A husband’s brother, or levir, was expected under Israelite law to marry his deceased brother’s childless widow and raise up offspring for the dead brother. Refusal brought public disgrace, though the duty could be declined.
Definition
A husband’s brother, or levir, was the brother of a man who died without male issue while living on the paternal estate. He was expected to marry the widow and raise up offspring for the deceased brother, whose estate the firstborn of the new marriage would inherit.
Biblical Usage
Deuteronomy 25:5-10 and Matthew 22:24 refer to this duty. Refusal was possible but brought public ceremonial disgrace and lasting reproach. The custom appears in the account of Judah and Tamar and is alluded to in Ruth. Boaz in Ruth 4 acted as redeemer rather than as the levir.
Historical Background
This patriarchal custom created a specific exception to the general prohibition against marrying a sister-in-law. It was at least theoretically in force in the time of Jesus and formed the basis of the Sadducees’ question concerning the resurrection.
Historical Bible Dictionaries
International Standard Bible Encyclopedia (ISBE)
<p>(yabham, "brother-in-law"; epigambreuo; Late Latin levir): He was required (De 25:5-10; Mt 22:24) "to perform the duty of a husband's brother" (yibbemah); that is, if his brother, living with him on the paternal estate, died without male issue, he should take the widow to wife, and "raise up seed unto his brother," the firstborn of the new marriage inheriting the deceased brother's estate. Refusal of the duty was possible, but entailed public ceremonial disgrace and lasting reproach. This provision for a specific case modified the general law which forbade the marriage of a sister-in-law (Le 18:16,18). It was a patriarchal custom (Ge 38; Judah and Tamar), and is alluded to in Ru 1:11-13. A related custom is found in Ru 4:1, Boaz playing; however, the part, not of levir ("brother-in-law"), but of go`el ("redeemer"). It was at least theoretically in force in our Lord's time (Mt 22:23-28; the question of the Sadducees concerning the resurrection). For the origin and object of this custom see FAMILY; MARRIAGE.</p><p>Philip Wendell Crannell</p>
