Commentary for Yevamot 11:3

חָמֵשׁ נָשִׁים שֶׁנִּתְעָרְבוּ וַלְדוֹתֵיהֶן, הִגְדִּילוּ הַתַּעֲרֹבוֹת וְנָשְׂאוּ נָשִׁים וּמֵתוּ, אַרְבָּעָה חוֹלְצִין לְאַחַת, וְאֶחָד מְיַבֵּם אוֹתָהּ. הוּא וּשְׁלשָׁה חוֹלְצִים לְאַחֶרֶת, וְאֶחָד מְיַבֵּם. נִמְצְאוּ אַרְבַּע חֲלִיצוֹת וְיִבּוּם לְכָל אַחַת וְאֶחָת:

Five women whose children were mixed up with each other [and each had a son, who did not become mixed up with them] — if those who had been mixed together grew up, married and died, four give chalitzah to one of them, and the fifth takes her in yibum. [The known son of each one of the four gives chalitzah to one of them, each possibly being his brother's wife; and the fifth marries her in any event — If she is his brother's wife, he takes her in yibum; and if not, her yavam has given her chalitzah.] He (the one who performed yibum) and three give chalitzah to another woman, and the fifth takes her in to another woman, and the fifth takes her in yibum [in any event. And these two (who have taken wives in yibum) give chalitzah to the third woman, the other two with them, and the fifth takes her in yibum, and so with the others.] It is found, then, that there are four chalitzoth and one yibum for each woman. [Four chalitzoth first, for neither is permitted to take her in yibum until the other four give her chalitzah, so that he not be in violation of "a yevamah to the marketplace." And the four may also give chalitzah to all of them and the fifth marry them, but the first procedure is preferable, for it may be that each will take his linked one and fulfill the mitzvah of yibum.]

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