daf bit: Ketuvot 82

[cellio]

If a man divorces his wife he is required to pay her ketubah. In order to ensure that he can, the rabbis require him to set aside property to cover this possible debt. Today's daf discusses the case of levirate marriage: if a man dies before his wife has had a child, the torah calls for his brother to marry her to continue the family line. When that happens, the rabbis ask, who owes her ketubah -- the new husband, or the first husband's estate? The rabbis say the first husband's estate, because the second husband did not choose to marry her ("heaven provided his wife"), but if she is unable to collect, the second husband is liable, to make it hard for him to divorce her. (82b)

(Yes, they can get out of this marriage. I wonder how much levirate marriage ever happened, or happens.)

Comments

[caryabend.livejournal.com]

I wonder how much levirate marriage ever happened, or happens.

If you watch soap operas, it must happen all the time: The wife murders her husband to marry the more attractive brother.

And consider: There wouldn't be halacha about it, if it didn't happen enough to require halacha. [Insert your own definition of enough.]