“Now there were
Seven brothers.
The first one married.
And died childless.”
ἑπτὰ οὖν ἀδελφοὶ ἦσαν· καὶ ὁ πρῶτος λαβὼν γυναῖκα ἀπέθανεν ἄτεκνος·
Luke indicated that the Sadducees said that there were 7 brothers (ἑπτὰ οὖν ἀδελφοὶ ἦσαν·). The first one married or took a wife (καὶ ὁ πρῶτος λαβὼν γυναῖκα), but died childless (ἀπέθανεν ἄτεκνος). This story about the woman and 7 brothers can be found in Matthew, chapter 22:25, and in Mark, chapter 12:20, almost word for word. This story was fairly well known. Mark said that there were 7 brothers (ἑπτὰ ἀδελφοὶ ἦσαν). The first one married or took a wife (καὶ ὁ πρῶτος ἔλαβεν γυναῖκα). Then he died (καὶ ἀποθνῄσκων). He was childless, since he had no seed descendants or offspring (οὐκ ἀφῆκεν σπέρμα). Matthew said that the first one married (καὶ ὁ πρῶτος γήμας). Then he died (ἐτελεύτησεν). He was childless since he had no descendants or offspring (καὶ μὴ ἔχων σπέρμα). Thus, he left his widowed wife to his brother (ἀφῆκεν τὴν γυναῖκα αὐτοῦ τῷ ἀδελφῷ αὐτοῦ). You can see where this story is going. Do you know anyone who married his or her dead brother’s or sister’s widow or widower?
Eugene Finnegan Bible Project 