The Talmud on the Ketubah

R. Judah said: At first they would write for a virgin two hundred [dinars] and for a widow one hundred dinars. [They would then demand that this amount be available in cash,] and [then the men] would grow old and would not marry women, [as they did not all possess such large sums of money,] until Simeon ben Shetaḥ came and instituted [an ordinance that a man need not place the money aside in practice. Rather,] all of his property is guaranteed for her marriage contract.

That [opinion] is also taught [in a baraita]: At first, they would write for a virgin two hundred and for a widow one hundred dinars, and they would grow old and would not marry women, [since the women were concerned that their marriage contract money would be wasted or lost, and they had no guarantee that it would be collected. The sages therefore] instituted [an ordinance] that they should place it, [the sum of the marriage contract,] in her father’s house, [thereby ensuring its safekeeping]. And still [problems arose, as] when he was angry at [his wife, he would] say to her, “Go to your marriage contract,” [as it was too easy for them to divorce].

[Therefore, the sages] instituted [an ordinance] that they would place it in her father-in-law’s house, [i.e., in her husband’s house. And] wealthy [women] would craft [their marriage contract money into] baskets of silver and of gold, [while] poor [ones] would craft it [into] a large vessel [for the collection] of urine, [as their marriage contract was large enough only for a small vessel].

And still, when he was angry at her, he [would] say to her, “Take your marriage contract and leave,” until Simeon ben Shetaḥ came and instituted [an ordinance] that [he does not actually give her the money for her marriage contract. Rather,] he should write to her: All my property is guaranteed for her marriage contract.