Changes

== Tamar ==

== Tamar ==

Five years later (2281 AM/1723 BC), two of Judah's three sons died. Er was perhaps fifteen years of age when Judah arranged for him to marry a young woman named [[Tamar]].<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Genesis|chap=38|verses=6}}</ref> The Bible says only that Er was a wicked man in [[God]]'s sight, and that God took his life.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Genesis|chap=38|verses=7}}</ref> So Judah instructed his next younger son Onan to marry Tamar next and to sire a son that would be Er's son, according to the levirate obligation. But Onan did not wish to honor this obligation, and so whenever he was intimate with Tamar he made sure that he would not impregnate her. Thus began the legend of the [[sin]] of [[onanism]].<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Genesis|chap=38|verses=8-9}}</ref>

Five years later (2281 AM/1723 BC), two of Judah's three sons died. Er was perhaps fifteen years of age when Judah arranged for him to marry a young woman named [[Tamar]].<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Genesis|chap=38|verses=6}}</ref> The Bible says only that Er was a wicked man in [[God]]'s sight, and that God took his life.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Genesis|chap=38|verses=7}}</ref> So Judah instructed his next younger son Onan to marry Tamar next and to sire a son who would be Er's son, according to the [[levirate marriage|levirate obligation]]. But Onan did not wish to honor this obligation, and so whenever he was intimate with Tamar he made sure that he would not impregnate her. It is after these acts of Onan that the [[sin]] of [[onanism]] is named.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Genesis|chap=38|verses=8-9}}</ref>

God found this act displeasing, and so Onan died as well. Judah, in fear that Shelah also would not survive, told Tamar to wait until Shelah was "grown up" and wear widow's garments until then. In fact, Judah did not summon Tamar when Shelah attained his majority.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Genesis|chap=38|verses=10-11}}</ref>

God found this act displeasing, and so Onan died as well. Judah, in fear that Shelah also would not survive, told Tamar to wait until Shelah was "grown up" and wear widow's garments until then. In fact, Judah did not summon Tamar when Shelah attained his majority.<ref>{{Bible ref|book=Genesis|chap=38|verses=10-11}}</ref>