Midrash · Halachah
Sifrei Devarim 196/ספרי דברים קצ״ו
א(דברים כ ז) וּמִי הָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר אֵרַשׂ אִשָּׁה, אֶחָד הַמְאָרֵס אֶת הַבְּתוּלָה וְאֶחָד הַמְאָרֵס אֶת הָאַלְמָנָה, וַאֲפִלּוּ שׁוֹמֶרֶת יָבָם, וַאֲפִלּוּ שָׁמַע שֶׁמֵּת אָחִיו בַּמִּלְחָמָה חוֹזֵר וּבָא לוֹ.
1Pisqa’ 1963171. “Who is the man who has betrothed a woman” (Dt. 20:7)—the same ruling applies toone who betroths a young lady,318, literally, “a virgin.”and one who betroths a widow,or [a woman] awaiting the levir’s319; “brother-in-law.” In particular, a man designated to marry the wife of his deceased, childless brother, or to release her from this marriage by a rite of “loosening the shoe” (khalitzah; Dt. 25:5-11 and Pisqa’ot 188-291.) While awaiting the yavam’s decision to marry or to release her, the woman occupies the status of shomeret yevam (“awaiting the levir”). decision[to either marry or release her],or even if the levir heardthat his childless brotherwas killed in battle[thus releasing the wife from her obligation to the levir]—all these may return [from war].320 193.1.
בוְלֹא לְקָחָהּ – בְּאִשָּׁה הָרְאוּיָה לוֹ; פְּרָט לְמַחֲזִיר גְּרוּשָׁתוֹ, וְאַלְמָנָה לְכֹהֵן גָּדוֹל, גְּרוּשָׁה וַחֲלוּצָה לְכֹהֵן הֶדְיוֹט, מַמְזֶרֶת וּנְתִינָה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל וּבַת יִשְׂרָאֵל לְנָתִין וּלְמַמְזֵר.
2“But he hasn’t yet taken her” (Dt. 20:7)—the exemption applies only toone marrying a suitable woman.This excludes the following prohibited marriages:one who remarries his [divorced] wife;or a widow marrying a High Priest;or a divorcee, or a wife—released by the levir321; “the released one.”—who marries a common Priest.Or a woman of impaired lineage,322, “a woman born of parents whose marriage is forbidden,” e.g., of close relatives. The male correlate is mamzer. Mamzerim (plural) may marry other mamzerim, as well as netinim, but are prohibited from marrying Israelites of unimpaired lineage.or a descendant of outcastes,323 literally, “one predisposed [to servitude].” The term is used as a title for descendents of the people of Gibeon who, according to Josh. 9:17-27, were condemned to serve other Israelites in perpetuity as “drawers of water and hewers of wood.”who marries into Israel;or an Israelite daughterwho marries a man of impaired lineageor a descendant of outcastes.
גיֵלֵךְ וְיָשֹׁב לְבֵיתוֹ – יֵלֵךְ וְיִשְׁמַע דִּבְרֵי כֹהֵן מֵעֶרְכֵי מִלְחָמָה וְיַחֲזֹר.
3“He shall go and return to his home” (Dt. 20:7)—that is, he shall go and heedthe instructions of the Warrior Priest to return324