Babatha’s Ketubah

This papyrus marriage document, between the wealthy landowning woman Babatha and her second husband, Judah, is considered one of the earliest known ketubot. Although the word ketubah in later rabbinic texts refers to the amount of the divorce penalty should the husband divorce his wife (and the document wherein this commitment is established), in this document it may refer to a marriage gift owed to Babatha directly. Babatha’s wealth appears to have made it possible for her to negotiate quite a favorable marriage agreement.