Mark 12:21

21 And the second took her, and he died; nor did he leave any offspring. And the third likewise.

Mark 12:21 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 12:21

The second took her
To wife, married her, as the next eldest brother, by the above law was obliged to: and so the Jewish

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FOOTNOTES:

F12 canon upon it runs thus;

``the command is, (lwdgb) , "for the eldest" to marry his brother's wife: if he will not, they go to all the brethren; if they will not, they return to the eldest, and say, the command is upon thee, either pluck off the shoe, or marry.''

Maimonides ^F13 relates it in this manner;

``if a man dies, and leaves many brethren, the command is upon the eldest to marry, or pull off the shoe; as it is said, ( Deuteronomy 25:6 ) , "and it shall be the firstborn which she beareth". From tradition, it is learned that it does not speak but of the firstborn among the brethren; and it is all one as if it was said, the eldest of the brethren shall succeed in the name of his brother that is dead; and this is what is said, "which she beareth": the sense is, which the mother has borne, and not which the brother's wife beareth; if the eldest will not marry her, they go round to all the brethren; and if they will not, they return to the eldest, and say, upon thee is the command, either pluck off the shoe, or marry; and they do not compel him to marry, but they compel him to pluck off the shoe;''

i.e. in case he will not marry.

And died, neither left he any, seed, and the third likewise;
married her, and died without issue, as the second did. The Persic version adds, "and the fourth, and fifth"; for so they all did to the seventh.

F12 Misn. Yebamot, c. 4. sect. 5. & T. Bab. Yebamot, fol. 39. 1.
F13 Hilch. Yebum Uchalitza, c. 2, sect. 6, 7. Vid. Jarchium in Deut. xxv. 6.

Mark 12:21 In-Context

19 "Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man's brother dies, and leaves his wife behind, and leaves no children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.

20 Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife; and dying, he left no offspring.

21 And the second took her, and he died; nor did he leave any offspring. And the third likewise.

22 So the seven had her and left no offspring. Last of all the woman died also.

23 Therefore, in the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? For all seven had her as wife."