Levirate Marriage – Mitzvah of Yibum
Devarim 25:5-10:
Shiur at Chabad of Lakeview
Walked the six miles to Chabad of East Lakeview. On the way there I stopped off by Eli and Xi. I go to Shul at 10:50 AM. They were at Shilshi. The Kiddush was great. I just love the Cholent. I spoke about the Mitzvah of Yibum. I also told them the speech by Rabbi Meir Yaakov Soloveichik, the Yibum of Henry the 8th. See my blog posit of September 4, 2023
Pesukim of Yibum:
Verse 5:
ืึดึผึฝืึพืึตืฉึฐืืึจืึผ ืึทืึดึืื ืึทืึฐืึธึผึื ืึผืึตึจืช ืึทืึทึคื ืึตืึถืึ ืึผืึตึฃื ืึตึฝืืึพืึืึน ืึนึฝืึพืชึดืึฐืึถึงื ืึตึฝืฉึถืืชึพืึทืึตึผึืช ืึทืึืึผืฆึธื ืึฐืึดึฃืืฉื ืึธึืจ ืึฐืึธืึธืึผึ ืึธืึนึฃื ืขึธืึถึืืึธ ืึผืึฐืงึธืึธึฅืึผ ืึืึน ืึฐืึดืฉึธึผืึื ืึฐืึดืึฐึผืึธึฝืึผื
Artscroll:
When two brothers live together and one of them dies, and he has no child, the wife of the deceased may not marry outside to a strangman; her brother in law shall come to her, and take her to himself as a wife, and perform levirate marriage..
Rabbi Charles Kahane:
When brothers from one father live together at the same time, and one of them dies childless, the wife of the deceased may not marry one outside of the family, a stranger. Her husbandโs brother must marry her; take her to be his wife, and take the place of the former husband.
(ืจืื”ื, ืจืฉ”ื, ื”ืข.)
Silverstein
When brothers dwell together [i.e., when they had dwelt concurrently in the world (This excludes from yibum (levirate marriage) the wife of one’s brother who had never been “in his world”). They must also be “together” vis-ร -vis inheritance (This excludes from yibum the wife of one’s maternal brother)], and one of them dies, and he has no son [or daughter, or son of a son or daughter of a son, or son of a daughter or daughter of a daughter], then the wife of the dead one shall not be outside to a strange man. Her levir (her husband’s brother) shall come upon her and take her for himself as a wife, and he shall have her in levirate marriage.
Rashi:
ืื ืืฉืื ืืืื ืืืื. ืฉึถืืึธืึฐืชึธื ืึธืึถื ืึฐืฉึดืืืึธื ืึทืึทืช ืึธึผืขืึนืึธื, ืคึฐึผืจึธื ืึฐืึตืฉึถืืช ืึธืึดืื ืฉึถืืึนึผื ืึธืึธื ืึฐืขืึนืึธืืึน (ืกืคืจื; ืืืืืช ื”ื):
ืืืื. ืึทืึฐืึปืึธืึดืื ืึทึผื ึทึผืึฒืึธื, ืคึฐึผืจึธื ืึฐืึธืึดืื ืึดื ืึธืึตื (ืฉื):
ืืื ืืื ืื. ืขึทืึตึผื ืขึธืึธืื, ืึตึผื ืืึน ืึทืช ืืึน ืึตื ืึทืึตึผื ืืึน ืึทืช ืึทืึตึผื ืืึน ืึตื ืึทืึทึผืช ืืึน ืึทืช ืึทืึทึผืช (ืขื’ ืืืืืช ื”ื):
We see that the Mitzvah of Yibum applies to a couple who had a child and that child dies. Thus when the brother dies, he is childless and his wife falls to Yibum.
Verse 6:
ืึฐืึธืึธึื ืึทืึฐึผืืึนืจึ ืึฒืฉึถืึฃืจ ืชึตึผืึตึื ืึธืงึืึผื ืขึทืึพืฉึตืึฅื ืึธืึดึืื ืึทืึตึผึืช ืึฐืึนึฝืึพืึดืึธึผืึถึฅื ืฉึฐืืึืึน ืึดืึดึผืฉึฐืืจึธืึตึฝืื
To understand this Pasuk the following four separate phrases that have to be understood.
ืึฐืึธืึธึื ืึทืึฐึผืืึนืจึ
ืึฒืฉึถืึฃืจ ืชึตึผืึตึื
ืึธืงึืึผื ืขึทืึพืฉึตืึฅื ืึธืึดึืื ืึทืึตึผึืช
ืึฐืึนึฝืึพืึดืึธึผืึถึฅื ืฉึฐืืึืึน ืึดืึดึผืฉึฐืืจึธืึตึฝืื
There are two main explanations. The A Pshat which is the plain meaning of the text and the B Pshat which Drush as stated by the Sefrei and the Gemora in Yevomes 24A.
What does ืึฐืึธืึธึื ืึทืึฐึผืืึนืจึ mean?
A – Either the oldest son
B – The oldest brother is first in line to perform Yibum.
What does ืึฒืฉึถืึฃืจ ืชึตึผืึตึื mean?
A – Either it goes with the oldest son that is born. โAnd it will be when a son is bornโ
B – The Yevamah has to have the ability to have children in her lifetime. It excludes an Aylones
What does ืึธืงึืึผื ืขึทืึพืฉึตืึฅื ืึธืึดึืื mean?
A1 – The son born to the Yavum and Yevamah takes on the same name as the deceased brother
A2 – The son inherits the deceased brother.
A3 – The son is a continuation of the soul of the dead brother
B – The brother who performs Yibum inherits the deceased brotherโs property
What does ืึฐืึนึฝืึพืึดืึธึผืึถึฅื ืฉึฐืืึืึน ืึดืึดึผืฉึฐืืจึธืึตึฝื mean?
A – Not sure
A3 – by taking on the soul of the dead brother, the dead brother will not be wiped out from this world.
B – Inheritance
The following is how the various Meforshim learn this Pasuk.
What is very interesting is that only Rashi learned the text like the Gemora. The Gemora in Yevamos 24A clearly learns the explanation like the Drush. Rava totally rejects the plain meaning of the text.
Onkelys – A, B, A, not sure. According to Avrohom Morgenstern
it is A, B, A3, Not sure
Targum – A, A, A2, not sure
Ibn Ezra – A, A, A1, B
Rashbam – A, A, A1, not sure
Ramban – A, A, A3, B Also Rabbeinu Bachya and the Tur HaArych
Sforno – A, A, A, A3
Rashi – B, B, B, not sure
Group 1 – follows the plain meaning of the text. You name the kids after the deceased brother. This is said by Onkleyos, Tragum Yonasam Ben Uziel, Ibn Ezra, and the Rashbam.
Group 2 – Kabblistic Pshat that the Neshama of the deceased brother goes into the firstborn child (son or even a girl?). Ramban, Rabbinu Bachya and Tur HaAruch. Rabbi Avrohom Morgenstern in his Sefer on Onkelys says that Onkelys agrees with the Ramban.
Group 3 – The child is considered the child of the deceased brother. This is the Sforno. Slightly different than the Ramban.
Group 4 – The Drashaโs that Rashi quotes are from the Gemara in Yeovms 24A. It appears that Rashi holds like Rava in the Gemara that we do not use the plain meaning at all, not for Pshat and not for Halacha.
There are a number of questions. Rava in Yevamos 24A clearly says the explanation of the Pasuk does not at all go like the plain meaning of the text. The plain meaning is that you call the son born of the Yavam by the name of the deceased brother. How can the four under Group one use the plain meaning of the text. Onkelyos and Targum Yonasan Ben Uziel were Tanium and predated Rava by 300 plus years. Maybe they simply argue on Rava and say that we do explain is based on the plain meaning and also on the Drashas. Perhaps. Rava is so adamant that we do not follow the plain meaning.
Reb Moshe Solovecichik wants to explain Rava that in Pasak Halacha we do not use the plain meaning, although in most other instances we will Pasken like the plain meaning and like the Drashaโs Chazel. Here we do not. Perhaps because of Rus and Boaz not meaning their kid Machlon. However, this is not proof because perhaps they did not want to use the name Machlon because he was a traitor to the Jewish people. Reb Moshe Soloveichik speculated perhaps there would be a Mitzvah Kiyumos to name the eldest son by the name of the child born to the Yavam and the Yevamah. Like Matza after the first night of Pesach.
Where does the Ramban get his Pshat and say it has a Kabbalistic explanation. Could be that he feels that to say the Pasuk in means that you give the same name to the newborn child cannot be, because we do not see this by Boaz and Rus. The Ramban felt that there has to be a plain meaning to the verse, so he said the plain meaning is the Kabbilistic meaning, which fits in with the words.
This is difficult because even if it does mean you name the child after the name of the deceased brother, thi is only Lechatchilah, Bโdieved you can name the child a different name. And perhaps by Boaz and Rus they did not want to use the name Machlon because he betrayed the people of Israel.
Group 1:
Onkelys:
ืึดืืึตื ืืึผืึฐืจึธื ืึดึผื ืชึฐืึดืื ืึฐืงืึผื ืขึทื ืฉึฐืืึธื ืึทืึฒืืึผืึดื ืึตืชึธื ึธื ืึฐืึธื ืึดืชึดึผืึฐืึตื ืฉึฐืืึตืืึผ ืึดืึดึผืฉึฐืืจึธืึตื:
It shall be that the firstborn, when she is capable of bearing children, shall be established in place of his deceased [father’s] brother, so that his name may not be obliterated from Yisroel. Avrohom Morgenstern in the Artscroll translation in footnote 12 page 268 that Onkelyos is referring to the idea that the first son born to the Yavum and Yevama in a spiritual sense is the son of the dead brother.. Meaning he is the Neshma of the brother.
Avrohom Morgenstern in Artscroll says that Onkleys agrees with the Ramban and Rabbinu Bachya.
Targum Yonasan Ben Uziel
ืืึตื ืึผืึผืึฐืจึธื ืึฐืชืึนืึดืื ืึฐืงืึผื ืึฐึผืึทืึฐืกึทื ึฐืชึธึผื ืขึทื ืฉืืึผื ืึธืืึนื ืฉึฐืืึดืืึธื ืึฐืึธื ืึดืชึฐืึฐืึตื ืฉึฐืืึตืืึผ ืึดืึดึผืฉึฐืจึธืึตื
And the first-born whom she beareth shall stand in the inheritance in the name of the deceased brother, that his name may not be blotted out from Israel.
Ibn Ezra:
ืืืืืจ ืืฉืจ ืชืื. ืืงืจื ืืฉื ืืืื:
ืืื ืืืื ืฉืื. ืขื ืื ืืื ืืืืจ. ืืืืจ ืคืืจืฉืชื ืืฉืจ ืชืื ืืคืกืืง ืืขื ื ืืจื:
Rashbam: ืืงืื – ืืื ืขื ืฉื [ืืืื] – ืืคื ืืคืฉื.
ืืงืื ืืื ืขื ืฉื ืืืื, he will arise in the name of his brother (deceased). This is the plain meaning.
Group Two:
Ramban:
ืืืขื ืืืื ืืืืืจ ืืฉืจ ืชืื ืืงืื ืขื ืฉื ืืืื ืืืช ืืื ื ื ืืคืฉืืื ืฉืืงืจืื ืืื ืืจืืฉืื ืืฉื ืืืช ืจืืืื ืื ืฉืืขืื ืืืืื ืฉืืจื ืืืขื ื ืืืจ ืื (ืจืืช ื ื) ืืื ืืืจืช ืฉื ืืืช ืืขื ืืืื ืืืฉืขืจ ืืงืืื ืืื ืงืจืื ืืืชื ืืืืื ืืื ืืืชืื ืืื ืขื ืืจื ืืืืช ืืืืื ืืื ื ืืื ืืคืฉืืื
ืืกืืื ืื ืจืืืชืื ื (ืกืคืจื ืงื ื ืืืืืช ืื) ืืืจืฉ ืฉืืื ืืืื ืืืืื ืืืื ืืฉืืืืืื ืืช ืืื ื ืืชืืืืช ืืื ืืฉืช ืืกืจืืก ืฉืฉืื ืืืื ืืื ืืืื ืืกืืืชื ืื ืืืืืื ืืช ืืืฉืช ืืกืจืืก ืืืืคืื ืืงืจื ื ืคืงื:
Rabbeinu Bachya:
ืืืื ืืืืืจ ืืฉืจ ืชืื ืืงืื ืขื ืฉื ืืืื ืืืช. ืข”ื ืืคืฉื ืืืชืื ืืื ืืื ืืจื ืืงืืื, ืื
ืืืืืจ ืืฉืจ ืชืื ืืฉืช ืืืช ืืงืื ืขื ืฉื ืืืื ืืืช, ืืืื ืื ืฉื ืืืฉ ืฉืืืื ืฉืื ืืฉืื, ืืื ืืงืื ืขื ืฉื ืืืื ืืืช ืื ืคืฉ ืืืืจ ืืืชืื, ืืื ืฉืืืจ ืืื ืืืื ืฉืื ืืืฉืจืื, ืฉืื ืื ืืงืื ืืืื ืฉืื ืืืฉืจืื ืกืื, ืืื ืืืืืจ. ืืื ืฉืคืืจืฉื ืื ืจื”ื, ืืืื ืืืืืจ ืืฉืจ ืชืื, ืืื ืฉื ืืช, ืืื ืืงืื ืื ืืกืื ืขื ืฉื ืืืื ืืืช ืืืืืจ ืฉื ืืืช ืื ืืืชื, ืืื ืื ืคืฉืืื ืฉื ืืงืจื, ืืื ืืื ืืืจืฉ ืืจื”ื ืืืฉื ืืืืืื ืฉืืฆืื ืืืืื ืืืื, ืืืื ืฉืืืืืจ ืืฉืื ืืืืจ.
Tur Haruch also learns like the Ramban.
Group 3:
Sforno:
ืืื ืืืื ืฉืื ืืืฉืจืื. ืฉืืื’ ืืืื ื ืืฉื ืืฆื ื’ ืืชืขืื ืงืืื ืคืจืื ืืจืืื ืืืช ืฉืืจื ื ืืื ืข”ื ืงืืืฉืื ืฉื ืืช ืืืื ืืืื ืฆืจืื ืืงืืฉื ืงืืืฉืื ืืืจืื ืืื ืืืก ืืื ื ืืฉื ืืชื ืืช ืืืื ืืืืืช ืื’ ืขืืื ืงืฆืฃ:
ืืื ืืืื ืฉืื ืืืฉืจืื, in that the child born from this union will be considered by Gโd as if the deceased had fulfilled the commandment to be fruitful. This is easily understood when we consider that this child is the product of a legal marriage entered into by the deceased husband of his mother. The fact that the deceasedโs brother did not have to go through a marriage ceremony with the widow of his brother makes this clear to everyone. This explains why Gโd would be angry at the brother who refuses to marry his sister-in-law, as he thereby deprived his deceased brother forever from fulfilling the mitzvah of being fruitful
Group 4:
Rashi:
ืืืื ืืืืืจ. ืึฐึผืืึนื ืึธืึทืึดืื ืืึผื ืึฐืึทืึตึผื ืืึนืชึธืึผ (ืกืคืจื; ืืืืืช ื”ื):
ืืฉืจ ืชืื. ืคึฐึผืจึธื ืึฐืึทืึฐืืึนื ึดืืช ืฉึถืืึตืื ึธืึผ ืืึนืึถืึถืช:
ืืงืื ืขื ืฉื ืืืื. ืึถื ืฉึถืืึดึผืึตึผื ืึถืช ืึดืฉึฐืืชึผืึน ืึดืึนึผื ื ึทืึฒืึทืช ืึทืึตึผืช ืึฐึผื ึดืึฐืกึตื ืึธืึดืื:
ืืื ืืืื ืฉืื. ืคึฐึผืจึธื ืึฐืึตืฉึถืืช ืกึธืจึดืืก ืฉึถืืฉึฐึผืืืึน ืึธืืึผื (ืืืืืช ื”ื):
Gemara Yevamos 24A:
ืึทืชึฐื ึดืืณ ืึดืฆึฐืึธื ืึทึผืึธึผืืึนื ืึฐืึทืืึตึผื, ืึฐืึดื ืงึธืึทื ืึทืงึธึผืึธื โ ืึธืึธื. ืึฐึผืึธืณ ืชึธึผื ืึผ ืจึทืึธึผื ึทื: ืดืึฐืึธืึธื ืึทืึฐึผืืึนืจืด โ ืึดืืึธึผื ืฉึถืืึดึผืฆึฐืึธื ืึทึผืึธึผืืึนื ืึฐืึทืืึตึผื. ืดืึฒืฉึถืืจ ืชึตึผืึตืืด โ ืคึฐึผืจึธื ืึฐืึทืึฐืืึนื ึดืืช, ืฉึถืืึตืื ืืึนืึถืึถืช. ืดืึธืงืึผื ืขึทื ืฉึตืื ืึธืึดืืืด โ ืึฐื ึทืึฒืึธื. ืึทืชึธึผื ืืึนืึตืจ ืึฐื ึทืึฒืึธื, ืืึน ืึตืื ืึน ืึถืึธึผื ืึฐืฉึตืื: ืืึนืกึตืฃ โ ืงืึนืจึดืื ืืึนืชืึน ืืึนืกึตืฃ, ืืึนืึธื ึธื โ ืงืึนืจึดืื ืืึนืชืึน ืืึนืึธื ึธื. ื ึถืึฑืึทืจ ืึธึผืื ืดืึธืงืึผื ืขึทื ืฉึตืื ืึธืึดืืืด, ืึฐื ึถืึฑืึทืจ ืึฐืึทืึธึผื: ืดืขึทื ืฉึตืื ืึฒืึตืืึถื ืึดืงึธึผืจึฐืืึผ ืึฐึผื ึทืึฒืึธืชึธืืด, ืึธื ืฉึตืื ืึธืึธืืึผืจ ืึฐืึทืึธึผื โ ื ึทืึฒืึธื, ืึทืฃ ืฉึตืื ืึธืึธืืึผืจ ืึธึผืื โ ืึฐื ึทืึฒืึธื. ืดืึฐืึนื ืึดืึธึผืึถื ืฉึฐืืืึนืด โ ืคึฐึผืจึธื ืึฐืกึธืจึดืืก ืฉึถืืฉึฐึผืืืึน ืึธืืึผื. ืึธืึทืจ ืจึธืึธื: ืึทืฃ ืขึทื ืึทึผื ืึดึผืึฐืืื ืึทืชึผืึนืจึธื ืึผืึผืึธึผืึผ ืึตืื ืึดืงึฐืจึธื ืืึนืฆึตื ืึดืืึตื ืคึฐืฉืืึผืืึน โ ืึธืึธื ืึฒืชึทืื ืึฐึผืึตืจึธื ืฉึธืืึธื ืึทืคึตึผืืงึฐืชึตึผืืึผ ืึดืคึฐึผืฉึธืืึตืืึผ ืึดืึฐืึธืจึตื. ืึฐืึดื ืึธืื ืึฐึผืึตืจึธื ืฉึธืืึธื, ืึฒืึธื ืึธืึตืื ึธื ืดืฉึตืืืด โ ืฉึตืื ืึทืึธึผืฉื? ืึฐืึทืื ืงึธืึทืึฐืึทืจ ืจึทืึฒืึธื ึธื? ืึฐืึธืึธื โ ืดืึธืงืึผื ืขึทื ืฉึตืื ืึธืึดืืึธืด ืึดืืึฐึผืขึตื ืึตืืึผ!
Malbim:
[ืงื ื] ืืืื ืืืืืจ ืืฉืจ ืชืื ืืคืกืืง ืืื ืื ืืืืื ื ืืคืฉืื ืฉืืื ืืจืืฉืื ืฉืชืื ืืืืื ืืงืจื ืขื ืฉื ืืืช. ืืืฉื ืื ื ืงืจื ืจืืืื ืืงืจื ืืื ืจืืืื, ืืื ื ืืชืงืื ืขื ืืืขืช ืื ืขื ืื ืืืืื ื ืืืจ ืืื ืขืจ ืืืืจ ืืืืื. ืืฉื ื ืืืจ ืฉืืืจืข ืืืื ืืืืื ืืื ืฉืืงืจื ืืฉืื ืื ืื ืืืืืจ ืฉื ืืืืจ. ืืื ื ืืืจ ืืืชืืืื ืืื ืจืืช ืืฉื ืืืจ ืืืงืื ืฉื ืืืช ืขื ื ืืืชื. ื’ ืฉืื”ื ืฉื ืืืจ ืืืื ืืื ืื ืขื ืืืืจ ืืืืืื ืื ืขื ืืืจ ืืจืืื, ืืืื ืืืื ืื ืชืื ืืื ืืื ืชืื ืืืื ื ืงืื ืืื ืืืื ืื ืืืื ืืืืจ ืื ืืชืื ืฉืืืจ ืืืื. ืืื ืืืื ืืื ืจืง ืืืืืจ ืืื ืืืชืื ืื ืชืื ืื ืืฉืจ ืชืื ืืืืจ ืืงืจื ืข”ืฉ ืืืื, ื’ ืฉืื ืืืกื ืขื ืืื ืื ืืื ืืื ืืืืจ ืืงืื ืขื ืฉื ืืื ืืืื, ืืืฃ ืฉืืฉ ืืืืฉื ืืืืืง ืืืืืชื ืืื’ ืืืฆืืื ืขื ืื”ื ืฉืืืืจื ืืืืื ืฉืืงืจื ืืช ืืื ืืฉื ืืืื, ืืื ืืื ืจืืืง ืฉืืื ืื ื ืืืจ ืืคืกืืง ืื ืืืื ืืื, ืืืื ืืคืืืช ืืื ืืืชืื ืืขื ืฉื ืืืื ืืืช ืืงืื ืืืืืจ ืืฉืจ ืชืื ืฉืืื ืกืืื ืฉื ืืืื ืืืช ืืืืืื, ื’ ืฉืื ืืื ืื ืืื ืืืืจ ืืื ืืืืืจ ืฉื ื ืคืขืืื ืืงืื ืขื ืฉื ืืืื ืืื ืืืื ืฉืื ืืืฉืจืื, ืืืฃ ืฉืื”ื ืืจืฉื ืืื ืคืจื ืืกืจืืก ืฉืฉืื ืืืื ืืืช ืืื ืืจืฉ, ืืื ืืื ืืืชืื ืืฉืจ ืื ืืืื ืฉืืื ื ืชืื ืช ืืขื, ืืืืืืจ ืืื ืืืื ืืฉืืข ืฉืืื ืขื ืื ืืค”ืข, ืืืื ืืืืจื ืืคืจืฉ ืืืืจื ืื”ื, ืืฃ ืฉืืืจื ืืื’ ืฉืื”ื ืืื ืืงืจื ืืืฆื ืืืื ืคืฉืืื, ืจืง ืืื ืืืืื ืขืืงืจ ืืช ืืคืฉื ืืื ืื ืืช ืืคืฉื ืฉืืื ืขื ืืจื ืืืืืื, ืืื, ืื ืขื ืื ืืงืืช ืฉื ืืฆืื ื ืขื ื’ ืืืคื ืื. ื’ ืืงืืช ืฉื ืื ืืื, ืฉืื ืืื ืชืงืจื ืขื ืฉืื ืื”ืฉ ืขื ืฉื ืืืืื ืืงืจืื ืื ืืืชื, ื’ ืืงืืช ืฉื ืข”ื ืืื ืื ืฉืืื ืื ื ืงืจืื ืขื ืฉืื. ืืืืฆืื ื ืืื ืืช ืฆืืคืื ืฉืืืจื ืืื ืืืจืข ืฉื ืืืื ื ืืชืื ืืฉืคืืชื ืฉืืื ืคื’ ืขื ืื ืืื ืฉืื ืืงืจื ืขื ืฉื ืืืืื ืื”ื ืืื ืืชืื ืืื ืืืจืข ืฉื ืืืื ื ืื ืืืชื, ืืื ืืคื’ ืืื ืื, ืืื ื ืืจืข ืื ืื ื ืืฉืจ ืื ื ืฉื ืืืื ื ืืฉืืื ืฉืื ื ืืจืขื, ืืชืื ืืฉืคืืชื ืชื ื ืื ื ืืืืื ืืชืื ืืื ืืืื ื, ืืืืจื ืฉืืฆืื ื ื’ ืขื ืื ื ืืงืืช ืฉื. ืืืืจ ื’ ืคืขืืื ืืคืกืืง ื’ ืืืจื ืขื ืฉื ืืื, ืืืจืขื ืืื ืืื ืืืืื, ืืื ืืื ืืื ืืื ืจืืช, ืืืืืืื ืืื ืืงื ืขื ืฉื ืืืช ืื ืืืชื ืืื ืืื ืืฉืจ ืืืื, ืืื ืฉื ืืืจ ืฉื ืืืื ืงื ืืชื ืืฉืื ืื ืืฉืช ืืืช ืงื ืืช ืืืืคื’ ืจืฉ”ื ืืคื ื ืฉืืฉืช ืืืช ื ืื ืกืช ืืืืฆืืช ืื ืืืช ืืืช ืืชืืืจ ืื ืืื ืข”ืฉ ืืืช, ืืขืชื ื ืื ืืืืจ ืืช ืืืชืืืื, ืื ืืืืฆืช ืืืชืื ืื ืืื, ืืืจื ืฉืืืจ ืืืชืื ืืฆืืช ืืืืื ืืืืจ ืื ื ืืชืืขืืช ืฉืืืฆื ืืื, ืืืืจ ืื ืข”ื ืืืื ืฉืืื ืืขื ืื ืืื ืืืืืจ ืฉืืืจืฉ ืืช ื ืืืชื, ืืข”ื ืืืืื ืฉืจืืืื ืืืืืื ืื ืื ืืืืื ืืืื ืฉื ื ืืงืืืช, ืืงืืช ืฉื ืื ืืื ืฉืื ื ืงืจื ืืงืืช ืฉื ืืืื ืื”ืฉ ืขื ืฉื ืืืืื ืืงืจืื ืื ืืืชื, ืืื ืืงืืช ืฉื ืข”ื ืืจืขื ืฉืืงืจื ืืงืืช ืฉื ืืืฉืจืื. ืฉืข”ื ืืืจ ืงืืื ืืืงืื ืฉื ืืืื ืืืฉืจืื (ืฉืืื ืขื ืื ืจืืื ื ืืข’ ืืจืื”ื ืืจืืื ื ืืืื) ืืื ืืชืคืจืฉ ืืืชืื “ืืืื ืืืืืจ” ืจ”ื ืข”ื ืืืืืจ ืฉืืื ืืืื ืฉืื ื ืืืชื ืืืืจ ืืคื ื ืืื ืืื ืื ืืืืืชื ืืื’, “ืืฉืจ ืชืื” ืจ”ื ืืข”ื ืืฉืจ ืชืื, ืืื ืืืืื, ืืื ื ืืืชื ืืฉื ืืฉืจ ืชืื ืืืืจืืช ืฉืื ืืื ืืืืื ืืช ืืื ื ืืชืืืืช, ืืขืชื ืืืืจ ืืชืืขืืช ืฉืืืื ืข”ื ืืืื ืฉืงืจืื ืืืชืื ืืืืจ “ืืงืื ืขื ืฉื ืืืื ืืืช” ืฉืคื’ ืืงืืช ืฉื ืื ืืื, ืืืชืืขืืช ืฉืืืื ืข”ื ืืืืื “ืืื ืืืื ืฉืื ืืืฉืจืื” ืฉืืื ืืงืืช ืฉื ืืืจืข ืื ”ื:
How do the English translations translate Verse 6:
Artscroll:
โIt shall be that the firstborn son whom she will bear shall stand in the name of his dead [fatherโs] brother, and his name shall not be blotted out from Israel.โ
Rabbi Charles Kahane:
โThe first son that she bears will perpetuate the deceased brotherโs name and estate, so that his name will not be extinct from Israel.โ
(ืจืฉ”ื, ื”ืข.)
Rabbi Kahane explains it as the first son that she bears. After I saw this I believe Artscroll meant the same thing, although confusingly. Rabbi Kahane stated that Rashi is one of his sources. This is not Rashi at all.
Silverstein
And it shall be, the first-born [i.e., the eldest of the brothers] (in an instance) where she can bear [(a woman who cannot bear is excluded from yibum)], he shall be invested in the name of his dead brother [with the latter’s inheritance in his father’s property], and his name shall not be wiped out of Israel. [(This excludes from yibum the wife of a saris (one who is impotent), whose name is already “wiped out.”)
Second Analysis – not sure if this has any value. I wrote this up initially before I spoke to Reb Moshe Solovecihik on August 29, 2023:
This is a very difficult Passuk to translate. The Gemora offers two interpretations, one literal and one using a Gezra Shava. The Gemora in Yevamos 24A clearly explains this verse that the words ืดืึฐืึธืึธื โืึทืึฐึผืืึนืจ means the oldest brother has the priority to perform Yibum and the one who performs Yibam gets the deceased botherโs land. The son born of the union between the Yavam and Yevama has no status at all. It is the Yevam who gets the inheritance.
The literal Pshet according to the Gemora is that the first born (oldest son) is called by the dead brother’s name. What about inheritance? It does not say. It may be that all of the brothers get the inheritance or since the name of the first born is the same as the deceased brother, the kid gets the inheritance.
Rava said that we do not use the plain meaning because we have a Gerrah Shava. Why canโt we use both the plain meaning and the Gezerah Shave meanings? I do not know why.
Using this as a backdrop, Rashi is going like the Gemara. The Ibn Ezra and the Rashbam interprets the Pasuk like the plain meaning, which was rejected by Rava. The Ibn Ezra adds that when it says the first born son will be called by the deceased brotherโs name, this first born son also gets the inheritance.
It seems that Onkelys and Targum Yonasan ben Uziel translate ืดืึฐืึธืึธื ืึทืึฐึผืืึนืจืด as the son, however, at least Targum Yonasan ben Uziel translates ืฉึตืึฅื ืึธืึดึืื as inheritance.
The Ramban offers an interpretation not like the Gemora. The ืฉึตืึฅื ืึธืึดึืื is referring to the eternal soul, the the soul of the dead brother enters the child.
Rashi chooses not to translate the Pasuk in its simple plain meaning. Rabbi Shraga Silerstein and the Gutnick Lubavitch translate like Rashi.
Verse 7:
ืึฐืึดืึพืึนึคื ืึทืึฐืคึนึผืฅึ ืึธืึดึืืฉื ืึธืงึทึืึทืช ืึถืชึพืึฐืึดืึฐืชึผึืึน ืึฐืขึธืึฐืชึธืึฉ ืึฐืึดืึฐืชึผึจืึน ืึทืฉึทึผืึืขึฐืจึธื ืึถืึพืึทืึฐึผืงึตื ึดึืื ืึฐืึธึฝืึฐืจึธืึ ืึตืึตึจื ืึฐืึธืึดึื ืึฐืึธืงึดึจืื ืึฐืึธืึดึฅืื ืฉึตืืึ ืึฐึผืึดืฉึฐืืจึธืึตึื ืึนึฅื ืึธืึธึื ืึทืึฐึผืึดึฝืื
Artscroll:
But if the man will not wish to marry his sister-in-law, then his sister-in-law shall ascend to the gate, to the elders, and she shall say, โMy brother-in-law refuses to establish a name for this brother in Israel, he did not consent to perform levirate marriage with meโ
Rabbi Charles Kahane:
But if the man does not want to marry his brotherโs widow, his sister-in-law will go up to the judges who sit at the gate and say: โMy husbandโs brother refused to perpetuate his brotherโs name in Israel; he will not take his place by marrying me.โ
(ืจืฉ”ื, ืจืื”ื.)
Silverstein:
And if the man does not desire to take his yevamah, then his yevamah shall go up to the gate [of beth-din] to the elders, and she shall say: My yavam does not desire to invest for his brother a name in Israel; he does not desire to have me in yibum.
Verse 8:
ืึฐืงึธึฝืจึฐืืึผึพืึฅืึน ืึดืงึฐื ึตืึพืขึดืืจึืึน ืึฐืึดืึฐึผืจึฃืึผ ืึตืึธึืื ืึฐืขึธืึทึฃื ืึฐืึธืึทึืจ ืึนึฅื ืึธืคึทึืฆึฐืชึดึผื ืึฐืงึทืึฐืชึธึผึฝืึผื
Artscroll:
Then the elders of the city shall summon him and speak to him and he shall stand and say, โI do not wish to marry her.โ
Rabbi Charles Kahane:
The judges of the city will summon him, and counsel him in the right course he should follow. But if he takes a stand and says: โI do not want to marry her,โ
(ืจืฉ”ื, ืกืคืืจื ื.)
Silverstein:
Then the elders of his city shall call to him and they shall speak to him; and he shall stand up and say [in the holy tongue]: I did not desire to take her.
Verse 9:
ืึฐื ึดืึฐึผืฉึธืึจื ืึฐืึดืึฐืชึผึฃืึน ืึตืึธืืึฎ ืึฐืขึตืื ึตึฃื ืึทืึฐึผืงึตื ึดืืึ ืึฐืึธืึฐืฆึธึคื ื ึทืขึฒืืึนึ ืึตืขึทึฃื ืจึทืึฐืึืึน ืึฐืึธืจึฐืงึธึื ืึฐึผืคึธื ึธึืื ืึฐืขึธึฝื ึฐืชึธืึ ืึฐืึธึฃืึฐืจึธึื ืึธึผึืึธื ืึตืขึธืฉึถืึฃื ืึธืึดึืืฉื ืึฒืฉึถืึฅืจ ืึนืึพืึดืึฐื ึถึื ืึถืชึพืึตึผึฅืืช ืึธืึดึฝืืื
Artscroll:
Then his sister-in-law shall approach him before the eyes of the elders; she shall remove his shoe from his foot and spit before hom; she shall speak up and say, โSo is done to the man who will not build up the house of his brother.โ
(ืจืฉ”ื, ืืื ืชื.)
Rabbi Charles Kahane:
his brotherโs wife will approach him in the presence of the elders, pull his shoe from off his foot, as a sign of acquiring the deceased estate from him, spit on the ground in front of his face, and call out and say: โSo must it be done to a man worthy of contempt, for refusing to build up a family which his brother began to form.โ
(ืจืฉ”ื, ืืื ืชื.)
Silverstein:
Then his yevamah shall draw near to him before the eyes of the elders, and she shall remove his shoe from his foot, and she shall spit before his face [on the ground], and she shall answer and say [in the holy tongue]: Thus shall it be done with the man who will not build [(he may not perform yibum at a later date)] the house of his brother.
Verse 10:
ืึฐื ึดืงึฐืจึธึฅื ืฉึฐืืึืึน ืึฐึผืึดืฉึฐืืจึธืึตึื ืึตึผึืืช ืึฒืึฅืึผืฅ ืึทื ึธึผึฝืขึทืื {ืก}
Artscroll:
Then his name shall be proclaimed in Israel,: โThe house of the one whose shoe was removed.โ
Rabbi Charles Kahane:
And his name will be known in Israel as: โThe house of the stripped shoe.โ
(ืจืฉ”ื.)
Silverstein:
And his name shall be called in Israel: “the house (of him) chalutz hana’al” (“whose shoe was removed”). [It is a mitzvah for all who are standing there to say: “chalutz hana’al.”]
ื {ืก}
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