Interesting Facts

• Pharez was one of the twins born to Tamar.
• His twin brother was named Zarah.
• Pharez was born during the seventh year of the second week.
• His birth occurred after Tamar conceived by Judah.

Genealogy

• Pharez was the son of Judah.
• His mother was Tamar, the daughter of Elam, the son of Shem.
• He had a twin brother, Zarah.
• He was a grandson of Jacob (Israel).
• His lineage connects him to the tribe of Judah, which later became a prominent tribe in Israel.
• The sons of Perez were Chezron and Chamul.

Historical Context

Pharez was born during a period when Jacob’s family was still residing in Canaan, prior to their migration to Egypt. The narrative places his birth after Judah took Tamar as a wife for his firstborn, Er, and after Er’s death. Judah’s subsequent relationship with Tamar led to the birth of Pharez and his twin brother Zarah. The timeframe of Pharez’s birth is specified as the seventh year of the second week, which, according to one reckoning, corresponds to the year 2170 A.M.. This context places Pharez’s early life within the lineage of Jacob’s sons and their developing family structures before the significant event of the famine and the subsequent move to Egypt under Joseph’s leadership.

Narrative

The narrative surrounding Pharez focuses primarily on the unusual circumstances of his birth. His mother, Tamar, was initially married to Judah’s firstborn son, Er, who died. Following the death of Judah’s second son, Onan, who was also meant to marry Tamar, she ingeniously disguised herself as a harlot and conceived by Judah himself. At the time of their delivery, twins were in her womb, and Pharez was the first to emerge, hence his name. This episode highlights themes of lineage, obligation, and resourcefulness within the early generations of Jacob’s family. While the provided sources do not detail Pharez’s actions or dialogues beyond his birth and lineage, the narrative emphasizes his significant place within the genealogy of Judah, as his descendants, Chezron and Chamul, are later listed among the sons of Judah who came to Egypt. The acknowledgment that Judah’s actions with Tamar were later deemed evil but forgiven after his earnest supplication further contextualizes Pharez’s origin within a narrative of human fallibility and divine mercy. The listing of his descendants confirms his continuation of the lineage of Judah within Egypt.