Commentary for Yevamot 55:3

ולימא ליה רבי אלעזר היא דאמר כיון שעמדה עליו שעה אחת באיסור נאסרה עליו עולמית מדסיפא ר' אלעזר רישא לאו רבי אלעזר

might die,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' After the second brother had married the second widow and had thus become disqualified from marrying or participating in the halizah of the other — who is now forbidden to him as the sister of his wife. ');">⁷</span> it being forbidden to annul the precept of levirate marriage!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And this only is the reason for the prohibition of the levirate marriage with either of the sisters. Had this prohibition been due to the levirate bond, as suggested, the first would certainly have been permitted to marry the levir after halizah with the second, which had severed the levirate bond, had taken place. Consequently, in the case discussed by R. Johanan, where the second died, and the preventive measure is not applicable. the first may indeed be taken in levirate marriage! ');">⁸</span> — R. Johanan makes no provision against possible death.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The ruling in our Mishnah could not, therefore, be due to a preventive measure. ');">⁹</span>

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