You
shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain.1
When brothers reside together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the deceased shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her, taking her in marriage, and performing the duty of a husband’s brother to her,2 and the firstborn whom she bears shall succeed to the name of the deceased brother, so that his name may not be blotted out of Israel. But if the man has no desire to marry his brother’s widow, then his brother’s widow shall go up to the elders at the gate and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to perpetuate his brother’s name in Israel; he will not perform the duty of a husband’s brother to me.”3 Then the elders of his town shall summon him and speak to him. If he persists, saying, “I have no desire to marry her,” then his brother’s wife shall go up to him in the presence of the elders, pull his sandal off his foot, spit in his face, and declare, “This is what is done to the man who does not build up his brother’s house.”4 Throughout Israel his family shall be known as “the house of him whose sandal was pulled off.”
If men get into a fight with one another, and the wife of one intervenes to rescue her husband from the grip of his opponent by reaching out and seizing his genitals,5 you shall cut off her hand;6 show no pity.
1 This is really out-of-context is any way I read it. My Study Bible calls is an allusion to sexual potency, which really doesn't clarify anything for me.
When brothers reside together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the deceased shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her, taking her in marriage, and performing the duty of a husband’s brother to her,2 and the firstborn whom she bears shall succeed to the name of the deceased brother, so that his name may not be blotted out of Israel. But if the man has no desire to marry his brother’s widow, then his brother’s widow shall go up to the elders at the gate and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to perpetuate his brother’s name in Israel; he will not perform the duty of a husband’s brother to me.”3 Then the elders of his town shall summon him and speak to him. If he persists, saying, “I have no desire to marry her,” then his brother’s wife shall go up to him in the presence of the elders, pull his sandal off his foot, spit in his face, and declare, “This is what is done to the man who does not build up his brother’s house.”4 Throughout Israel his family shall be known as “the house of him whose sandal was pulled off.”
If men get into a fight with one another, and the wife of one intervenes to rescue her husband from the grip of his opponent by reaching out and seizing his genitals,5 you shall cut off her hand;6 show no pity.
1 This is really out-of-context is any way I read it. My Study Bible calls is an allusion to sexual potency, which really doesn't clarify anything for me.
2
Taking the duties of the extended family to another level.
3
Placing a form of power in the woman's hands.
4
The potential for shame is used as a motivational technique.
5
Another focus on preserving lines of procreation.
6
Quite strict punishment. I wonder if it was ever acted upon?
Take-home: Laws are set in place to try to preserve the lines of succession and fertility in Israel's people.
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