Marriage contact. According to Samaritan Custom

(KETHUBAH)

August 17th

1972

Samaritan Hebrew manuscript with a strong ad-mixture of Aramaic, in Samaritan square Hebrew script. Red and black ink on paper. Within a red ink rectangular border. Topped by a decorated arch encompassing a depiction of the Ark of the Covenant and flanked by flowering bushes with birds

The document is divided into three sections preceded by a header and with a concluding formula between sections II&III. Header: The formula; “In the name of the God of Israel, let us begin and be done with.” I: A composition whose first five lines spell out the scribes’ name- “Elazar.” II: The terms of the marriage agreement. The date is given as 3610 years after settlement in Canaan, in the 10th month. The groom’s name, written, as all the names in the section, in enlarged letters: Ezi, with the appellation “Priest.” The grooms father is Jacob. The second paragraph, dealing with the bride, gives her fathers name as Asher. With the formula: “Peace be upon the righteous, perfect, pure, faithful prophet Moses, the son of Amram the man of God.” III: This section consists of the signatures of the two witnesses as well as the scribes’ signature and the date in Arabic