The Wills of Two Brothers and the Inheritance of One Brother's Wife
(ca. 1900 B.C.)

First Will

Copy of the will made by the Trustworthy Sealer of the Controller of Works Ankh-renef.[7]

Year 44, Month 2 of the Summer Season, day 13. Will made by the Trustworthy Sealer of the Controller of Works Ihy-seneb, nick-named Ankh-renef, son of Shepsut,[8]of the Northern District.[9]

All my possessions in field and town shall belong to my brother, the Priest in Charge of the Duty-shifts (of priests) of (the god) Sopdu, Lord of the East, Ihy-seneb, nick-named Wah, son of Shepsut. All my dependants shall belong to my brother.

A copy of these matters has been give to the Bureau of the Second Recorder of the South in Year 44, Month 2 of the Summer Season, day 13.[10]

Second Will[11]

Year 2, Month 2 of the Inundation Season, day 18. Will made by the Priest in Charge of the Duty-shifts (of priests) of (the god) Sopdu, Lord of the East, Wah.[12]

I am making a will for my wife, a lady of the town of Gesiabet, Sheftu, nick-named Teti,[13] daughter of Sit-Sopdu, concerning all the property that my brother Ankh-renef, the Trustworthy Sealer of the Controller of Works, gave to me along with all the goods belonging to his estate that he gave to me.[14] She may give these things as she pleases to any children of mine she may bear.[15]

I also give to her the four Canaanites that my brother Ankh-renef, the Trustworthy Sealer of Works, gave to me. She may give (them) as she please to her children.[16]

As for my tomb, I shall be buried in it with my wife without anyone interfering therewith. As for the house that my brother Ankh-renef, the Trustworthy Sealer, built for me, my wife shall live therein and shall not be evicted from it by anyone.[17]

The Deputy Gebu shall act as the guardian for my son.[18]
 

FOOTNOTES:
 

[7]  There are two documents recorded on this papyrus. The first is a copy made from the original in an official archive. This is the will of the older of two brothers who has given his property to his younger brother. The copy was necessary to validate the provisions of the second document, the will of the younger brother, who wishes to pass on the family property to his wife.

Note that both brothers have the same given name, though are identified by nick-names so that no confusion would arise in the disposition of the property.

[8]  His mother. Egyptian men were as often as not identified as the sons of their mother rather than as the sons of their father.

[9] Ankh-renef is a minor employee of the government Ministry of Public Works.

[10] It was customary for copies of documents to be preserved in at least two archives. The original of this will was probably kept in the archive of the Ministry of Public Works, a copy was kept in the government archive mentioned here.

[11] This is the second document, the will of the younger brother Wah.

[12] Priests served in regular 8-hour shifts throughout the 24-hour day. This was to maintain the continuous cycle of ritual as well as astronomical observations during the night hours.

[13] The wife's nick-name is given, again to make identification clear. Her mother is also noted for the same reason. There can therefore be no mistake about who is to inherit.

[14] This identifies part of the inheritance Wah is passing on to his wife. It comprises the property mentioned in the first document, the will of Ankh-renef.

[15] Sheftu can divide up the family estate among her children as she pleases. She is here being given complete control over the inheritance, the only stipulation being that it must be passed on to the children.

[16] The "four Canaanites" are family dependants. It was customary in Egyptian wills to care for such retainers and make sure they would remain employed by the family in the future. Many Canaanites and other foreigners migrated to Egypt in search of employment and a better life. Due to the fluid social strata in Egypt, many were able to rise far above the rank of household servants into the professions, high government office, etc.

[17] Sheftu not only receives the security of a home, her ownership of which cannot be contested, but is also assured a proper burial in her husband's tomb. The latter provision is the duty of the children.

[18] Since we do not know the circumstances of the family, we can only guess at what this provision means. The Egyptian word is literally "nurse, suckle," with a secondary sense "educate." Gebu is here appointed as the one who will see that Wah's son is brought up properly, undoubtedly including the training for a professional career. Gebu is therefore to act
as a surrogate father in case Wah dies before his son becomes an adult.
 

Source:  http://www.uky.edu/AS/Classics/gender.html
Pap. Kahun I, 1