Mark 12:21

21 The second married her. He died, and still no child. The same with the third.

Mark 12:21 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 12:21

The second took her
To wife, married her, as the next eldest brother, by the above law was obliged to: and so the Jewish

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FOOTNOTES:

F12 canon upon it runs thus;

``the command is, (lwdgb) , "for the eldest" to marry his brother's wife: if he will not, they go to all the brethren; if they will not, they return to the eldest, and say, the command is upon thee, either pluck off the shoe, or marry.''

Maimonides ^F13 relates it in this manner;

``if a man dies, and leaves many brethren, the command is upon the eldest to marry, or pull off the shoe; as it is said, ( Deuteronomy 25:6 ) , "and it shall be the firstborn which she beareth". From tradition, it is learned that it does not speak but of the firstborn among the brethren; and it is all one as if it was said, the eldest of the brethren shall succeed in the name of his brother that is dead; and this is what is said, "which she beareth": the sense is, which the mother has borne, and not which the brother's wife beareth; if the eldest will not marry her, they go round to all the brethren; and if they will not, they return to the eldest, and say, upon thee is the command, either pluck off the shoe, or marry; and they do not compel him to marry, but they compel him to pluck off the shoe;''

i.e. in case he will not marry.

And died, neither left he any, seed, and the third likewise;
married her, and died without issue, as the second did. The Persic version adds, "and the fourth, and fifth"; for so they all did to the seventh.

F12 Misn. Yebamot, c. 4. sect. 5. & T. Bab. Yebamot, fol. 39. 1.
F13 Hilch. Yebum Uchalitza, c. 2, sect. 6, 7. Vid. Jarchium in Deut. xxv. 6.

Mark 12:21 In-Context

19 "Teacher, Moses wrote that if a man dies and leaves a wife but no child, his brother is obligated to marry the widow and have children.

20 Well, there once were seven brothers. The first took a wife. He died childless.

21 The second married her. He died, and still no child. The same with the third.

22 All seven took their turn, but no child. Finally the wife died.

23 When they are raised at the resurrection, whose wife is she? All seven were her husband."