Deuteronomy 25:9 KJV,ASV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:5-12

Here is, I. The law settled concerning the marrying of the brother's widow. It appears from the story of Judah's family that this had been an ancient usage (Gen. 38:8), for the keeping up of distinct families. The case put is a case that often happens, of a man's dying without issue, it may be in the prime of his time, soon after his marriage, and while his brethren were yet so young as to be unmarried. Now in this case, 1. The widow was not to marry again into any other family, unless all the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:9

Then shall his brother's wife come unto him in the presence of the elders ,.... The time and place being appointed the evening before by three Rabbins, and two witnesses, as Leo of Modena says F16 Ut supra, sect. 4. (Leo Modena's Hostory of Rites, &c.; l. 1. sect. 4.) ; of which she was apprized, and ordered to come tasting: and loose his shoe from off his foot ; his right foot, which was thus done;"they bring him a leather shoe, which has a heel, but not sewed with linen... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 25:9

And loose his shoe - It is difficult to find the reason of these ceremonies of degradation. Perhaps the shoe was the emblem of power; and by stripping it off, deprivation of that power and authority was represented. Spitting in the face was a mark of the utmost ignominy; but the Jews, who are legitimate judges in this case, say that the spitting was not in his face, but before his face on the ground. And this is the way in which the Asiatics express their detestation of a person to the... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:5-10

Levirate marriages . If a man who was married died without issue, his surviving brother was required to marry the widow, so as to raise up a successor to the deceased, who should be his heir. The brother who refused this duty must be publicly disgraced. The design of this institution—which was not originated by Moses, but came down from early times ( Genesis 38:8 ), and is to be found amongst ether nations than the Jews, and that even in the present day—was to preserve a family from... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:5-10

Family honor to be maintained. This law supposes a state of society and a kind of public opinion which does not now exist, and in detail it is therefore obsolete. But the principle it involves is clear, viz. that in married life the honor of the family on both sides is an object of mutual interest and concern, not only during the events of life, but also in case of arrangements at and after death. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:5-10

The levitate law. At the root of this law, which obtained widely in the East, we find ideas and feelings such as these— I. RESPECT FOR THE HONOR OF THE FAMILY . In the East, as is well known, childlessness is reckoned a calamity, almost a disgrace. Hence, as well as for other reasons, the severity of the law in Deuteronomy 25:11 . Hence also this custom of marrying a brother's widow, in order to raise up seed to the brother. The motive is plainly to avert disgrace from... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:5-10

The rights of the firstborn. We have already observed that the firstborn had a right to a double share of the family inheritance ( Deuteronomy 21:17 ). We have before us another of his rights—a seed was to be raised up unto him by his younger brothers, that his name should not be put out in Israel. In a peasant proprietary such as existed in Palestine, we can easily understand the importance of such a regulation. It was, moreover, esteemed a most disgraceful act to refuse to raise up... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:7-10

If the man refused to marry the widow of his deceased brother, he was free to do so; but the woman had her redress. She was to bring the matter before the eiders of the town, sitting as magistrates at the gate, and they were to summon the man and speak to him, and if he persisted in his refusal, the woman was to take his shoe from off his foot, and spit before his face, and say, So shall it be done unto that man that will not build up his brother's house. The taking off of the shoe of the... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 25:5-10

The law of levirate marriage. The law on this subject is not unique to the Jews, but is found (see Genesis 38:8) in all essential respects the same among various Oriental nations, ancient and modern. The rules in these verses, like those upon divorce, do but incorporate existing immemorial usages, and introduce various wise and politic limitations and mitigations of them. The root of the obligation here imposed upon the brother of the deceased husband lies in the primitive idea of childlessness... read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Deuteronomy 25:9-10

Deuteronomy 25:9-10. Loose his shoe As a sign of his resignation of all his right to the woman, and to her husband’s inheritance; for as the shoe was a sign of one’s power and right, (Psalms 60:8; Psalms 108:9,) so the parting with the shoe was a token of the alienation of such right; and as a note of infamy, to signify that by this disingenuous action he was unworthy to be among free men, and fit to be reduced to the condition of the meanest servants, who used to go barefoot, Isaiah 20:2;... read more

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:5-12

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:9

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - Deuteronomy 25:9

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:5-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:5-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:5-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:5-10

The Pulpit Commentary - Deuteronomy 25:7-10

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - Deuteronomy 25:5-10

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - Deuteronomy 25:9-10

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