https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/60/Ketubah%2C_Verona%2C_Italy%2C_1678_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg
The Ketuba: Ancient Pre-nup
A pre-nup in ancient Israel? Are you kidding me? Well, it turns out, I am not! It is really amazing how the Father watches after His children! I have never been a fan of a pre-nup. I may have to rethink this!
Several years ago now, as I was just beginning this journey to find the Bride of Christ and how to become her, I watched a YouTube video by Ray VanderLaan called I Led You Like a Bride. It has been taken down and now requires a payment but I can not urge you strongly enough to invest in the time and cost! So worth it! It was here I first learned of the ketuba: The Marriage contract or in modern terms the pre-nup agreement!
Preparation of the Bride
The ketuba represents the BRIDE!!! This legal document protects the Bride should the husband die prematurely or file for divorce. It states the value of the mohar (bride price): It is a gift from the groom to the bride. The Ketuba is presented during the proposal but may be read publicly at the ceremony. It is signed by the bride, groom, and two witnesses on the day of the wedding celebration. It obligates the groom to the bride in TEN areas. (Hang on to this!) It will be signed by TWO WITNESSES who must be Jewish and are not related to the groom. These men will TESTIFY publicly (in court) if needed to the validity of the contract. It covers the business of marriage expectations and spells out what is considered the minimum requirements of human and financial responsibility toward the Bride as imposed by Torah. It is a legal document that is often displayed in the home. It also states the dowry of the Bride remains her property for the duration of her life.
Only a WIFE is given a ketuba. Concubines are not protected in this way. It is part of civil law and is written in the legal language of Talmudic Law. The witnesses attest to the actuality of the wedding taking place and to the signatures of the Bride and Groom.
In the Old Testament, God is married to Israel, His treasured possession and He promises to provide, guide, be with, and protect Israel (His Wife). He presents Israel a ketuba as a way to say, “I LOVE YOU!” We know it as the Ten Commandments. God, Himself wrote them on tablets of stone. Moses and Aaron were His two witnesses. God obligated Himself and the ten areas of expectation (obedience) were spelled out. All this is written in the love language of a marriage and the Jews understood this. (Exodus 6: 6-8; 20:1-17)
In the Galilean Jewish Wedding ketuba the groom obligates himself to provide food, clothing, intimacy, financial resources, medical care, money to ransom the bride, cover funeral expenses, insure she and her daughters are provided for in case of his early demise, and provide an inheritance. The expectation of the Bride is fidelity, honor, and obedience. A ketuba is mandatory to be legally wed or to cohabitate.
Does any of this sound familiar? God the Father, spelled out to Israel who He was/is and what He promised He would do and what His expectations were. His expectation: Obedience. Fidelity. Honor. Intimacy. Take my name, my family, my people.
We have been told since childhood the Bible is a love letter from God to His people. This is the promise in writing of all He promises to do for His Wife and any offspring.
Now, in the New Testament, He is a Father, making the arrangements for His Son to have the Bride of His choice. He is presenting the ketuba, mohar, and His Son and giving the Bride the opportunity to choose. We have a choice but in making the choice we are accepting the conditions of the contract: fidelity, honor, obedience, faithfulness.
The ketuba is a groom”s public pledge to his chosen bride to “keep her in the manner she is [has been] accustomed to,” or better! A written document she can point to as a reminder to the groom when he is not honoring her, providing for her needs (emotional, physical, psychological, mental), or making financial decisions that affect her resources.
So, how does the Bride of Christ ketuba read? We read it every time we take communion.
His body-broken so we might be made whole.
His blood-spilled so we might be forgiven and our ransom paid to free us from death and hell.
He will not drink the cup again until He drinks with us in His Father’s house.
He has gone to prepare a place for us so we can be together forever in His Father’s house.
He will come again!!!!
He will make all things new!
He has sent us the Helper to be with us until He comes.
He has given us the right to approach His Father and ask ANYTHING!
He desires to be intimate with us.
He is giving us all He has!!! We are joint heirs to His Father’s kingdom.
(Matthew 26:26-30; Mark 14:22-26; Luke 22:16-20; John 13:16-20, 34-35; 14:1-16:16)
10 promises! The Son of God has given His Bride!
Our security is locked down.
No concubines in our home!
We (the church) have two witnesses that will be proclaiming our Marriage Supper during the tribulation on earth.
Is this a prenup you can agree too? Remember, the choice is the Bride’s alone. If you accept the cup of wine, you are agreeing! Stay faithful….. The mohar cost our Bridegroom (Jesus) everything.
Promises by Naomi Raime and Joe L Barne
