OCTADE
@octade@soc.octade.net
This was done to ensure that the woman and her children would not be destitute or left without good inheritance. The commandment for a 'brother' to take his dead brother's wife does not necessarily mean a fraternal brother from the same parents--any brother in the tribe, or a kinsman, is what is meant there. The words, 'brother', 'sister' and such were more flexible anciently, and that flexibility still exists when using English slang, such as, 'hey my brother' or 'you go sister' ...