Deuteronomy 25:7

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:5-12

Here is, I. The law settled concerning the marrying of the brother's widow. It appears from the story of Judah's family that this had been an ancient usage (Gen. 38:8), for the keeping up of distinct families. The case put is a case that often happens, of a man's dying without issue, it may be in the prime of his time, soon after his marriage, and while his brethren were yet so young as to be unmarried. Now in this case, 1. The widow was not to marry again into any other family, unless all the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:7

And the man like not to take his brother's wife ,.... The provision here made by this law, when this was the case, is such as did not take place before it became a law; for then Onan would have taken the advantage of it, and refused marrying his brother's wife, which it is plain was not agreeable to him, Genesis 38:9 ; as many do now on one account or another. Leo of Modena F12 Ut supra, sect. 3. (Leo Modena's History of Rites, &c.; l. 1 sect. 3.) says,"it was anciently accounted... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:5-10

Levirate marriages . If a man who was married died without issue, his surviving brother was required to marry the widow, so as to raise up a successor to the deceased, who should be his heir. The brother who refused this duty must be publicly disgraced. The design of this institution—which was not originated by Moses, but came down from early times ( Genesis 38:8 ), and is to be found amongst ether nations than the Jews, and that even in the present day—was to preserve a family from... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:5-10

Family honor to be maintained. This law supposes a state of society and a kind of public opinion which does not now exist, and in detail it is therefore obsolete. But the principle it involves is clear, viz. that in married life the honor of the family on both sides is an object of mutual interest and concern, not only during the events of life, but also in case of arrangements at and after death. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:5-10

The levitate law. At the root of this law, which obtained widely in the East, we find ideas and feelings such as these— I. RESPECT FOR THE HONOR OF THE FAMILY . In the East, as is well known, childlessness is reckoned a calamity, almost a disgrace. Hence, as well as for other reasons, the severity of the law in Deuteronomy 25:11 . Hence also this custom of marrying a brother's widow, in order to raise up seed to the brother. The motive is plainly to avert disgrace from... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:5-10

The rights of the firstborn. We have already observed that the firstborn had a right to a double share of the family inheritance ( Deuteronomy 21:17 ). We have before us another of his rights—a seed was to be raised up unto him by his younger brothers, that his name should not be put out in Israel. In a peasant proprietary such as existed in Palestine, we can easily understand the importance of such a regulation. It was, moreover, esteemed a most disgraceful act to refuse to raise up... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:7-10

If the man refused to marry the widow of his deceased brother, he was free to do so; but the woman had her redress. She was to bring the matter before the eiders of the town, sitting as magistrates at the gate, and they were to summon the man and speak to him, and if he persisted in his refusal, the woman was to take his shoe from off his foot, and spit before his face, and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother's house. The taking off of the shoe of the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 25:5-10

The law of levirate marriage. The law on this subject is not unique to the Jews, but is found (see Genesis 38:8) in all essential respects the same among various Oriental nations, ancient and modern. The rules in these verses, like those upon divorce, do but incorporate existing immemorial usages, and introduce various wise and politic limitations and mitigations of them. The root of the obligation here imposed upon the brother of the deceased husband lies in the primitive idea of childlessness... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:5-19

Family and business relationships (25:5-19)If a man died having no son, his brother was to have a temporary marital relation with the widow for the purpose of helping her produce a son. Legally, this son would be considered son of the dead man and so would receive his inheritance and carry on his name. If the brother refused to cooperate, he was to be publicly disgraced for allowing the dead man’s name to die out (5-10). (If, however, there were surviving daughters, they could receive the... read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - Deuteronomy 25:5-10

Ver. 5-10. If brethren dwell together, &c.— The great end of this law was, to preserve inheritances in the families to which they belonged: and the meaning plainly is, that, if a brother died without children, the next unmarried relation, whether brother or kinsman, was to marry the wife of the deceased, and raise up children to him. This appears evidently from the case put to our Saviour, as well as from the affair of Ruth and Boaz. A lenient provision, however, is made for such relations... read more

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