Mitzvah —
130
The widow must not remarry until the ties with her brother-in-law are removed
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כִּֽי־יֵשְׁב֨וּ אַחִ֜ים יַחְדָּ֗ו וּמֵ֨ת אַחַ֤ד מֵהֶם֙ וּבֵ֣ן אֵֽין־ל֔וֹ לֹֽא־תִהְיֶ֧ה אֵֽשֶׁת־הַמֵּ֛ת הַח֖וּצָה לְאִ֣ישׁ זָ֑ר יְבָמָהּ֙ יָבֹ֣א עָלֶ֔יהָ וּלְקָחָ֥הּ ל֛וֹ לְאִשָּׁ֖ה וְיִבְּמָֽהּ׃ - פָּרָשַׁת כִּי־תֵצֵא
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Deuteronomy 25:5 - "If brothers reside together, and one of them dies having no son, the dead man's wife shall not marry an outsider. [Rather,] her husband's brother shall be intimate with her, making her a wife for himself, thus performing the obligation of a husband's brother with her."
This Mitzvah's Summary
מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Family – מִשְׁפָּחָה
A childless widow may not marry another man until released from yibbum through chalitzah.
This mitzvah forbids a childless widow from remarrying outside the family until the bond of yibbum is resolved. Either the surviving brother must marry her (yibbum) or release her through chalitzah. This ensures respect for the deceased brother’s legacy and prevents the widow from entering another marriage while bound by Torah law. Only once chalitzah is performed does she become free to marry whomever she chooses.
Commentary & Classical Explanation:
- Rambam (Hilchot Yibbum v’Chalitzah 1:2): Rules that a widow bound by yibbum is prohibited from marrying another man until chalitzah is performed.
- Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 600): The root is to honor the continuity of the deceased brother’s household and to preserve family sanctity.
- Talmud (Yevamot 3a): Establishes that a widow awaiting yibbum is considered a zekukah (bound woman) and cannot marry until released.
Commentaries
(Source: Chabad.org)
