⁷ However, if a man does not want to marry his brother’s wife,^(A) she shall go to the elders at the town gate^(B) and say, “My husband’s brother refuses to carry on his brother’s name in Israel. He will not fulfill the duty of a brother-in-law to me.”^(C)

² He would get up early and stand by the side of the road leading to the city gate.^(A) Whenever anyone came with a complaint to be placed before the king for a decision, Absalom would call out to him, “What town are you from?” He would answer, “Your servant is from one of the tribes of Israel.”

⁶ He appointed military officers over the people and assembled them before him in the square at the city gate and encouraged them with these words: