Now there were seven brothers. The first one married and died without leaving any children. The second one married the widow, but he also died, leaving no child. It was the same with the third. In fact, none of the seven left any children. Last of all, the woman died too. (12:20-22)
The Law written in Deuteronomy 25:5f describes very unique content. It is related to the levirate marriage that deals with what to do of a wife after her husband’s death. The content is following.
A widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband's brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her. If a man does not want to marry his brother's wife, she shall go to the elders at the town gate and say, "My husband's brother refuses to carry on his brother's name in Israel. He will not fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to me." Then the elders of his town shall summon him and talk to him. If he persists in saying, "I do not want to marry her," his brother's widow shall go up to him in the presence of the elders, take off one of his sandals, spit in his face and say, "This is what is done to the man who will not build up his brother's family line." (Deut. 25:6-9)
According to this tradition, the activity to bear a descendant had taken the highest value in Israel. It can be confirmed through the action of the widow by spitting on a brother-in-law who refused to marry his brother’s wife. I don’t know how such levirate marriage widely practiced in Israel in those days.
As much as I know there is no such custom in Korea. It seems the polyandry still remain in China and a remote place of Tibet. It is the custom that brothers become the husbands of a woman. How does a marriage system of a species named human can be changed in the future?
If there is another way to multiply a descendant except general marriage, the marriage system eventually may disappear. It is said such phenomena become serious even to be a social problem. Then what will be family relationship in the world of resurrection?
The Law written in Deuteronomy 25:5f describes very unique content. It is related to the levirate marriage that deals with what to do of a wife after her husband’s death. The content is following.
A widow must not marry outside the family. Her husband's brother shall take her and marry her and fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to her. If a man does not want to marry his brother's wife, she shall go to the elders at the town gate and say, "My husband's brother refuses to carry on his brother's name in Israel. He will not fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to me." Then the elders of his town shall summon him and talk to him. If he persists in saying, "I do not want to marry her," his brother's widow shall go up to him in the presence of the elders, take off one of his sandals, spit in his face and say, "This is what is done to the man who will not build up his brother's family line." (Deut. 25:6-9)
According to this tradition, the activity to bear a descendant had taken the highest value in Israel. It can be confirmed through the action of the widow by spitting on a brother-in-law who refused to marry his brother’s wife. I don’t know how such levirate marriage widely practiced in Israel in those days.
As much as I know there is no such custom in Korea. It seems the polyandry still remain in China and a remote place of Tibet. It is the custom that brothers become the husbands of a woman. How does a marriage system of a species named human can be changed in the future?
If there is another way to multiply a descendant except general marriage, the marriage system eventually may disappear. It is said such phenomena become serious even to be a social problem. Then what will be family relationship in the world of resurrection?
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