Two [men] who betrothed two sisters, and neither one knows which one he has betrothed, each of them gives two divorces. [If] they died [and] each left a brother, each performs chalitzah with both.  [If] one left one [brother] and the other left two [brothers], the single [brother] performs chalitzah with both; and [of] the two, one performs cha- litzah, and the other [may then] perform yibum. [However, if] they went ahead and married [them], we do not force them to divorce.  [If] each left two [brothers], a brother of one performs chalitzah with one [of the sisters] and a brother of the other performs chalitzah with the other [sister]; [then] the two remaining brothers [may] each perform yibum with the [widow] who received chalitzah from the other's brother. [If] both went ahead and performed chalitzah, the other two may not [both] perform yibum, but one must perform chalitzah, and the other [may then] perform yibum. [However, if] they went ahead and married [them], we do not force them to divorce.

The commandment is for the eldest to perform yibum; but if the youngest anticipated [him], he gains [it].  One who is suspected in connection with a slavewoman, and she was [then] freed, or in connection with a non-Jewish woman, and she [then] converted —- may not marry [her]; but if he did marry [her], we do not force him to divorce [her].  One who is suspected in connection with another man's wife and they compelled him to divorce her, even if he married [her], he must divorce [her].

One who brings a bill of divorce from overseas and says, “It was written before me and signed before me,” may not marry the wife. [If he declares,] “He died,” “I killed him,” “we killed him,” he may not marry the wife. R' Yehudah says: [If he declares,] “I killed him,” his wife may not marry; “We killed him,” his wife may marry.

A sage who prohibited a woman to her husband because of a vow may not marry her. [However, if] she refused or performed chalitzah before him, he may marry her, since he is [in] a court. [If] any of these had wives who [later] died, they are permitted to marry them. And if any of these married others and were [then] divorced or widowed, they are permitted to marry them. All of these are permitted to their sons or their brothers.

[If there were] four brothers, [and] two of them were married to two sisters, and those married to the sisters died —- they require chalitzah but may not be taken in yibum; if they went ahead and married [them], they must divorce [them]. R' Eliezer says: Beis Shammai say they may keep [them], but Beis Hillel say they must divorce [them].

[If] one of them was forbidden to one [of the brothers] by the ervah prohibition, he is forbidden to her but permitted to her sister, while the second [brother] is forbidden to both. [If it was] a prohibition by commandment or because of sanctity, she requires chalitzah, but may not be taken in yibum.

[If] one of them was forbidden to one [brother] by the ervah prohibition, and the second one was forbidden to the other [brother] by the ervah prohibition —- the one forbidden to this [brother] is permitted to the other [brother], while the one forbidden to that [brother] is permitted to this [brother]. This is what was meant by the statement: [If] her sister is her [fellow] yevamah she may either perform chalitzah or be taken in yibum.

[If there were] three brothers, [and] two of them were married to two sisters, or [to] a woman and her daughter, or daughter's daughter, or son's daughter -— they require chalitzah but may not be taken in yibum. R' Shimon, however, releases [them]. [If] one of them was forbidden to him by the ervah prohibition, he is forbidden to her but permitted to her sister. [If it was] a prohibition by commandment or because of sanctity, she requires chalitzah but may not be taken in yibum.

[If there were] three brothers, [and] two of them were married to two sisters, while one was unmarried; [if] the husband of one of the sisters died, and the unmarried one performed maamar with her, and then his second brother died —- Beis Shammai say: His wife [remains] with him, while the other is discharged as his wife's sister; but Beis Hillel say: He must send away his wife with [both] a divorce and chalitzah, and his brother's wife with chalitzah. About this it was said, “Woe unto him concerning his wife, and woe unto him concerning his brother's wife.”

[If there were] three brothers, [and] two of them were married to two sisters, while one was married to a stranger; [if] the husband of one of the sisters died, and the one married to the stranger married his wife and [then] died —- the first one is discharged as [his] wife's sister, and the second as her co-wife. [If] he performed maamar with her and then died —- the stranger requires chalitzah but may not be taken in yibum.  [If there were] three brothers, [and] two of them were married to two sisters, while one was married to a stranger; [if] the one married to the stranger died, and the husband of one of the sisters married his wife and [then] died —- the first one is discharged as [his] wife's sister, and the second as her co-wife. [If] he performed maamar with her and then died —- the stranger requires chalitzah, but may not be taken in yibum.

. [If there were] three brothers, [and] two of them were married to two sisters, while one was married to a stranger; [if] the husband of one of the sisters died, and the one married to the stranger married his wife, and the wife of the second one [then] died, and then the one married to the stranger died —- she is forbidden to him forever, since she was once forbidden to him.  [If there were] three brothers, [and] two of them were married to two sisters, while one was married to a stranger; [if] the husband of one of the sisters divorced his wife, and [then] the one [who was] married to the stranger died, and the divorced [brother] married her and [then] died —- about this it was said: If any of them died or were divorced, their co-wives are permitted.

. If any of them had been the subject of a questionable betrothal or divorce, the co-wives require chalitzah but may not be taken in yibum. How is it that the betrothal was in question? [If] he threw the betrothal to her, and there is a doubt as to whether it was closer to him or closer to her —- this is a questionable betrothal. [How is it that] the divorce was in question? [If] he wrote [a bill of divorce] in his own hand but without witnesses, or with witnesses but without a date, or with a date but with only one witness —- this is a questionable divorce.

[If] three brothers were married to three strangers and one of them died, and [then] the second performed maamar with her and [also] died —- they require chalitzah, but may not be taken in yibum, as it is stated (Deut. 25:5): “. . . and one of them dies . . . her husband's brother shall come to her” —- [only a widow] who is attached by one brother's bond [is subject to yibum], not [a widow] who is attached by two brothers' bonds. R' Shimon says: He may perform yibum with whichever one he wishes, but he must [then] perform chalitzah with the other.  [If] two brothers were married to two sisters, and one of them died, and then the second one's wife died —- she is forbidden to him forever, because she was once forbidden to him.