Kebra Nagast 77

1And the King of Persia is likewise of the seed of Shem, and we will inform you concerning the matters that relate to him.

2Judah begot two sons, and he brought in Te'mar (Tamar) for his eldest son, and he died.

3And Judah sent his younger son to her that he might raise up seed to his brother by his brother's wife.

4And he did that which God hated, and he did not wish to raise up seed to his brother as his father Judah had commanded him.

5Now 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.

6And when God saw his evil act He turned His face away from him and slew him.

7And Judah, the father-in-law of Tamar, brought her back, and set her in the house of her father, and said unto her kinsfolk, "Keep carefully this Israelitish woman, and let her not defile herself with an alien.

8For I have a little son, and if God will let him grow up I will give him to her."

9And whilst Tamar was living as a widow in her father's house, behold, Judah her father-in-law came to the place where his sheepfolds were to shear wool with great satisfaction and pleasure.

10And when Tamar heard that her father-in-law 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.

11And he sent a message to her, saying, "I wish to company with thee."

12And she said unto him, "What wilt thou give me for my hire?"

13And he said unto her, "I will send to thee in the morning early a sucking lamb"; and she said unto him, "Give me a pledge until thou givest me the lamb."

14And he gave her [his] staff, and ring, and the close-fitting cap that was under his headdress.

15And he companied with her, and she took [the things] and departed unto her house.

16And he sent the lamb unto her early in the morning.

17And his servants enquired and said, "Where is the house of the harlot?"

18And they said unto him, "There is no harlot in our town"; and they returned into their city and told him that there was no harlot in their town.

19And Judah said, "Leave ye [it]; the Will of God be done."

20Then Tamar conceived and they told her father-in-law that she had conceived.

21And he went and took the elders of Israel to the father of Tamar, and he said unto him, "Bring to me thy daughter who hath conceived that we may stone her with stones even as Moses commanded, for she hath brought reproach upon the house of Israel."

22And the father and kinsfolk of Tamar told her that her father-in-law spake thus.

23And she brought out the ring, and the staff, and the cap, and gave [them] to her father and her kinsfolk, and she said unto them, "The owner of these things hath seduced me; let them stone me with him with stones."

24And when Judah saw his possessions he recognized [them] and he said, "Tamar is more righteous than I"; and he left her and came to his house.

25And Tamar brought forth twins, two nations, Fares (Perez) and Zara.

26And 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).

27Behold now, it is proved that the King of Persia is of the seed of Shem.