And if he persists and says, ‘I do not desire to take her,’ then his brother’s wife shall come to him in the sight of the elders, and pull his sandal off his foot and spit in his face and she shall declare, ‘Thus it is done to the man who does not build up his brother’s house.’ In Israel his name shall be called, ‘The house of him whose sandal is removed.’ Then the elders of his city shall summon him and speak to him. But if the man does not desire to take his brother’s wife, then his brother’s wife shall go up to the gate to the elders and say, ‘My husband’s brother refuses to establish a name for his brother in Israel he is not willing to perform the duty of a husband’s brother to me.’ read more.

It shall be that the firstborn whom she bears shall assume the name of his dead brother, so that his name will not be blotted out from Israel. Her husband’s brother shall go in to her and take her to himself as wife and perform the duty of a husband’s brother to her. “When brothers live together and one of them dies and has no son, the wife of the deceased shall not be married outside the family to a strange man. If any woman who is a believer has dependent widows, she must assist them and the church must not be burdened, so that it may assist those who are widows indeed. Therefore, I want younger widows to get married, bear children, keep house, and give the enemy no occasion for reproach for some have already turned aside to follow Satan. At the same time they also learn to be idle, as they go around from house to house and not merely idle, but also gossips and busybodies, talking about things not proper to mention. But refuse to put younger widows on the list, for when they feel sensual desires in disregard of Christ, they want to get married, thus incurring condemnation, because they have set aside their previous pledge. A widow is to be put on the list only if she is not less than sixty years old, having been the wife of one man, having a reputation for good works and if she has brought up children, if she has shown hospitality to strangers, if she has washed the saints’ feet, if she has assisted those in distress, and if she has devoted herself to every good work. But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Prescribe these things as well, so that they may be above reproach. But she who gives herself to wanton pleasure is dead even while she lives. Now she who is a widow indeed and who has been left alone, has fixed her hope on God and continues in entreaties and prayers night and day.

But if any widow has children or grandchildren, they must first learn to practice piety in regard to their own family and to make some return to their parents for this is acceptable in the sight of God.

Take care of the widows and orphans