Tanach · Rishonim on Tanach · Ibn Ezra · Torah
Ibn Ezra on Genesis 38:8/אבן עזרא על בראשית ל״ח:ח׳
אויבם אותה. טעמו אחר שאתה יבמה הראה היבום, וזהו בא אל אשת אחיך, ובפרשת כי ישבו אחים יחדו (דבר' כה ה) אאריך מעט אם ד' יאריך ימי עד הגיעי שם:
1AND PERFORM THE DUTY OF A HUSBAND’S BROTHER UNTO HER. This means, since you are her husband’s brother, show yourself to be a husband’s brother15 (and perform the duty of a husband’s brother). A brother-in-law is called a yavam. Yabbem is its verbal form. It does not make sense to translate ve-yabbem, and be a husband’s brother, when in fact he is a husband’s brother. Thus ve-yabbem has to be rendered, show yourself to be a husband’s brother (Filwarg). by going unto thy brother’s wife. I will expound a little on levirate marriage when I come to the portion, If brethren dwell together (Deut. 25:5), if God prolongs my life till then.