Section 77
And the King of Persia is likewise of the seed of Shem, and we will inform you concerning the matters that relate to him. Yehudah begot two sons, and he brought in Te‘mar (Tamar) for his eldest son, and he died. And Yehudah sent his younger son to her that he might raise up seed to his brother by his brother’s wife. And he did that which Elohim hated, and he did not wish to raise up seed to his brother as his father Yehudah had commanded him. Now when he lay with Tamar he made his seed to go into the ground, so that it might not germinate in her womb and be called the seed of his brother, but he wished to raise up seed by his own wife in his own name. And when Elohim saw his evil act He turned His face away from him and slew him. And Yehudah, the father-in-Torah of Tamar, brought her back, and set her in the house of her father, and said to her kinsfolk, “ Keep carefully this Israelitish woman, and let her not defile herself with an alien. For I have a little son, and if Elohim will let him grow up I will give him to her.” And whilst Tamar was living as a widow in her father’s house, behold, Yehudah her father-in-Torah came to the place where his sheepfolds were to shear wool with great satisfaction and pleasure. And when Tamar heard that her father-in-Torah had come, she cast away from her the apparel of widowhood, and she put herself in splendid apparel, and she veiled herself after the manner of a harlot, and she followed him and sat down. And he sent a message to her, saying, “ I wish to company with you.” And she said to him, “ What will you give me for my hire? ” And he said to her, “ I will send to you in the morning early a sucking lamb ”; and she said to him, “ Give me a pledge until you givest me the lamb.” And he gave her [his] staff, and ring, and the close-fitting cap that was under his headdress. And he companied with her, and she took [the things] and departed to her house. And he sent the lamb to her early in the morning. And his servants enquired and said, “ Where is the house of the harlot? ” And they said to him, “ There is no harlot in our towm ”; and they returned into their city and told him that there was no harlot in their town. And Yehudah said, “ Leave you [it]; the Will of Elohim be done.” Then Tamar conceived and they told her father-in-Torah that she had conceived. And he went and took the elders of Yisra'el to the father of Tamar, and he said to him, “ Bring to me your daughter who has conceived that we may stone her with stones even as Mosheh commanded, for she has brought reproach upon the house of Yisra'el.” And the father and kinsfolk of Tamar told her that her father-in-Torah spoke thus. And she brought out the ring, and the staff, and the cap, and gave [them] to her father and her kinsfolk, and she said to them, “ The owner of these things has seduced me; let them stone me with him with stones.” And when Yehudah saw his possessions he recognized [them], and he said, “ Tamar is more righteous than I ”; and he left her and came to his house. And Tamar brought forth twins, two nations, Fares (Perez) and Zara. And Fars (Persia) was founded in the name of Fares, and he ruled over it and his seed after him, and they were called “ Farasawiyan ” (Persians). Behold now, it is proved that the King of Persia is of the seed of Shem.