Genesis 38:16: “Not realizing that she was his daughter-in-law, he went over to her by the roadside and said, ‘Come now, let me sleep with you.’
‘And what will you give me to sleep with you?’ she asked.”
Judah noticed her from afar. A veiled woman sat at the entrance to Enaim, which is on the road to Timnah. Her garments were of shining emerald green. His friend Hirah noticed Judah’s fascination with the woman right away. He nudged him, saying: “Speak with her, old friend. From the looks of her you’ll have a good time. I’ll see you in Timnah.” Hirah continued on his way while Judah stopped to greet the woman.
“Shalom”, he said. “Shalom”, the veiled woman replied. Somehow her voice struck him as familiar. At a close distance he could smell her perfume. His heart began to pump faster as his desire for her grew. Throwing all concerns aside he asked her bluntly: “Will you sleep with me?” There was a bit of a stunned silence. Embarrassed Judah was about to apologize and be on his way when the woman responded: “At what price?” – “Well”, Judah proposed, “I’m offering you a goat from my herd, but I will have to go get it. All my flocks and herds are in Timnah right now for the festival.” The woman got up and signaled her consent, but insisted on a pledge to ensure that her client would follow through with his promise. That seemed fair enough to Judah and he agreed: “Whatever you want. You pick the pledge!” After some consideration the woman decided: “Give me your seal and its cord and the staff in your hand.” And so the deal was sealed and Judah slept with her.
After the festival was over Judah sent Hirah to Enaim to get his staff and seal back and deliver the promised goat to the prostitute. Even though Hirah searched high and low for her he returned the goat and told Judah: “There is no prostitute in Enaim. I asked the locals and nobody could identify this lady.” Judah was surprised. “That is strange”, he said. Hirah shrugged his shoulders and advised: “You did all you could do. People will call us crazy if we continue to search for her.” So Judah replaced his staff and seal and quickly forgot about the matter.
Meanwhile, Tamar had changed back into her widow’s garb. The following day she met with her friend Eden to return the emerald dress. Eden looked at her and said: “So – how did it go?” Tamar blushed. “I don’t want to talk about it”, she said, “but if I were you, I would burn this emerald dress.” Eden smiled. “So everything went according to plan,” she observed, “now let’s hope that you are with child!”