The Duty of a Deceased Man’s Brother |
Deuteronomy 25:1-19 Deuteronomy the Fifth Book of Moses |
If there [is] a controversy between men & they come to [court,] [so] the judges may judge them, then [the judges shall] justify the righteous & condemn the wicked. |
If the wicked man [is] worthy [of a beating,] the judge shall [have him lay] down & he will be beaten, a certain number [of times, in front of the judge,] according to his [crime.] |
He may not exceed 40 stripes. If he [beats] him [with more stripes than this,] then his [Israelite brother] will seem [repulsive] to you. You shall not [put a muzzle on] the ox when he [tramples down] the corn. |
If [brothers] live together & 1 [dies without a] child, [his widow] shall not marry [outside the family] to a stranger. Her husband’s brother [shall be intimate] with her & take her [for his] wife & perform the duty of a [deceased] husband’s brother to her. |
It shall be, that the firstborn she bears shall [carry the name of the deceased brother, so] his name [isn’t] put out of Israel. If the [the brother of the deceased man, doesn’t want] to take his brother’s wife, go to the gate of the elders & say, |
My husband’s brother refuses to raise up to his [dead] brother a name [for him] in Israel & won’t perform the duty of my husband’s brother. Then, the elders of his city shall call him & [say] to him & if he [stands firm in not taking] her & [says,] I [don’t want] to take her; |
then his brother’s [widow] shall come to him in the presence of the elders & [loosen] his shoe from off his foot & spit in his face & shall say, So it shall be done to [the] man [who won’t] build up his [deceased] brother’s house. In Israel, his name shall be called, The house of him [who had] his shoe [loosened.] |
When men are fighting with [each other] & the wife [comes] near to deliver her husband [from the man who hits] him & takes [him by his private parts] with her hand, then her hand shall [be] cut off & you shall not pity her. |
You shall not have a bag with [dishonest weights,] some [heavier] & some [lighter.] But you shall have a perfect & [fair] weight & a perfect & [fair] measure, [so] your days are lengthened, in the land the Lord your God gives [to] you. For all [who have dishonest weights] are an [detestable] to the Lord your God. |
Remember what Amalek did to you by the [road,] when you [came out] of Egypt. How he met you by the [road] & [attacked even all who] were feeble, faint & [tired who straggled behind.] He [didn’t] fear [respect] God. |
It shall be, when the Lord your God has given you rest from all your enemies [around your] land, which the Lord your God gives you as an inheritance to possess it, you shall blot out the remembrance of Amalek from under heaven. You shall not forget it. |