Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and, having no issue, left his wife unto his brother:

Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first married and deceased, and having no seed left his wife unto his brother;

Now there were with us seven brethren: and the first having married a wife, died; and not having issue, left his wife to his brother.

'And there were with us seven brothers, and the first having married did die, and not having seed, he left his wife to his brother;

Now we had among us seven brothers. The eldest of them married, but died childless, leaving his wife to his brother.

Now there were among us seven brothers; and the first was married and at his death, having no seed, gave his wife to his brother;

Now there were with us seven brothers. The first married and died, and having no offspring, left his wife to his brother.

Now there were seven brothers with us. And the first, having taken a wife, died. And having no offspring, he left his wife to his brother:

Now we had living among us seven brothers; of whom the eldest married and died, and, as he had no family, left his wife for his brother.

Seven brethren - It is very likely that the Sadducees increased the number, merely to make the question the more difficult.

Now there were with us seven brethren,.... That is, there was in the city, town or neighbourhood, where these Sadducees dwelt, probably at Jerusalem, a family, in which were seven sons, all brethren by the father's side; for brethren by the mother's side were not counted brethren, nor obliged by this law (a); whether this was a reigned case which is here and in the following verses put, or whether it was real fact, which is possible, it matters not: and the first, when he had married a wife, deceased, and having no issue, left his wife unto his brother: the eldest of these seven brethren married a wife, and after some time died, having no children, son or daughter, by his wife; and therefore, according to the above law, leaves her to his next brother to marry her, and raise up seed unto him; which, according to the Jewish canons (b), could not be done before ninety days, or three months after the decease of his brother; for so long they were to wait and see, whether she was with child by his brother or not; for if she was, it was not necessary, yea, it was unlawful for him to marry her.
(a) Maimon. Hilch. Yebum, c. 1. sect. 7. (b) T. Bab. Erubin, fol. 47. 1. Maimon. ib. c. 1. sect. 19.

Whose wife shall she be of the seven? They state a fictitious case that they suppose will make the doctrine of the resurrection ridiculous.

Now there were with us seven brethren - This story seems to have been a kind of common - place objection, which no doubt they brought upon all occasions.