[This division deals with betrothals, marriage, divorce, and the like.  One treatise discusses vows.]

1.  TREATISE ON WIDOWS UNDER AN OBLIGATION TO UNDERGO THE LEVIRITE MARRIAGE (Yebamot). No.  I in order (18).

M.  A childless widow is under an obligation to marry the eldest unmarried brother of her deceased husband.  If that brother-in-law refuses to marry her, she is allowed in the presence of the nation’s leaders to loose his shoe from his foot, to spit in his face, and to say to him, “Thus shall be done to the man who will not build up his brother’s house.” (see Deut. xxii, 9).

The following classes of women are released from the necessity of marrying any brother-in-law:  1.  The illegitimate daughter of the brother. 2.  Her daughter. 3.  The daughter of his illegitimate son. 4.  His wife’s daughter. 5.  Her son’s daughter. 6.  Her daughter’s daughter. 7.  His mother-in-law. 8.  The mother of his mother-in-law. 9.  The mother of his father-in-law, and so forth.

2.  TREATISE ON VOWS (Nedarim).  No. 3 in order.

The Scriptures Given as a Punishment for Men’s Sin.

G. If the Israelites had not been guilty of sin they would never have required more Scripture than the Pentateuch and the Book of Joshua.  The last is indispensable as it records the way in which the land was divided among the Israelites.  The other Scriptures (the Prophets and the Writing) because in much wisdom there is grief. (Eccles. i, 18).

3.  TREATISE ON BETROTHALS (Qidushin).  No. 7 in order.

The Families Who went up from Babylon to Jerusalem.

M. Ten kinds of families left Babylon for Palestine after the edict of Cyrus went forth in B.C. 538 permitting the nation to return.  These were as follows:  1.  Priests. 2.  Levites. 3.  Israelites. 4.  Degraded Priests (lit. profaned ones). 5.  Proselytes (19). 6.  Freedmen. 7.  Bastards. 8.  Netinim. 9.  Those of unknown lineage. 10.  Foundlings.  The three first are allowed to intermarry:  the last six may also intermarry.  All those whose mother is known but not their father are said to be of unknown lineage.  A foundling is one picked up in the streets whose parents are both unknown.

The Evil of Idolatry.

G.  The worship of idols is so grave a sin that he who renounces or disavows it does as much as if he confessed his belief in the whole law.

Sons More Desirable than Daughters.

G.  The world cannot exist without males and females, yet blessed is he whose children are boys, and unlucky he whose children are girls.  Cf.  Baba Bathra, p. 113, col.  I:—­“Whoever does not leave a son to be heir, God will heap wrath upon him.”

IV.—­CONCERNING PENALTIES (NEZIKIN)

[In this division the principal part of the civil and criminal court of the Hebrews is included.  See especially the treatise “Sanhedrin.”]