Právněhistorické studie / Legal History Studies (Charles University journal; below referred to as PHS or Journal) is a scientific journal listed in the international prestigious database SCOPUS. The journal is published by Charles University in Prague under the guarantee of the Department of Legal History of the Faculty of Law of Charles University. It is published by the Karolinum Press. The journal focuses on the field of legal history and related topics.
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PRÁVNĚHISTORICKÉ STUDIE, Vol 55 No 2 (2025), 23–38
Hittite and Hebrew Levirate Marriage
Michaela Knollová
DOI: https://doi.org/10.14712/2464689X.2025.17
published online: 08. 09. 2025
abstract
This article deals with levirate marriage, i.e. the legal obligation of the widow to marry her brother-in-law, an institute well-known from the Jewish law. However, the article does not concentrate on contemporary levirate, but rather its oldest regulation in Hebrew law, whereas the aim is also finding its source of inspiration. In the article, the author points out the similarities between the family law of the Hebrews and the Hittites, clearly apparent also in the case of levirate marriage regulation. Except of the description of the respective institute in Hittite and Hebrew societies, the author also reflects on importance of levirate marriage for the ancient society and its legal consequences.
keywords: levirate marriage; Hittites; Hebrews; law; marriage; family; widow; inheritance
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