Deuteronomy 25:1-8

1 If there be a controversy between men, and they come unto judgment, that the judges may judge them; then they shall justify the righteous, and condemn the wicked.

2 And it shall be, if the wicked man be worthy to be beaten , that the judge shall cause him to lie down , and to be beaten before his face, according to his fault, by a certain number.

3 Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed : lest, if he should exceed , and beat him above these with many stripes, then thy brother should seem vile * unto thee.

4 Thou shalt not muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn.

5 If brethren dwell together, and one of them die , and have no child, the wife of the dead shall not marry without unto a stranger * : her husband's brother shall go in unto her, and take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of an husband's brother unto her.

6 And it shall be, that the firstborn which she beareth shall succeed in the name of his brother which is dead , that his name be not put out of Israel.

7 And if the man like not to take his brother's wife, then let his brother's wife go up to the gate unto the elders, and say , My husband's brother refuseth to raise up unto his brother a name in Israel, he will not perform the duty of my husband's brother .

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

Deuteronomy 25:1-8 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO DEUTERONOMY 25

Several laws are contained in this chapter, as concerning beating such whose crimes required it, De 25:1-3; of not muzzling the ox in treading out the corn, De 25:4; of marrying a deceased brother's wife, when there was no issue, and of the disgrace of such that refused it, De 25:5-10; of the punishment of an immodest woman, De 25:11,12; and against bad weights and measures, De 25:13-16; and for the utter destruction of Amalek, De 25:17-19.