Levirate Marriage and the Family in Ancient Judaism

[ 43 ]

Index

Polyandry, 66
Polygamy, 66
Polygyny: and continuity strategy,
36, 184; defining, 66; and levirate
practice, 6, 22, 35–36, 67; rabbinic
perspective, 52, 66–67, 187, 195,
228n47; in Sasanian Babylonia,
187; theory vs. practice, 67. See also
Co-wives situation
Posthumous heirs, levirate as
method to provide, 10–18. See also
Strategies of continuity
Potash, Betty, 10–11
Pregnancy of yevama, consequences
for levirate, 40
Priests, 49, 223n35
Primary and secondary relationships,
defining, 56, 75, 85–89
Procreation: biblical perspective,
189–92; direct vs. by proxy, 193;
possibility of as criterion for
levirate, 138; rabbinic perspective,
xvi, 169, 190–92; in Roman
societal rules, 229n66, 70. See also
Children; Paternity
Property: joint fraternal ownership of,
101; levirate as method to protect,
36; post-halitza disposition of,
111–12, 162; widow’s right to
control, 42, 124, 132–33, 141–48;
women as, 7, 15–16, 126, 140,
229n65; women’s lack of right to,

11. See also Inheritance; Marriage
    settlement

Quale, G. Robina, 3, 18–19

Rabbah, 104, 145, 146
Rabbinic court: and halitza ritual,
136–37, 225n87; levirate decision
role of, 41, 43–44, 127, 151–61, 166,
199, 201, 230n18; protection of
yevama from unwanted levirate
unions, 154–61, 164; sexual
activity control, 140, 202
Rabbinic literature: avoidance of
sh’eir, 51; biblical influence on,
43–44; vs. biblical perspective
on levirate, 41, 42, 43, 168; and
childlessness criterion for levirate,
43, 60, 169–70; chronology

difficulties, x xi; control over

societal structure and behavior,

202–3; on descent system, 70–71;

displacement of deceased brother/

husband, 98, 111, 118–19, 166, 168,

176, 189, 194, 199, 205; on family

definition, xvi–xvii, x xiv–x xv, 44,

51–52, 95, 128, 161–62, 195–97,

204; on fraternal relationships,

101–13; genealogical concerns,

202–3, 230n20; on halitza, x xii,

40, 42, 99, 116–19, 127, 133,

136–37, 154–61, 188–89, 225n87;

household definition, 51; on

importance of Torah study, 203–4;

on inheritance, x xiv–x xv, 4, 101,

201–2; kinship structures and

terminology, 54–58, 93–96; on

levir, 127–28, 135, 154–61, 198–99;

levirate in, 23–24, 39–43, 139,

187, 199; on marriage, x xv, 52,

66–69, 116, 119–20, 187, 195, 207n1,

228n47, 230n18; mishpaha in,

49–50; on mourning laws, 73–76;

on procreation, xvi, 169, 190–92;

protection of yevama, 127, 137–38,

199–200, 222n13; on social status

of yevama, 120, 140–41; strategies

of continuity, 167–69, 184–89; on

testimony laws, 76–79. See also

Mishnah; Talmud, Babylonian;

Talmud, Palestinian; Tosefta

Rami bar Hama, 114

Rashi, 162

Rav, 74, 78–79, 104, 113–14, 175, 179

Rava, 90, 91, 111, 146, 147, 150

Real vs. ideal family, xix, x xi, 202, 229n1

Referential terms for kinship

members, 53–54, 219n118

Release from levirate obligation. See

Halitza

Religious obligation vs. family duty,

levirate as, 99

Remarriage: almana vs. yevama’s right

to, 123; cross-cultural analysis,

9–14, 17, 19; as disrespectful to

deceased husband, 9, 10, 144,

171; and family redefinition, 47;

Jew ish acceptance of, 19; waiting

period before, 128, 130 –33,

140–41, 177