Devarim 25:10

10 And shmo shall be called in Yisroel, The bais of him that hath his sandal loosed.

Devarim 25:10 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 25:10

And his name shall be called in Israel
Not his particular and personal name, but his family; for it seems that not only a mark of infamy was set upon him for refusing to marry his brother's widow, but upon his family also;

the house of him that hath his shoe loosed;
which, as Leo of Modena says ^F19, was repeated by her three times; and at every time the people with a loud voice answer and call him, one that had his shoe loosed; and then the Rabbin tells the man that he is at liberty now to marry whom he pleases; and if he desires a certificate from them of this setting free his kinswoman, they presently give him one; and she also had a writing given to her by the judges, certifying the same, that she was free also to marry another; of which the following is a short form or copy ^F20.

``In such or such a session (or court), such an one, the daughter of such an one, plucked off the shoe of such an one, the son of such an one, before us; she brought him before us, and she loosed the shoe of his right foot, and spit before him spittle, which was seen by us upon the ground; and said, so shall it be done to the man that would not build up his brother's house.''

A larger form may be seen in Maimonides ^F21, as well as a type and copy of the matrimonial contract. From this law an high priest was free, ( Leviticus 21:14 ) ; and so a king, according to the Jewish canon ^F23.

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FOOTNOTES:

F19 History, ut supra, sect. 5. (Leo Modena's History of Rites l. 1. sect. 5.)
F20 T. Hieros. Sanhedrin, fol. 19. 1.
F21 Hilchot Yebum Vechalitzah, c. 4. sect. 29.
F23 Misn. Sanhedrin, c. 2. sect. 2.

Devarim 25:10 In-Context

8 Then the zekenim of his town shall call him, and speak unto him; and if he stand to it, and say, I like not to take her;

9 Then shall his brother’s isha come unto him in the presence of the zekenim, and remove his sandal from off his foot, and spit in his face, and shall answer and say, So shall it be done unto that ish that will not build up the bais achiv (the house of his brother).

10 And shmo shall be called in Yisroel, The bais of him that hath his sandal loosed.

11 When anashim strive together one with another, and the eshet (wife) of the one draweth near for to deliver her husband out of the hand of him that striketh him, and putteth forth her hand, and taketh him by the private parts,

12 Then thou shalt cut off her kaf (palm, hollow or flat of the hand), thine eye shall not pity her.