Discovery BoxGenesis 38:11 
Context38:11 Then Judah said to his daughter-in-law Tamar, “Live as a widow in your father’s house until Shelah my son grows up.” For he thought, 1 “I don’t want him to die like his brothers.” 2 So Tamar went and lived in her father’s house.
Genesis 38:16
Context38:16 He turned aside to her along the road and said, “Come on! I want to have sex with you.” 3 (He did not realize 4 it was his daughter-in-law.) She asked, “What will you give me in exchange for having sex with you?” 5
1 tn Heb “said.”
2 tn Heb “Otherwise he will die, also he, like his brothers.”
sn I don’t want him to die like his brothers. This clause explains that Judah had no intention of giving Shelah to Tamar for the purpose of the levirate marriage. Judah apparently knew the nature of his sons, and feared that God would be angry with the third son and kill him as well.
3 tn Heb “I will go to you.” The imperfect verbal form probably indicates his desire here. The expression “go to” is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.
4 tn Heb “for he did not know that.”
5 tn Heb “when you come to me.” This expression is a euphemism for sexual intercourse.
