Hittite and Hebrew Levirate Marriage

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.