father and said to him, Know now whether this be thy son’s coat or not, the measure is according to the measure, and the rule to the rule. Better is it for me blush in this world than to blush in the world to come; better to burn with a fire that goes out, than to burn in the fire devouring fire. Let Tamar my daughter-in‑law be spared. She hath not conceived a child by fornication, but because I did not give to her Shela my son.

[The Bath kol came forth from heaven, and said, Both of you are acquitted in the judgment. The thing was from the Lord. And he added not to know her.]

But it was in the time of her giving birth, that, behold, twins were in her womb. And it was in being born that the child stretched forth his hand; and the midwife took it, and bound it with a scarlet thread, saying, This came the first. And after the child had withdrawn his hand, behold, his brother came forth, and she said, With what great power hast thou prevailed, and for thee will it be to prevail; for thou wilt possess the reign. And she called his name Pharets. And afterward came forth his brother, upon whose hand was bound the scarlet thread, and she called his name Zarach.