In Deuteronomy 25:5, the law reads, “If brothers dwell together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the dead man shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her and take her as his wife and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her. And the first son whom she bears shall succeed to the name of his dead brother, that his name may not be blotted out of Israel.” Thus if a husband dies without heir, his wife is to marry the brother in order to produce an heir who will carry the family name.
What is this practice called? Is this adultery? Thoughts?
3 comments:
It's the same as a widow remarrying . . . The LAw is very specific about what relationships are sinful and what are righteous . . . This was a "thou shalt" command, not a "thou shalt not".
Indeed it can be viewed this way except she is marrying the brother-in-law. What if he is married? Yes, though, good point, this is a thou shalt command therfore God is commanding and putting His mark of approval therefore making the marriage a legal union.
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