Preserving the Family Line

⁵ “When brothers live on the same property^[a] and one of them dies without a son, the wife of the dead man may not marry a stranger outside the family. Her brother-in-law is to take her as his wife, have sexual relations with her, and perform the duty of a brother-in-law for her.

⁷ But if the man doesn’t want to marry his sister-in-law, she is to go to the elders at the city gate^(A) and say, ‘My brother-in-law refuses to preserve his brother’s name in Israel. He isn’t willing to perform the duty of a brother-in-law for me.’

Gideon’s Legacy

²² Then the Israelites said to Gideon, “Rule over us,^(A) you as well as your sons and your grandsons, for you delivered us from the power of Midian.”

²³ But Gideon said to them, “I will not rule over you, and my son will not rule over you; the Lord will rule over you.” ²⁴ Then he said to them, “Let me make a request of you: Everyone give me an earring from his plunder.” Now the enemy had gold earrings because they were Ishmaelites.

²⁴ “Teacher, Moses said, if a man dies, having no children, his brother is to marry his wife and raise up offspring for his brother.^[a](A)