John Gill Commentary Mark 12:21

"and the second took her, and died, leaving no seed behind him; and the third likewise:" — Mark 12:21 (ASV)

The second took her
To wife, married her, as the next eldest brother, by the above law was obliged to: and so the Jewish command is, (lwdgb) , "for the eldest" to marry his brother's wife: if he will not, they go to all the brethren; if they will not, they return to the eldest, and say, the command is upon you, either pluck off the shoe, or marry.

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Maimonides ^F13 relates it in this manner; ``if a man dies, and leaves many brethren, the command is upon the eldest to marry, or pull off the shoe; as it is said, (Deuteronomy 25:6) , "and it shall be the firstborn which she bears". From tradition, it is learned that it does not speak but of the firstborn among the brethren; and it is all one as if it was said, the eldest of the brethren shall succeed in the name of his brother that is dead; and this is what is said, "which she bears": the sense is, which the mother has borne, and not which the brother's wife bears.

If the eldest will not marry her, they go round to all the brethren; and if they will not, they return to the eldest, and say, upon you is the command, either pluck off the shoe, or marry; and they do not compel him to marry, but they compel him to pluck off the shoe;'' i.e. in case he will not marry.

And died, neither left he any, seed, and the third likewise ;
married her, and died without issue, as the second did. The Persic version adds, "and the fourth, and fifth"; for so they all did to the seventh.

FOOTNOTES:

• F13: Hilch. Yebum Uchalitza, c. 2, sect. 6, 7. Vid. Jarchium in Deut. xxv. 6.