If a man died without having a son, who was obligated to father a son for his widow?

The correct answer is that the brother of the deceased man was obligated to father a son for his widow, a practice known as levirate marriage. This custom is rooted in ancient Israelite law, as established in Deuteronomy 25:5-6. According to this law, if a man died childless, his brother was to marry the widow and raise up offspring in his brother's name. This ensured that the family line continued and provided both social and economic protection for the widow.

This practice was significant in a patriarchal society where lineage and inheritance were critical. By having children in the deceased brother's name, the family name could continue, and the widow would have a rightful heir, maintaining her status and security within the community.