If brethren dwell together, and one of them die, and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger: her husband’s brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband’s brother unto her.
If brothers live together and one of them dies without having children, his widow must not marry someone outside the family. Instead, her dead husband's brother should marry her and fulfill his duty as a brother-in-law to her.
This verse establishes that when a married man dies childless, his brother should marry the widow to continue the family line and provide for her.
📚 Historical Context
This law, known as levirate marriage, was common in ancient Near Eastern cultures and served both economic and social purposes. It protected widows from destitution in a society where women had few rights or means of support, while also ensuring that family names and inheritance lines continued. The practice helped maintain tribal unity and prevented family property from being lost to outsiders.
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