Discovery BoxGenesis 38:14-15 
Context38:14 So she removed her widow’s clothes and covered herself with a veil. She wrapped herself and sat at the entrance to Enaim which is on the way to Timnah. (She did this because 1 she saw that she had not been given to Shelah as a wife, even though he had now grown up.) 2
38:15 When Judah saw her, he thought she was a prostitute 3 because she had covered her face.
1 tn The Hebrew text simply has “because,” connecting this sentence to what precedes. For stylistic reasons the words “she did this” are supplied in the translation and a new sentence begun.
2 tn Heb “she saw that Shelah had grown up, but she was not given to him as a wife.”
3 tn Heb “he reckoned her for a prostitute,” which was what Tamar had intended for him to do. She obviously had some idea of his inclinations, or she would not have tried this risky plan.
