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levirate

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levirate

Form of marriage in which a man is required to marry the widow of a brother who dies without a male heir. Children of the marriage are legally those of the dead brother. The purpose is to provide for the welfare of the widow and, more importantly, to provide an heir for the dead brother. Levirate was practised by the ancient Hebrews and is known among many African and other peoples.



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? Mentioned in ? References in periodicals archive
 
If Naomi, a post-menopausal female, returns alone to Bethlehem, she may not call on the custom of levirate obligation.
2) For variations on this custom, now called levirate marriage, see the story of Tamar and Judah in Genesis 38 and the Torah legislation in Deuteronomy 25:5-10.
In the context of a discussion of levirate marriage (Deut 25:5-6), he gives as a reason for that historic custom that "eunuchs and the unfruitful were despised.
 
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