Talmud Bavli
Talmud Bavli

Commentary for Yevamot 38:12

יתיב רב מנשה בר זביד קמיה דרב הונא ויתיב וקאמר מאי טעמא דר"ש מ"ט דר"ש כדאמר טעמא הואיל ובא ומצאה בהיתר ולא עמדה עליו שעה אחת באיסור

— 'What is R. Simeon's reason'! [Surely it is] as it has been stated: The reason is 'because when he was born he found her permitted to him, and she was never forbidden him even for one moment'!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Supra, q.v. for notes. ');"><sup>36</sup></span> But [the question rather is] what is the reason of the Rabbis?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Why do they forbid the levirate marriage between the first widow and the third brother, where the only relationship between them is through the second brother, the relationship through the first brother having ceased with the levirate marriage of the widow by the second brother prior to the birth of the third? ');"><sup>37</sup></span> -Scripture said, A/Id take her to him to wife, and perform the duty of a husband's brother unto her,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Deut. XXV, 5. ');"><sup>38</sup></span> the former levirate attachment still remains with her.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H] 'taking her to wife', [H], does not remove from her the designation of 'brother's wife' [H]. ');"><sup>39</sup></span>

Explore commentary for Yevamot 38:12. In-depth commentary and analysis from classical Jewish sources.

Previous VerseFull ChapterNext Verse