God/Biblical delima -- my brother died, his wife my responsibility?

Question

Please understand, my brother died just a year ago by accident. He was married and devorced once. His X, remarraied later. They had two terrific children together, my precious nephew and neice. These young people are now late teens (my bros kids).
Though she divorced my brother and her second husband, I remained friends with all throughout.
Here's my problem -- somewhere in the old testament it is stated that the wife of a fallen brother becomes the automatic responsibility of a decending order of brother if (single) available....
This is blood-line I assume....
I don't know where exactly this verse is, but I know it to be valid.
Some may say that as a Christian the laws of the old text do not apply....hummm, happploowee.... I still observe the living word pre-universe & as we now it now....
Sorry, okay, to keep it short here is my question -->
I never married no/kids, she (my brothers x-wife)was divorced from second marriage well before the time of of my bros death.
...

ouch! thanks guys, but I acutally want OUT of it!. I care about my brothers kids, but I will never marry their mother....I have something 'weighing' on me and wondered if I wasn't doing as god expected according the the OT.....thanks

Answer 1

If you're Jewish it may be worth considering. The OT was written for them.

Answer 2

Putting if single in parathesis already shows that you do not observe the old testament as polygamy was widely accepted and having more than one wife was expected. Consider the cultural context of such a verse. It was a world in which women were not and could not be self relient human beings, but were property that had to be looked after. It also has to do with the patriachial traditions of such people being that a woman becomes part of the males family and is then that families responsibility. Many of the verses pertaining to women have to do with what is right in a patriachial society not in a society that women and men have near equal rights. Why not ask her?

Answer 3

Henry VIII was in a similar predicament in regards to marrying Catherine of Aragon.

He used this reasoning from the Bible to get a Papal dispensation to marry her:
Deut. 25:5 commands: "When brothers reside together, and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the deceased shall not be married outside the family to a stranger. Her husband's brother shall go in to her, taking her in marriage, and performing the duty of a husband's brother to her,

And when he fell in love with Anne Boleyn, used these verses in an attempt to justify divorcing Catherine:
Leviticus, 18:6 commands: "None of you shall approach anyone near of kin to uncover nakedness: I am the Lord."

Leviticus, 18:18 commands: "Thou shalt not uncover the nakedness of thy brother’s wife: it is thy brother’s nakedness"

So, you have support from the Bible either way...

Answer 4

As a practical concept, understand that your brothers ex may not (probably does not) subscribe to the bible like you. You would most likely get laughed out of the room for bringing this up in her presence.

Answer 5

Times have changed from the old testament. I don't think you have any responsibility to your brother's wife in this time.

Answer 6

the law include when " the wife of your brother was his wife when he died " not any other way ok i will pray for you to find that out

Answer 7

No obligations. But seems you are asking to find an excuse to propose to her. If fond of her and the children, ask her to marry you, but not for any other reason.

Answer 8

something to do with not inviting a stranger to be raising the children...however, in this case...if the children are not too young...Im not sure its necessary unless you love her that way.

Answer 9

No. You are not responsible for her!