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The commandment of yibum that we have been discussing throughout Massekhet Yevamot is carried out by an act of sexual relations between the brother (the yavam) and the widow (the yevama). According to the Torah, there is no need to first offer a ring or a marriage contract, as in a regular wedding, since this is effectively a continuation of the first brother’s marriage. Nevertheless, if one of the surviving brothers offers a betrothal ring to the widow – an act referred to in the Mishna as ma’amar – at least on a Rabbinic level, the yibum process is considered to have begun.
The Mishna on our daf offers a scenario in which there are three brothers, two of whom are married to sisters, while the third one is single. One of the married brothers dies, and the brother who is single offers ma’amar to the widow. Then the second married brother dies, as well.
We explore the levirate marriage of Ruth in our tradition and from the scholarly perspectives.