Mibtahiah's first marriage[a]
Deed of 459 B.C., relating to reversion of property.
Text: Sayce-Cowley, C; Cowley, 9.
On the 21st of Chisleu, that is the 1st of Mesore,[1] year 6 of King Artaxerxes, Mahseiah
b. Yedoniah, a Jew of Elephantine, of the detachment of
Haumadata, said to Jezaniah b. Uriah of the said
detachment as follows: There is the site of I house
belonging to me, west of the house belonging to you, which
I have given to your wife, my daughter Mibtahiah
(Mbthyh), and in respect of which I have written
her a deed. The measurements of the house in question are
8 cubits and a handbreadth (5) by II, by the
measuring-rod. Now do I, Mahseiah, say to you, Build
and equip that site . . . and dwell thereon with your
wife. But you may not sell that house or give it as a
present to others; only your children by my daughter
Mibtahiah shall have power over it after you two. If
tomorrow or some other day you build upon this land, and
then my daughter divorces you and leaves you, she shall
have no power to take it or give it to others; only your
children by (10) Mibtahiah shall have power over it, in
return for the work which you shall have done. If, on the
other hand, she recovers from you, [2]
she [may] take half of the house, and [the] othe[r] half
shall be at you; disposal in return for the building which
you will have done on that house. And again as to that
half, your children by Mibtahiah shall have power over it
after you. If tomorrow or another day I should institute
suit or process against you and say I did not give you
this land to build on and did not draw up this deed for
you, I (I5) shall give you a sum of 10 karshin
by royal weight, at the rate of 2 R[3] to the ten, and no suit or process
shall lie. This deed was written by 'Atharshuri b.
Nabuzeribni in the fortress of Syene at the dictation of
Mahseiah. Witnesses hereto (signatures).
In liquidation of Mibtahiah's second marriage:
Settlement of claim by oath[b]
Text: Sayce-Cowley, F; Cowley, 14. Date: 440
B.C.
The Jewess Mibtahiah (Mbthyh) had apparently
married the Egyptian Pi’ and then the marriage had been
dissolved. The marriage had meant Mibtahiah’s exit from
the Jewish community and adoption into the Egyptian. Even
its liquidation necessitated her swearing by an Egyptian
deity. The witnesses to this document are neither Jewish
nor Egyptian.
On the 14th of Ab, being the 19th day of Pahons, in
the year 25 of King Artaxerxes, Pi’ the son of Pahi
(Phy), builder, of the fortress of Syene, said to
Mibtahiah, daughter of Maheseiah the son of Yedoniah, an
Aramean of Syene of the detachment of Varizata (as
follows): In accordance with the action which we took at
Syene, let us make a division of the silver,
grain, raiment, bronze, iron, and all goods and
possessions and marriage contract. Then a oath was imposed
upon you, and you swore to me concerning them by the
goddess Sati. I was satisfied with the oath which you took
to me concerning you goods, and I renounce all claim on
your from this day for ever.
Contract of Mibtahiah's third marriage oath[c]
Text: Sayce-Cowley, G; Cowley, 15. Date: about 440
B.C.
On the 2[5]th of Tishri, that is the 6th day of the
month Epiphi,[4] [year . . . of] Kin[g
Artaxerx]es, said Ashor b. [Seho], [5]
builder to the king, to Mah[seiah, A]ramean of Syene, of
the detachment of Varizata, as follows: I have [co]me to
your house that you might give me your daughter
Mipht(ah)iah in marriage. She is my wife and I am her
husband from this day for ever. I have given you as the
bride-price (5) of your daughter Miphtahiah (a sum of) 5
shekels, royal weight. It has been received by you and
your heart is content there with,[6]
(Lines 6-I6, Miphtahiah's dowry.) (I7) Should Ashor die
tomorrow or an[othe]r day having no child, male or female,
by his wife Mi[phtah]iah, Miphtahiah shall be entitled to
the house, chattels and all worldly goods of Ashor. (20)
Should Miphtahiah die tomorrow or (another) day having no
child, male or female, by her husband Ashor, Ashor shall
inherit her property and chattels. Should [Miph]tahiah,
tomorrow [or] another [d]ay stand up in a congregation and
say, I divorce my husband Ashor, the price of divorce
shall be upon her head: she shall sit by the balance and
weigh out to [As]hor a sum of 7 shekels 2 R.[7] But all that which she has brought in
(25) with her she shall take out, shred and thread, and go
whither she will, without suit or process. Should Ashor
tomorrow or another day stand up in a congregation and
say, I divorce my [wif]e Miphtahiah, [he shall] forfeit
her bride-price, and all that she has brought in with her
she shall take out, shred and thread, on one day at one
stroke, and shall go whither she will, without suit or
process. And [whoever] arises against Miphtahiah (30) to
drive her away from the house, possessions, and chattels
of Ashor shall give her the sum of 20 karash,[8] and the law of this deed shall [ . .
. ] for her. And I shall have no right to say I have
another wife besides Mipht(ah)iah or other children
besides any Miphtahiah may bear to me. If I say I have
chi[ldren] and wife other than Miphtiah and her
children, I shall give to Miphtahiah a su[m] of 20
karash, royal weight. (35) Neither shall I have
the right to [wre]st my property and chattels from
Miph[tah]iah. If I take them away from her
(erasure), I shall give to Miphtahiah [a sum of] 20
karash, royal weight. [This deed] was written by
Nathan b. Ananiah [at the dictation of Ashor].
Witnesses: (signatures).
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