Babylonian Talmud, Second Edition, Tractate Ketubbot, Venice: Daniel Bomberg, 1527

The first edition of the Talmud printed by Daniel Bomberg in Venice (1519/20-1523) proved to be extremely popular and within a few years it became clear that another edition was needed. This second edition, was printed from approximately 1526 to 1539. The two editions are nearly identical, with most second edition tractates showing only minor variations from their first edition counterparts.

Tractate Ketubbot (Marriage Contracts) deals with the rights and duties arising out of the contract of marriage. In the context of the tractate, the word ketubbah (literally, "that which is written,"), refers not so much to the marriage document itself as to the statutory obligations contained therein. As a result, the word ketubbah came to be identified with the most important provision in the marriage contract from the point of view of the halakhah, namely the sum of money due to the wife if she is divorced or widowed. Thus, throughout this tractate, phrases like "the ketubbah is so-and-so many zuzim," or "she is entitled to the ketubbah" refer to the amount due to the wife according to the pertinent clauses of the ketubbah. Ketubbot is the second tractate in the Mishnaic order Nashim.