The Jewish garrison of Elephantine: The Elephantine Papyri The Plainspoken Classics - Scriptorium Press (First Edition, 2026) An original AI translation made directly from the source language. https://openscriptorium.com Translated from the Imperial Aramaic by Scriptorium Press, 2026, in the numbering of A. E. Cowley, Aramaic Papyri of the Fifth Century B.C. (1923). No clean public-domain digital Aramaic exists, so Claude Opus 5.5 transcribed Cowley’s Aramaic from page images of the 1923 edition, and a second Claude Opus 5.5 reader verified every line against the images and a second scan. Claude Opus 5.5 translated directly from that Aramaic without sight of Cowley’s English, and an independent Claude Opus 5.5 referee checked every line. No Sonnet fleet was used: every step was Opus 5.5, as our rule for rare languages requires. Zero shared 8-word runs with the public-domain English of Cowley (1923) and Sayce–Cowley (1906). Marks: [ ] words restored by Cowley where the papyrus is broken; […] lost text he did not restore; { } a doubtful reading; in Ahikar, + and ‖ mark proverb divisions and joins between papyrus pieces. Numbers are given as the Aramaic reads. The number before each line is its line number in Cowley’s edition. ======== No. 1 — Salluah and Yethomah cede half a share to Yehoor ======== Date| 2 Epiph, year 27 of King Darius 1| On day 2 of the month Epiph, year 27 of King Darius, said Salluah daughter of 2| Qeniah, and Yethomah her sister, to Yehoor daughter of Shelomam: We have given you half 3| of the sh[ar]e that the king's judges and Ravaka the garrison commander gave us, in exchange for half of the share that 4| fell to you together with Naʾhebeth. {Tomorrow} or another day we will not be able to bring suit against you over that share of yours 5| [and] {sa}[y]: 'We did not give it to you.' No brother or sister, son or daughter, near 6| or far, shall sue you; and whoever sues you over that share of yours which we have given you shall pay you 7| silver, 5 karsh, and the share is still yours. 8| The witnesses: 9| [Ho]shea son of {Hodaviah} 10| Shelomam son of {Az}ar[iah] 11| Zephaniah son of Makki ======== No. 2 — Contract to deliver grain rations to the garrison ======== Date| 28 Paophi, year 2 of King Xerxes 1| On the 28th of the month Paophi, year 2 of Xerxes the [ki]n[g, in Elephantine the fortress, said Hoshea 2| son of Hodaviah and Ahiab son of Gemariah to Es[pemet son of Peftuauneith the boatman 3| of] Hanani the carpenter, saying: You have given into our hands bar[ley 4| 8 (the first 3 doubtful), and lentils, 11 ardabs; for {b}[arle]y, ardabs [44 5| total of barley and lentils mixed, ardabs 54 (doubtful) [+ 1 6| {sh.} 10 (doubtful) {of} [me]n of the century of Bethel-taqum, 11; {to}[tal 5 ardabs as rations 7| men 2, to each man 1: barley, ardabs 2; g. 2 (doubtful) {m}[en 11 8| of] the century of Nabushalu, men 2, for barley ardabs [5 9| and our heart is satisfied with it. We will carry [this] grain [that you gave into our hands 10| to this garr]ison of the century of Bethel-taqum and of the {c}[entury of Nabushalu, who 11| are written in this document. We will render ac{c}[ount before the chief of the century and the officials 12| of the king's house, and before the scribes of the treasury they shall gi[ve the grain that you gave 13| into our hands to carry to these men who are written [above. And if we do not hand over all the grain that 14| is yours in full count at the king's house and before the scribes of the tr[easury, 15| we shall owe you silver, 100 karsh, silver {p}[ure 16| of the god. And you have power over the rations that are from the king's house [and over a house of bricks and all that 17| is ours; you have power to seize, until you are paid in full in grain [that is written above, and no suit. 18| Hoshea wrote at the dictation of Ahiab. 19| Witnesses: Kia son of Askishu; Nushku-idri son of {N}[abun 20| Dukkal son of Abihu; Shuri son of Kaddu; Atar-idri son of […] 21| A{s}odat son of Jehonathan; Shabbethai son of Nabda. 22| (Endorsement) [The document that] Hoshea and A[hiab] wrote for Espe[met ======== No. 3 — Fragment of a duplicate of the grain contract ======== Date| 28 of [the month …] 1| On the 28th of [the month 2| so[n of Ho]daviah and Ah[iab 3| hold[ing property in Elephantine], to Espe[met 4| into our hands barley […] 5| lentils, ardabs 20 […] 6| all the [barle]{y} and lentil[s 7| for men, [1] + 5 (doubtful). […] 8| lentils, ardab 1 (doubtful) […] 9| th[is] grai[n], Syene […] 10| in th[is] docu[ment], and y. […] 11| the century and the officials […] 12| the grain that you gave […] 13| in full count [at the ho]use of the ki[ng 14| that you gave into [our] hand[s 15| that is {not} {ours} […] 16| trea[sury 17| of the god, silver … […] 18| and a house of bricks and […] 19| to me; [and you have pow]er to s[eize 20| that is written above, and […] 21| H[oshea] wrote at the dictation of A[…] 22| Witnesses: Shuri son of [Kaddu 23| Nushku-id[r]i son of {N}abun[… 24| Bagada[t son of] {A}smashad[…] ======== No. 4 — Small fragment linked to the grain contract ======== 1| (Obverse) …] they did for me {n}[…] 2| …]-shin, and also to […] 3| …] is it true? Also […] 4| …] which {I desired}, within it 5| (Reverse) [we fo]und barley […] 6| …] here; now […] 7| …] Espemet, h-l[…] 8| …]-lin, from what n-{w}. […] ======== No. 5 — Konaiah lets Mahseiah build a wall on his house ======== Date| 18 Elul, that is day 28 of Pahons, year 15 of King Xerxes 1| On the 18th of Elul, which is day 28 of Pahons, in year 15 of Xerxes the king, said 2| Konaiah son of Zadok, an Aramean of Syene, of the detachment of Varizath, to Mahseiah son of Yendiah, an Aramean of Syene, 3| of the detachment of Varizath, saying: I came to you, and you gave me your house's gateway, for building 4| 1 wall there. That wall is yours; it is the one that adjoins my house at its upper corner. 5| That wall shall cling to my house's side, from the ground upward to the top, from the upper corner of my house up to the house of Zechariah. 6| Tomorrow or another day I shall not be able to prevent you from building on that wall of yours. 7| If I prevent you, I will pay you silver, 5 karsh by the royal weights, pure silver, and that wall 8| is yours all the same. And if Konaiah dies tomorrow or another day, no son and no daughter, no brother and no sister, 9| near or far, member of a detachment or of a town, shall prevent Mahseiah or a son of his from building on 10| that wall of his. Whoever of them prevents him shall pay him the silver written above, and the wall 11| is yours all the same, and you have power to build on it up to the top. And I, Konaiah, shall not be able 12| to say to Mahseiah: 'That gateway does not belong to you, and you are not to go out into the street that is 13| between us and the house of Peftuauneith the boatman.' If I prevent you, I will pay you the silver written above. 14| And you have power to open that gateway and to go out into the street that is between us. 15| Peletiah son of Ahio wrote this document as dictated by Konaiah. The witnesses hereto: 16| Witness: Mahseh son of Jeshaiah. Witness: Shatibarzan son of {A}tarli. 17| Witness: Shemaiah son of Hoshea. Witness: {Fratafran} son of Artafran. 18| Witness: Bagadat son of Nabukudurri. Nabuli son of Darga. 19| Witness: Bantarish son of {Rahmara}. Witness: Shallum son of Hoshaiah. 20| (Endorsement) Document of the wall that was built, which Konaiah wrote for Mahseiah. ======== No. 6 — Dargman renounces his claim to land after Mahseiah's oath ======== Date| 18 Kislev, that is day 7 (partly restored) of Thoth, year 21, the beginning of the reign when King Artaxerxes sat on his throne 1| On the 18th of Kislev, that is d[ay] 7 (partly restored) of Thoth, year 21, the start of the reign, when 2| Artaxerxes the king being seated on his throne, said Dargman son of Harshin, a Khwarazmian whose domicile 3| is in Elephantine the fortress, attached to the detachment of Artabanu, to Mahseiah son of Jedaniah, a Jew who is in the fortress of Elephantine, 4| of the detachment of Varizath, saying: You sw[or]e to me by Yahu the god in Elephantine the fortress, you and your wife 5| and your son, all 3, concerning my land, about which I brought complaint against you before 6| Damidata and his fellow judges; and they laid on you an oath for me, to be sworn by Yahu about that land, 7| that it was not land of Dargman's, mine. See, as for me: see also the boundaries of that land 8| about which you swore to me: my house, ⸢mine,⸣ Dargman's, is east of i[t], and the house of Konaiah son of Zadok, 9| a Jew of the detachment of Atrofarna, is west of it, and the house of [Jeza]niah son of Uriah, 10| a Jew of the detachment of Varizath, is below it, and the house of Espemet son of Peftuauneith, 11| boatman of the rough waters, is above it. You swore to me by Yahu and satisfied 12| my heart concerning that land. I shall not be able to bring suit or action against you, I or a son or a daughter of mine, 13| ⸢a brother or a sister of mine, near or far⸣ of mine, concerning that land, against you or a son or a daughter of yours, a brother or a sister of yours, near or far. 14| Whoever sues you in my name ⸢concerning⸣ that land shall pay you silver, 20 karsh, that is twenty, by the 15| royal weights, silver at 2 r. per ten, and the land remains yours all the same, and you are clear of 16| any suit that they may bring against you concerning that land. Ithan son of Abah penned 17| this document at Syene the fortress, as Dargman dictated. Witness: Hoshea son of Petekhnum. Witness: 18| Gaddul son of Igdal. Witness: Gemariah son of Ahio. Meshullam son of Hoshea. 19| Sinkashid son of Nabusumiskun. Witness: Hadadnuri the Babylonian. 20| Witness: Gedaliah son of Ananiah. 21| Witness: Ariyaisha son of Arvastamar. 22| (Endorsement) Deed of renunciation that [Dargman] son of Harshin wrote for Mahseiah. ======== No. 7 — Malchiah answers a charge of house-breaking and assault ======== Date| 18 Paophi, year 4 of King Artaxerxes 1| On the 18th of Paophi, year 4 of Artaxerxes the kin[g], in Elephantine 2| the fortress, said Malchiah son of Jashobiah, an Aramean holding property in Elephantine 3| the fo[rtress, of the de]tachment of Nabukud[urri, to Fra]tafran [son of Artaf]ran of the detach[ment of 4| Nabu[kudurri, sa]ying: [Y]ou ca[lled against me] at Nepha, [{that} you ent]ered [my house 5| by force, and struck my wife, and took goods out of my house by force, 6| and took them for [your]self. {You made} an inqui[ry], and an invocation of the gods 7| fell to me in the suit. I, Malchiah, will call to you by Herem-Bethel 8| the god, among 4 [av]engers, sa[ying]: By force I did [not] enter your house, 9| and [your] wife I did not strike, and goods from your house by f[orc]e I did not take. 10| And if [I] have called to you among these [a]{v}engers, [I can] also {ca}[ll ======== No. 8 — Mahseiah gives his daughter Mibtahiah a house-plot ======== Date| 21 Kislev, that is day 1 of Mesore, year 6 of King Artaxerxes 1| On the 21st of Kislev, that is day 1 of Mesore, year 6 of King Artaxerxes, said Mahseiah 2| son of Jedaniah, a Je[w] holding property in Elephantine the fortress, in the detachment of {Haumadata}, to the woman Mibtahiah 3| his daughter, saying: I have given you, in my lifetime and at my death, land for 1 {house}, which is mine. Its 4| measurements: its length from below to above, 13 cubits and 1 handbreadth; its width from east 5| to west, 11 cubits according to the {measuring-rod}. Its boundaries: above it, the house of Dargman son of Harshin 6| adjoins it; below it, the house of Konaiah son of Zadok; to its east, the house of Jezan son of 7| Uriah your husband, and the house belonging to Zechariah son of Nathan; to its west, the house of Espemet son of Peftuauneith, 8| boatman of the rough waters. That house-land I have given to you in my lifetime and at my death. 9| You have power over it from this day and forever, and your children after you; to whomever 10| you love you may give it. {There is} for me none other — no son or daughter, no brother or sister, and no woman 11| or other man who has power over that land except you and your children forever. Whoever 12| brings suit or process against you, you or a son or daughter of yours or a man of yours, in the name of that land 13| which I have given you, and complains against you to a prefect or a judge, shall pay you and your children 14| silver, 10 karsh, that is ten, by the royal weights, silver at 2 r. to the ten, without suit or process, 15| and the house is your house all the same, and your children's after you. And they will not be able to produce against you 16| a new or old document in my name concerning that land, to give it to another man. That document 17| which they produce against you shall be false; I did not write it, and it shall not be accepted in court 18| while this document is in your hand. And moreover I, Mahseiah, tomorrow or another day shall not take it back 19| from you to give to others. That land is yours; build, and give it to whomever you love. 20| If tomorrow or another day I bring suit or action against you and declare: 'I did not give it to you,' 21| I will pay you silver, 10 karsh by the royal weights, silver at 2 r. to the ten, without suit 22| or process, and the house is your house all the same; and if I go to court I shall not win. And this document is in your hand. 23| Moreover, there is 1 deed of renunciation which Dargman son of Harshin the Khwarazmian wrote for me concerning 24| that land, when he brought suit about it before the judges; and I bore an oath for him, and to him I swore 25| that it belonged to me; and he wrote a deed of renunciation and gave it to me. That document I have given to you; 26| you keep it. If tomorrow or another day Dargman or a son of his brings suit 27| concerning that house, produce that document, and on the basis of it {contend} at law with him. Atarshuri 28| son of Nabuzeraban wrote this document at Syene the fortress, as Mahseiah dictated. The witnesses hereto: 29| Witness: Gemariah son of Mahseiah. Witness: Zechariah son of Nathan. 30| Witness: Hoshea son of Pelaliah. Witness: Zechariah son of Meshullam. Witness: Maaziah son of 31| Malchiah. Witness: Shemaiah son of Jedaniah. Witness: Jedaniah son of Mahseiah. 32| Witness: Nathan son of Ananiah. Zaccur son of Zephaniah. 33| Witness: Hoshea son of Reuiah. Witness: Mahseh son of Jeshaiah. 34| Witness: Hoshea son of Igdal. 35| (Endorsement) Document of a ho[use, 1, which was given] by Mahseiah son of Jedan[iah 36| (Endorsement) to Mibtah daughter of Mahseiah ======== No. 9 — Mahseiah lets Jezaniah build on Mibtahiah's plot ======== Date| [21] [Kis]le[v, that is day 1] of [Meso]re, year 6 of King Artaxerxes 1| On [the 21st] of [Kis]le[v, that is day 1] of [Meso]re, year 6 of King Artaxerxes, said Mahseiah 2| son of Jedaniah, a J[ew of] {E}lephantine, of the detachment of Haumadata, to Jezaniah son of Uriah of the same detachment, 3| saying: There is land for 1 house of mine, west of your house, which I gave to Mibtahiah 4| my daughter, your wife, and I wrote a document for her concerning it. The measurements of that house: 13 cubits and a handbreadth 5| by 11, according to the measuring-rod. Now I, Mahseiah, tell you: Build on that land and fit it out, 6| and dwell in it with your wife. But that house you do not have power to sell or to give 7| as a gift to others; but your children from Mibtahiah my daughter, they have power over it 8| after you. If tomorrow or another day you build on that land, and then my daughter hates you 9| and goes out from you, she shall not have power to take it or to give it to others; rather, your children by 10| Mibtahiah, they hold power over it, in exchange for the work that you have done. If she takes it back 11| from you, half of the house [shall be] for {her} to take, and over the oth[er] half you have power, in return for 12| the building work that you have built in that house. And again, that half: your children by Mibtahiah, 13| they have power over it after you. If tomorrow or another day I bring suit or process against you 14| and say: 'I did not give you that land to build on, and I did not write you this document,' I 15| will pay you silver, 10 karsh by the royal weights, silver at 2 r. to the ten, without suit or process. 16| Atarshuri son of Nabuzeraban wrote this document in Syene the fortress, as Mahseiah dictated. The witnesses 17| hereto: Witness: Hoshea son of Pelaliah. Witness: Zechariah son of Nathan. 18| Witness: Gemariah [so]n of Mahseiah. Witness: Zechariah son of Meshullam. 19| Witness: Maaziah son of Malchiah. Witness: Shemaiah son of Jedaniah. 20| Witness: Jedaniah son of Mahseiah. Witness: Nathan son of Ananiah. Witness: Zaccur son of Zephaniah. 21| Witness: Hoshea [son of] Reuiah. Witness: Mahseh son of Jeshaiah. 22| Witness: Ho[shea son of Igda]l. ======== No. 10 — Jehohen borrows four shekels from Meshullam at interest ======== Date| 7 Kislev, that is day 4 of Thoth, year 9 of King Artaxerxes 1| On 7 Kislev, that is day 4 of the month Thoth, year 9 of Artaxerxes 2| the king, Jehohen daughter of Meshullak, a woman of Elephantine the fortress, said to Meshullam son of 3| Zaccur, a Jew of Elephantine the fortress, as follows: You have given me a loan of silver, shekels 4| 4, that is four, by the king's weights, at interest. It shall increase against me 5| at silver 2 hallurs to 1 shekel for 1 month, which comes to silver 8 hallurs 6| for one month. If the interest {reaches} the capital, the interest shall bear interest like the capital, 7| the one like the other. And if a second year comes and I have not paid you your silver 8| and its interest that is written in this document, you, Meshullam, and your children are entitled 9| to take for yourself any pledge that you find of mine: a house of bricks, silver and gold, 10| bronze and iron, male slave and female slave, barley, emmer, and any food that you find of mine, 11| until you are paid in full your silver and its interest. And I shall not be able to say to you, 'I have paid you 12| your silver and its interest,' while this document is in your hand. Nor shall I be able to complain 13| against you before prefect or judge, saying, 'You took a pledge from me,' while this document 14| is in your hand. And if I die and have not paid you this silver and its interest, 15| my children shall pay you this silver and its interest. And if 16| they do not pay you this silver and its interest, you, Meshullam, have the right 17| to take for yourself any food and pledge that you find of theirs, until you are paid in full 18| your silver and its interest. And they shall not be able to complain against you before prefect 19| or judge, with this document in your hand. Even should they go to court, they will not prevail, 20| while this document is in your hand. Nathan son of Anani wrote this document 21| at the dictation of Jehohen. And the witnesses hereto: witness Hosea son of Galgul; 22| Hodaviah son of Gedaliah; Ahio son of Pelatiah; Agur son of Ahio. 23| (Endorsement) This document of silver that Jehohen daughter of Meshullak wrote 24| (Endorsement) for Meshullam son of Zac[cur]. ======== No. 11 — Loan of silver at interest, repayable from the borrower's salary ======== (above 1)| … 1| … r son of Yatma, [as follows]: You have given me silver, 2| [shekels] 4 (partly restored; one unit doubtful), [by the we]ights of Ptah, silver at 1 shekel to the 10; and it shall bear interest against me at silver 2 hallurs 3| to 1 shekel of silver per month, until the day that I pay it back to [you]. And the interest on 4| your silver shall be 8 (partly restored) hallurs for 1 month. And the month in which I fail to give you 5| the interest, it shall become capital and bear interest. And I will pay [it] {back} to you month by month 6| from my salary that they [gi]ve me from the treasury, and you are to write me a receipt covering all 7| the silver and interest that I pay you. And if I have not paid you all 8| your silver and its interest by the month of Thoth of year 9 (partly restored), it shall be added onto your silver 9| and its interest that remains owing by me, and it shall bear interest against me month by month 10| until the day that I pay it back to you. 11| The witnesses: 12| Akban son of Shamash-nuri; 13| Katsri son of Yahhadri; 14| Mahseiah son of Jedaniah; 15| Malchiah son of {Zechariah}. 16| Gemariah son of Ahio wrote the document at the word of the witnesses who are on this document. ======== No. 12 — List of nine men ======== 1| Haggai son of Nathun 2| Herman son of {Hosea} 3| Hosea son of {Yathom} 4| Hosea son of {Hodav} 5| Shammua son of Haggai 6| Nathan son of {Neriah} 7| Menahem son of Pusi 8| Jaush son of Azaniah 9| Bethel-akab son of {Akkur} 10| Total: 9 [me]n 11| {Nabu-akab} {son of} ======== No. 13 — Mahseiah gives a house to his daughter Mibtahiah in place of her goods ======== Date| 3 (doubtful) Kislev, that is day 10 of Mesore, year 19 of King Artaxerxes 1| On {3} Kislev, that is day 10 of the month Mesore, in year 19 of Artaxerxes the king, Mahseiah son of 2| Jedaniah, an Aramean of Syene, of the detachment of Varizath, said to Mibtahiah his daughter as follows: I have given you the house 3| that Meshullam son of Zaccur son of Ater, an Aramean of Syene, gave to me for [its] price, and he wrote a document for me about it, 4| and I have given it to Mibtahiah my daughter in return for the goods that you gave me when I was stationed in the fortress. I {used} 5| them, and I did not find silver or goods to repay you. So I have given you this house 6| {in return for} {your} goods, {those}, worth silver 5 karsh, and I have given you the old document that [was written] 7| for me by Meshullam, that one, after it. This house I have given to you, and I withdraw from it. It is yours and your [children's] 8| after you, and you may give it to [whomever you] love. I shall not be able — I, my children, my descendants, or another 9| man, to bring suit or process against you in the matter of that house that I have given to [you] and the document I have written for you 10| about it. Whoever brings suit or process against you, I, or brother or sister, near or dista[nt, a member] of a detachment or a member of a town, 11| shall give you silver 10 karsh, and the house is yours all the same. Moreover, no other man shall be able to produce against you a document, 12| new or old, except this document that I have written and given to [you]. [Wh]oever {produces} against you a document, it is not I who [wrote it]. 13| Moreover, these are the boundaries of that house: above it, the house of Ja{u}[sh son of Pe]nuliah; below it, 14| the temple of Yahu the God; east of it, the house of Gaddul son of Hosea, and the street between them; 15| west of it, the [{land}] of {Asruk} son of Paltu, priest {of} {Khn}[um and Sa]{ti}, the [g]{od}s. That house 16| I have given to you, and I withdraw from it. It is yours forever, and to [whomever] you wish you may give it. Wrote 17| Nathan son of Ananiah this document at the dictation of Mahseiah, and the witnesses hereto: Mahseiah wrote {for} 18| himself; Mithrasara son of Mithrasara; and [Shatibarzan] son of Atarli, a Caspian; 19| witness Barbari son of Dargi, a Caspian of that place; [{wit}ness …] son of Shemaiah; 20| Zaccur son of Shallum. 21| (Endorsement) Document concerning Mahseiah son of Jedaniah [and Mibtah]iah his daughter. ======== No. 14 — Peu withdraws his claim against Mibtahiah after her oath by Sati ======== Date| 14 Ab, that is day 19 of Pahons, year 25 of King Artaxerxes 1| On 14 Ab, that is day 19 of Pahons, in year 25 of King Artaxerxes, Peu 2| son of Pahe, builder of Syene the fortress, said to Mibtahiah daughter of Mahseiah son of Jedaniah, 3| Arameans of Syene, of the detachment of Varizath: Concerning the lawsuit that we brought in Syene, we contested over silver 4| and grain and clothing and bronze and iron, all goods and property, and the marriage document. Then an oath 5| was laid upon you, and by Sati the goddess you swore to me about them, and my heart was satisfied 6| with that oath that you made to me concerning {those} goods, and I withdraw from you from 7| this day and forever. I shall not be able to bring suit or action against you, you or a son 8| or a daughter of yours, concerning those goods about which you swore to me. If I bring against you 9| suit or process, or a son of mine or {a daughter} of mine brings suit against you, in the matter of that oath, I, Peu, and my children 10| shall give to Mibtahiah silver 5 karsh by the king's weights, and there shall be no suit and no process, 11| and I am withdrawn from all suit or action. This document was written by Petisi son of Nabunathan 12| at Syene the fortress, as dictated by Peu son of Pahe. The witnesses hereto: Nabure'i son of Nabunathan; 13| Luhi son of Manki; {Udanahar} son of {Duma}; Nabure'i son of Vashtan. 14| (Endorsement) Document of withdrawal that Peu wrote for Mibta[hiah]. ======== No. 15 — Marriage contract of Eshor and Mibtahiah ======== Date| 25 (partly restored) Tishri, that is day 6 of Epiphi, year […] of King Artaxerxes 1| On 25 ([5] restored, the 20 doubtful) [of] Tishri, [that is day] 6 of the month Epiphi, [year … of Artaxerx]es the kin[g], 2| Eshor son of [Seho], builder of the king, said to Mah[seiah, an A]ramean of Syene, of the detachment 3| of Varizath, as follows: I [ca]me to your house so that you would give me your daughter Mibtahiah in marriage. 4| She is my wife and I am her husband from this day and forever. I have given you as the bride-price 5| of your daughter Mibtahiah [silver] 5 shekels by the king's weights. It has come to you, and your heart is satisfied 6| with it. I have brought in to your [daughter] Mibtahiah, into her hand, silv[er] for an outfit, 1 karsh 2 shekels by the king's 7| weights, silver at 2 quarters to the 10. I {brought in} to {her}, into her hand, 1 garment of wool, new, striped, 8| dyed on both sides, 8 cubits long by 5, [w]orth silver 2 karsh 8 shekels 9| by the king's weights; 1 new shawl, 8 (one unit doubtful) cubits long by 5, worth 10| silver 8 shekels by the king's weights; another garment of wool, thin, 11| 6 cubits long by 4, worth silver 7 shekels; 1 mirror of bronze, worth 12| silver 1 shekel 2 quarters; 1 bo[wl] of bronze, worth silver 1 shekel 2 quarters; 2 cups of bronze, 13| worth silver 2 (partly restored) shekels; 1 jug of bronze, worth silver 2 quarters. All the silver 14| and the value of the goods: silver 6 karsh 5 shekel 20 hallurs, silver at 2 quarters to the 10, by the king's 15| weights. It has come to me, and my heart is [sat]isfied with it. 1 bed of papyrus reed, on which are 4 inlays 16| of stone; 1 dish of slq; 2 ladles, tqm, h(allurs) 8, of ivory, 1 msh'n; 1 chest of palm leaf, new. 17| Tomorrow or a[not]her day, should Eshor die and have no child, male or female, 18| by Mi[btah]iah his wife, Mibtahiah has the right to the house 19| of Eshor and [his] goods and his property and everything he owns on the face of the earth, 20| all of it. Tomorrow or any day, should Mibtahiah die and have no child, male or female, 21| by Eshor her husband, Eshor shall inherit from her her goods 22| and her property. Tomorrow [or an]other day, should [Mib]tahiah stand up in the assembly 23| and say, 'I hate Eshor my husband,' the silver of hatred is on her head: she shall sit at 24| the scale and weigh out to [Es]hor silver 7 (one unit doubtful) shekels 2 quarters, and all that she brought in 25| in her hand she shall take out, from {straw} to thread, and go away [to] wherever she wishes, and 26| there shall be no suit and no process. Tomorrow or another day, should Eshor stand up in the assembly 27| and say, 'I hate my [wi]fe Mibtahiah,' her bride-price [shall] be lost, and all that she brought in 28| in her hand she shall take out, from straw to thread, on one day, at one stroke, and go away 29| wherever she wishes, {from} no suit and no process. And [if] he rises up against Mibtahiah 30| to drive her out from the house of Eshor and his goods and his property, he shall give her 31| silver 20 karsh, and the law of this document shall [apply] to her. And I shall not be able to say, 32| 'I have another wife besides Mibtahiah, and other children besides the children whom 33| Mibtahiah will bear me.' If I say, 'I have ch[ildren] and another wife besides 34| Mibtahiah and her children,' I will give to Mibtahiah silv[er] 20 karsh by the king's 35| weights. And I shall not be able to [ta]ke away my goods and my property from Mib[tah]iah; and if I remove {them} 36| from her (erased: in accordance with a[nother docu]ment), I will give to Mibtahiah [silver] 20 karsh by the ki[ng's] weights. 37| Nathan son of {Ananiah} wrote [this document at the dictation of Eshor], and the witnesses hereto: 38| Penuliah son of Jezaniah; […]iah son of {Uriah}; Menahem son of [Za]ccur. 39| Witness Reibel {son} [of] … ======== No. 16 — Complaint about a wrong done over a field before the judges ======== 1| …{up}]on {a}…m, [and upon Bag]afarna son of [Vashi … 2| this f]ield of the [detach]ments, granted to him as a holding from year 24 [to ye]ar 31 [of Artaxerxes … 3| Moreover,] I made a request [befo]re Tar[wah and] the judges, and I said before the {judges} [… 4| the fi]eld I tilled, {and} [the produc]{e} from them I did [not] take. Those judge[s … 5| … and as a wrong it is done to me. And I said before Tarwah and the jud[ges … 6| … fr]om year 24 to year 31. And Bagafarna and Nephayan and Manki, the 3 (partly restored) [judges], came to Syene and took … 7| … the law-officers of Nephayan, the garrison commander of Syene, and the province's judges, how … 8| I] sent before my lord, saying, 'A wrong is done to me.' And n[ow … 9| ask Tarwah and the judges ab[out] this, so that a wrong may not be done to me. {And} … ======== No. 17 — Letter of officials and scribes to Arsames about allotments ======== Date| 19 Marheshwan, year 37 of Artaxerxes 1 (above line)| [To our lord] 1| Arsa]mes, your servants {Achaemenes} and his colleagues, {Bagadana} and his colleagues, and the scribes of the province. May the gods [seek after] the welfare of our lord 2| [abundantly at] all times. Now then: to us you have paid in full for all the allotment, namely what we {gave} in the province, the place where … 3| … set out kind by kind, {month} {by} month they kept sending to me. The letter, too, is written and given to us. N{ow} … 4| … {wnshth} … 5| … our lord Arsa{mes} … your [servan]ts {Achaemenes} and his colleagues, the heralds in … 6| … {who} {Nefra} Harus and his colleagues, the scribes of the prov[ince] (added below the line:) {all} {3} {the bad} 7| … {servants}; {Sinabash} the herald, their colleague. On 19 Marheshwan, year 37 of Artaxerxe[s], with them. ======== No. 18 — Closing clauses of a marriage contract ======== 1| …{d}…{b}… [Mesh]ullak son of [U]ri: (in case of) a divorce suit. And Jehohen daughter of [Meshullak] shall not be able [to say to her] 2| and to Salluah her daughter, 'Since these goods and the silver which are written in this deed I gave you in affection, now I wish 3| to take them back.' If she says {so}, she is liable; she shall not be heard. Mauziah son of Nathan son of Ananiah wrote 4| this deed at the dictation of Hoshaiah [and Je]hohen, and the witnesses herein: witness Herem-nathan son of Bethel-nathan son of Seha; 5| witness Haggai son of Penuliah; witness Yaush son of [Az]aniah; witness Bethel-nathan son of Jonathan. ======== No. 19 — List of names ======== 1| … 2| Baadiah son of {A}… 3| Oshea son of U[riah ?] 4| {Wakin} son of Shallum son of … 5| Mesh[ul]lam son of Shemai[ah] 6| Shemaiah son of Shallum 7| Menahem son of Meshul[lam] 8| Haggai son of Jezani[ah] 9| Agri son of Ash… 10| Nathan son of Hodaviah ======== No. 20 — Quitclaim by Menahem and Ananiah to the sons of Eshor over the goods of Shelomam ======== Date| Elul, that is Payni, year 4 of King Darius 1| In the month Elul, that is Pa[yni], {year} 4 of Darius the king, then in Elephantine the fortress, declared 2| Menahem and Ananiah, both [2 sons of] Meshullam son of Shelomam, Jews of Elephantine the fortress, of the detachment of Iddinnabu, 3| to Jedaniah and Mahseiah, both 2 sons of Eshor son of Seha by Mibtahiah daughter of Mahseiah, Jews 4| of the same detachment, saying: [W]e brought suit against you in a case at Nepa before Damanadin the frataraka and Vidranga 5| the garrison commander, saying: 'Th[ere are] goods: garments of wool and linen, bronze and iron vessels, vessels of wood 6| and of palm-fibre, grain and other things.' {And we sued}, saying: 'Eshor your father took (them) from Shelomam son of Azariah.' Also 7| we said: 'There is (property) which was {deposited} as a de[posit], and he kept it and did not return it to him.' And so we sued you. 8| After you had been questioned, you, Jedaniah and Mahseiah, sons of Eshor, satisfied us concerning these goods, 9| and we are satisfied therewith. From this [da]y and for ever, I, Menahem and Ananiah, we withdraw from you 10| from this day and for ever. We shall [not] be able (to sue), we or our sons or our daughters or our brothers or any man of ours, kinsman or fellow- 11| citizen shall not be able to sue [yo]u, you Jedaniah and Mahseiah, (with) suit or process, and they shall not be able to sue your sons 12| or your brothers or any man of yours [in the na]me of the goods and silver, grain and other things of Shelomam son of Azariah. And if we 13| or sons or daughters of ours, or any man [of ours], or the sons of Shelomam son of Azariah bring suit against you or against your sons or your daughters 14| or any man of yours, then who[ever] sue[s], bringing suit against (you), shall pay to you or to your sons or to whomever they sue a penalty 15| of silver, ten karsh by the king's we[ight]s, silver at 2 quarters to the 1 karsh, and he shall still be {withdrawn} from these goods over which 16| they sue, without suit and without pro[cess]. Mauziah son of Nathan wrote this deed at the dictation of Menahem and Ananiah, both 2 17| sons of Meshullam son of Shelomam. Witne[ss: Me]nahem son of Gaddul; Gaddul son of Berechiah; Menahem son of Azariah. 18| Witness: Hodaviah son of Zaccur [son of] Hoshaiah. 19 (endorsement)| (Endorsement) Deed which Menahem and Ananiah, both [2] sons of Menahem son of Shelomam, wrote 20 (endorsement)| [for Jedani]ah and Mahseiah, both 2 sons of Eshor son of Seha. ======== No. 21 — Letter of Hananiah on keeping the Festival of Unleavened Bread ======== Date| year 5 of King Darius 1| [To] {my} [brothers] 2| [Jeda]niah and his colleagues, the [J]ewish {g}[arrison], your brother Hanan[iah]. May the gods [seek after] the welfare of my brothers. 3| And now, this year, year 5 of Darius the king, word was sent from the king to Arsa[mes, saying: 4| In the month of Ta'obi let there be a Passover for the garrison of the Jew]s. Now you, count off in this way: four[teen 5| days of the month of Nisan, and the Passover kee]p; and from day 15 to day 21 of [Nisan 6| are seven days of unleavened bread. You] be clean and take heed. Work [do not do 7| on day 15 or on day 21. Also beer d]o not drink, and anything at all that has {leaven} [in it 8| do not eat, from day 15 from] sunset until day 21 of Nisa[n. For seven 9| days let it not appear among you. Do not br]ing (it) into your chambers, and {seal (it) up} during [these] days. 10| [Let it be done as was commanded by Darius the ki]{ng}. 11 (address)| (Address) [To] my brothers Jedaniah and his colleagues, the Jewish force, your brother Hanani[ah ======== No. 22 — List of contributors of silver to Yahu the God ======== Date| 3 Phamenoth, year 5 1| On the 3rd of Phamenoth, year 5. These are the names of the Jewish garrison that gave silver to Yahu the God, each man silver [2 shekels]. 2 (Col. 1)| (column 1) — {Me}[shulle]meth da[ugh]ter of Gemar[i]ah son of Mahseiah, silver, 2 shekels 3| — Zaccur [son of Hodavi]ah son of Zaccur, silver, 2 shekels 4| — {Se}[raiah daugh]{ter} of Hoshea son of Harman, silver, 2 shekels 5| — Total: 3 (two units doubtful, one restored) […] 6| — Hosh[ea son of Beth]el-nuri, the same, silver, 2 shekels, hi[s] 7| — Hosh[aiah son of Nathan] son of Hoshaiah son of {Hanani}[ah, silver, 2 shekels, his] 8| — {Nabu}[… ]{h}, silver, 2 shekels, his 9| … {Nani} [son of] {Katal}, silver, 2 shekels, his 10| … son of Yeho[…, silver,] 2 shekels, his 11| … son of Ne[hebeth daughter of Mah]{se}h, [silver, shekels] 2 (one unit restored), his 12| Na]{th}an son of Anani so[n of] … 13| …{i} [da]ughter of Zebadi[ah] 14| … 15| … da]ughter of Pelal[iah] … 16| … daughter of … 17| …{i} s[on of] … 18| … daughter of … 19| Total for the century of Sinderin. 20| The century of Nabu-aqab: — Shalom son of Mena[hem] 21 (Col. 2)| (column 2) — Meshullam son of Shemuah, silver, 2 shekels, his 22| — Palti son of {Micah}, silver, 2 shekels, his 23| — Malchiah son of Jathom son of {Hadadnuri}, [silver,] 2 shekels, his 24| 20 — Shelemiah son of {Jashub}, silver, shekels 2 (one unit restored), [hi]s 25| — Gaddul son of Meshullam son of Mibtahi[ah, silver,] shekels 2 (one unit restored), his 26| — Menahem son of Hazzul, the same, son of {Shem}[aiah, silver, 2 shekels, his] 27| — Simmak son of Meshullam, the same, silver, 2 shekels, his 28| — {Gaddul} son of Shemuah, the same, silver, 2 shekels, his 29| — Meshullam son of {Haggai} son of Hazzul, silver, 2 shekels, his 30| — Hazzul son of {Haggai} son of Hazzul, silver, 2 shekels, his 31| {Total} [for the century of …] 1 32| … 2 shekels 33| … {silver}, 2 shekels … 34| … 35| … 1 … 36| … 37| … {silver}, {2} {shekels} 38| … 39 (Col. 3)| (column 3) — Shallum son of Hodav, [silver, shekels] 2 40| — {Hori} son of Venah, [silver, shekels] 2 41| — Shammua son of Shallum, [silver, shekels] 2 42| — Mattan son of Jedan[iah, silver, shekels] 2 43| — {U}[riah son of …, silver, shekels] 2 44| — Anan[i son of …] 45| — Zac[…, shekels] 2 46| — Anani […] 47| — Hosh[ea] son of Nathun, [silver, 2 shekels] 48| 20 — […] son of […, silver, shekels] 2 49| […] son of N[…, silver,] 2 shekels 50| […, silver, shekels] 2 (one unit restored) 51| […] son of […] son of Jeshabiah … 52| […, silver,] 2 shekels 53| […, silver, shekels] 2 (one unit restored) 54| … 55| […, shekels] 2 56| […] Hoshea, silver, 2 shekels 57| […] Jehotal, silver, [2 shekels] 58| [… A]nani, silver, 2 shekels 59| […] Jeshabiah … 60| … 61 (Col. 4)| (column 4) — {Hoshea} son of Sagri, silver, 2 shekels 62| — Menahem son of Mattan, silver, 2 shekels 63| — Nathun son of Haggai, silver, 2 shekels 64| — Haggai son of Micha, silver, 2 shekels 65| — Mahseh son of Uri, silver, 2 shekels 66| — Shalom son of Zechariah, silver, 2 shekels 67| — Menahem son of Zechariah, silver, 2 shekels 68| 40 — Meshullak son of Uri, silver, 2 shekels 69| — {Pamet} son of Sagri, silver, 2 shekels 70| — Anani son of Mauzi, silver, 2 shekels 71| — [Ho]shea son of Menahem, silver, 2 shekels 72| — {Haggai} son of Horiya, silver, 2 shekels 73| [Mena]hem son of Uri son of {Meshullak}, silver, 2 shekels 74| … 75| … silver, 2 shekels 76| … Mattan, silver, 2 shekels 77| [… s]on of Mattan, silver, 2 shekels 78| {Pe}[nul]iah son of Menahem son of Pusi, silver, 2 shekels 79| — H{o}[ri] son of Menahem [son of] Pusi, silver, 2 shekels 80| — Pelaliah son of [Ho]shea, silver, 2 shekels 81| — Menahemeth daughter of A[nani] son of {Astah}, silver, 2 shekels 82| — Meshullemeth daughter of […]h, silver, 2 shekels; sister of Mahath, {and Sh…} 83 (Col. 5)| (column 5) — Miphtah daughter of {Tashaz}, silver, 2 shekels 84| — Jehoshama daughter of Nathan, silver, 2 shekels 85| — Shebith daughter of Hori son of Shallum, silver, 2 shekels 86| — Reia daughter of {Neri}, silver, 2 shekels 87| — Jehoshama daughter of Meshullam, silver, 2 shekels 88| 60 — Miphtah daughter of Shallum, silver, 2 shekels 89| — {Jahmol} daughter of Palti son of Yaush, silver, 2 shekels 90| — Abihai daughter of Oshea, silver, 2 shekels 91| — Nehebeth daughter of Mahseh, silver, 2 shekels 92| — Jehohen daughter of Igdal, silver, 2 shekels 93| — Meshullemeth daughter of Zephaliah, silver, 2 shekels 94| … 95| {Mena}[h]emeth daughter of […, silver, shekels] 2 (one unit restored) 96| Nehebeth daughter of {Z}[…, silver,] 2 shekels 97| Jahmol daughter of [Shal]lum, silver, 2 shekels 98| 70 — Jehoshama daughter of Hoshea son of Zaccur, silver, 2 shekels 99| — Jehoshama daughter of Haggai, silver, 2 shekels 100| — Ab[ih]ai daughter of Nathun, silver, 2 shekels 101 (Col. 6)| (column 6) — Jehohen daughter of Gedaliah, silver, 2 shekels 102| — Salluah daughter of Neri, silver, 2 shekels 103| — Jehotal daughter of Jislah, silver, shekels 104| — Abeshar daughter of Hoshea, silver, 2 shekels 105| — Jehoeli daughter of Ammaniah, silver, 2 shekels 106| — Miphtah daughter of Zephaliah, silver, 2 shekels 107| — Nehebeth daughter of Zaccur, silver, 2 shekels 108| 80 — Menahemeth daughter of Jedaniah son of Anati, silver, 2 shekels 109| — Meshullam son of Mauzi, silver, 2 shekels 110| — Meshullemeth daughter of Penuliah, silver, 2 shekels 111| — Nathun son of Pelaliah son of Nathun, silver, 2 shekels 112| — Hazzul daughter of Hodaviah, silver, 2 shekels 113| — … Nathan, silver, [2 shekels] 114| … Ze]{bad}iah … 2 shekels 115| — … son of Nathan son of …h, silver, 2 shekels 116| — … son of Shallum so[n of …]h, silver, 2 shekels 117| — [Jeh]oshama daughter of Kun, silver, 2 shekels 118| — Reuiah son of Uri, silver, 2 shekels 119| 90 — Meshullam son of Shemaiah, silver, 2 shekels 120 (Col. 7)| (column 7) The silver that was on hand that day in the keeping of 121| Jedaniah son of Gemariah in the month of Phamenoth: 122| silver, 31 karsh, 8 shekels. 123| Of this: for Yahu, 12 karsh, 6 shekels; 124| for Eshem-Bethel, 7 karsh; 125| for Anat-Bethel, silver, 12 karsh. 126| — Michaiah son of Jehoishma, silver, 2 shekels 127| — Oshea son of Nathan son of Hodaviah, silver, 2 shekels 128| — Ahio son of Nathan son of Anani, silver, 2 shekels 129| — {Azariah} son of Hazzul, {silver}, 2 shekels 130| — {Jeshabiah} son of {Berechi}[ah, silver, shekels] 2 131| … 2 132| — …h daughter of Ki… silver, 2 shekels 133 (Reverse)| (reverse) — Bagafarna son of Vashi, silver, 2 shekels, for {Andam} 134| — Vashi son of {Zadmar}, silver, 2 shekels, his 135| — Hani son of Maphtahiah, silver, 2 shekels; for Tab, 3 ======== No. 23 — List of names ======== 1| Ahio son of Nathan 2| Nathan son of Mauziah 3| Hur son of {Benaiah} 4| Mahseh son of Jehotal 5| Hanan son of Pakhnum 6| Shalom son of H… 7| Palti son of {Mattan} 8| 10 Cushi son of Azzur 10 9| Petekhnum son of Hori 10| Reuiah son of Zechariah 11| Menahem son of Mattan 12| Pakhnum son of Zaccur 13| Haggai son of Michaiah 14| {Didi} son of Uri son of Mahseh 15| Shawa son of Zechariah ======== No. 24 — Account of barley issued to the garrison of Syene ======== Col. 1| (column 1) 1| [sh.] {Pe}[te]{me}[th son of E]shm{un}, barley, 1 ardab 2| sh. Zabi{s} . son of Nabushal{u}, barley, 1 ardab 3| sh. Haggai son of Shemai[ah], barley, 1 ardab 4| sh. Eshm[un son of A]{p}[a, barley,] 1 [ardab] 5| sh. Petisi son of Zaphru{t}, [barley,] 1 [ardab] 6| sh. — Seha [son of] Zephar. . l{h}, barley, 1 ardab, the same 7| k. sh. {Shemu}[ah …], barley, 1 ardab, {2 quarters} 8| sh. {Hur} … 9| sh. … 10| sh. — … sheh … 2 11| sh. … Nathan, b[arley, 1 ardab] 12| sh. … {A}halbani, [barley, 1 ardab] 13| sh. {H}[ur so]n of Nurshush, barley, 1 ardab 14| sh. Sha[{mash}]gari son of Balban, barley, 1 ardab 15| sh. Var{d} son of Zuti 16| k. sh. Hu[r] son of Jaolan, barley, 1 ardab, 2 quarters 17| sh. {Sh}… son of Abihu, barley, 1 ardab 18| sh. … Pahar{i}, barley, 1 ardab (unnumbered, after 18) a| (fragment) … was given (unnumbered, after 18) b| (fragment) … the provi]nce of Thebes Col. 2| (column 2) 19| … {K}ango A. {w}. . Pabi, barley, 1 ardab, the same 20| … 21| … 100 22| … An… P. barley, 1 ardab 23| … barley, ardab(s) 24| … 25| … son of Petenat{en}, barley, 1 ardab 26| … {N}akal son of {Uri}, barley, 1 ardab 27| [To]tal: 54 persons herein. 28| [Total: 2 persons], each one barley 1 ardab, 2 quarters; in barley, 3 ardabs. 29| [Total: persons] 22, each one barley 1 ardab; in barley, 22 ardabs. 30| [Total: p]ersons 30, each one barley ardab[s 2, 2 quarters; in] barley, 75 ardabs. 31| [To]tal of the outlay {yt} … 32| [barley, ard]abs 100 (unnumbered, after 32) a| (fragment) Seha son of … (unnumbered, after 32) b| (fragment) H… (unnumbered, after 32) c| (fragment) M… Col. 3| (column 3) 33| Total of the out[lay that was g]iven to the Syenian garrison [from day … 34| that is, d[ay 20 of the month of Me]chir, year 4, until day 35| 20 of Me[chir, year 5], which was given in provisions … 36| brought [… from] the province of Thebes by the hand of Wennofer 37| … son of Bar-{Awah} and Adri son of {Aw}. . 38| {Barley}, [ardabs 1,]446; g. 2, {h.} 4. 39| And from the {grain} of [T]ashtaras, the rations which were given to the gar[rison 40| {from} a {thousand} 19 (one unit restored) 41| [N{u}]rana: 1,[2]52; g. 1, h. … 42| And what [… was gi]ven as ration{s} to the garrison [… from 43| Tash[taras, ardabs,] 1,790 44| … Mechir, year 45| … a. and from a. … 46| … 176 (multiplier of the hundred lost) (unnumbered, after 46) a| (fragment) … to the garrison h… (unnumbered, after 46) b| (fragment) … brought … ======== No. 25 — Jedaniah son of Hoshaiah renounces his claim to the house of Jezaniah son of Uriah ======== Date| 3 Kislev, year 8, that is 12 Thoth, year 9 of King Darius 1| On 3 Kislev, year 8, that is day 12 of Thoth, year 9 of King Darius, then, in Elephantine 2| the fortress, Jedaniah son of Hoshaiah son of Uriah, an Aramean of Elephantine the fortress, declared before Vidranga the garrison commander 3| of Syene, to Jedaniah son of Nathan and Mahseiah son of Nathan his brother, whose mother is Mibtahiah daughter of Mahseiah son of Jedaniah, before 4| Vidranga the garrison commander of Syene, saying: I have withdrawn from you from the house of Jezaniah son of Uriah. Here are its boundaries: 5| above it, the house of Hosea son of Uriah adjoins it; below it, the house of Hazul son of Zechariah adjoins it 6| on its lower side, and the doorway and windows open there; east of it, the temple of Yahu the God and the king's road 7| between them; on its west, the house of Mibtahiah, Mahseiah's daughter, which her father Mahseiah gave her, 8| adjoins it. That house whose boundaries are written: the doorway is yours, you Jedaniah and Mahseiah, both of you 9| sons of Nathan, forever, and your children's after you, and to whomever you love you may give it. I, Jedaniah, shall not be able, nor my sons 10| nor a woman or man of mine; I will not be able to bring suit or action against you; nor will we be able to sue a son or a daughter of yours, 11| a brother or a sister, a woman or man of yours, or a person to whom you sell that house or to whom you give it in affection, 12| in my name, I Jedaniah, or in the name of my sons or a woman or man of mine. And if I, Jedaniah, sue you, or there sues you 13| a son or daughter of mine, a woman or man, in my name or in the name of my sons, apart from a son or daughter of Jezaniah son of Uriah, 14| and they sue a son or daughter, a woman or man of yours, or men to whom you sell it or to whom you give it in affection, 15| that house, then whoever sues you shall give you a penalty of silver, ten karsh, that is 10 karsh of silver, 16| at 2 quarters to the 1 karsh, by the king's weights, and the house is still yours forever and your children's after you, apart from 17| the sons of Jezan son of Uriah, and without suit. Mauziah son of Nathan wrote at the instruction of Jedaniah son of Hosea. And the witnesses 18| hereto: Menahem son of Shallum; Mahseiah son of Jedaniah; Menahem son of Gaddu[l] son of Baadiah; Jedaniah son of Meshullam; 19| Islah son of Gaddul; Gaddul son of Berechiah; Jezaniah son of Penuliah; Ahio son of Nathan. Endorsement| (Endorsement) 20| Document of withdrawal which Jedaniah son of Hosea wrote concerning the house of Jezaniah son of Uriah 21| for Jedaniah son of Nathan and his brother Mahseiah, the two of them. ======== No. 26 — Arsames orders the repair of a boat ======== Date| 13 Tebeth, year 12 (units doubtful) of King Darius 1| From Arsames to Wahpremahi. And now: worn out [is the boat of Psamsineith and his colleagues, the boatmen of the fortresses. When there sent] 2| to us Mithradates the boatman, saying: thus said Psamsine[ith … the boatmen of] 3| the fortresses, thus they said: The boat which we hold in charge, the time has come to d[o] its repair. [Concerning this I have sent, saying: the material(s) 4| let it be hauled up on[to dry] land, and let word be sent to the treasury's accountants; they, together with the foremen [Shamshillek and his colleagues, that boat] 5| [shall] inspect and make its assessment, and let there be sent the {arsenic} which … the material, the handunah, {and} other things; [and the accountants all the material] 6| shall give, and let its repair be done quickly, and other things which are sent by me to them. Concerning this they sent, {and} [thus said their servants: on] 7| the {hala} which is opposite the fortress, in[side the town], Mithradates the boatman showed the boat to us, we show(?) that which is in the hand of Psamsineith and … 8| both boatmen of the fortresses; it is hauled up on dry land, and we showed it to Shamshillek and his colleagues the foremen, Shamu [son of] 9| Kanufi, chief of the carpenters, the boatwright, and thus they said: The time has come to [d]o [its] re[pair]. {This} is the material which is required for its repair 10| to be done: timbers of cedar and ar-wood, new: taph, ten cubits; shim [for the] {b}atak, eighty cubits, by three handbreadths; within, segnin, ten cubits 11| and two; shaph, fifteen, [one per] twenty [cu]bits; saabal, seventy cubits; hinin for the hull, three; qalam for the mast, one; 12| hala timbers, sixty cubits; pahtamuni for the paarar, one per two cubits; apsi beneath the hala, five; nails of bronze and iron, 13| two hundred; cedar timbers, worn, strong, whole, twenty cubits: all of these, let their replacement be brought, and the worn and broken ones to the treasury; yarn 14| of flax, thick, one hundred and eighty karsh; fine, two hundred and fifty karsh; new cedar timbers: hinin, two, each five cubits, 15| three handbreadths by three handbreadths; for the ha[l]a: bronze nails, one hundred and fifty, each three handbreadths; two hundred and seventy-five, 16| each ten fingers; all the nails, four hundred and twenty-five; plates of bronze, twenty cubits; their nails, two hundred. Reverse| (Reverse) 17| Worn cedar timbers: reshut mesan, one talent, ten minas in all; an addition: sulfur, ten karsh; and for the handunah, arsenic, one hundred karsh. 18| And let them add to the timbers that are to be given: on the taph, in length, each three handbreadths hapush, and on the width and thickness two fingers; and on 19| the shim, in length, each three handbreadths hapush, and on the width two fingers; and on the shaph and the hinin, in length, each one handbreadth; and on 20| the saabal, hala timbers, dari, whole, in length, each three handbreadths hapush, and on the width one finger. The flax yarn, the fine ones, 21| the arsenic and the sulfur shall be given by the Persian weight; let word be sent, saying: this material shall be given into the hand of Shamu son of Kanufi, chief 22| of the carpenters, the boatwright; before our eyes let him repair that boat and do it quickly, as the order has been issued. Now Arsames says thus: You, act 23| in accordance with what the accountants say, as the order has been issued. Anani the scribe is in charge of the [ord]er. Nabuaqab wrote. 24| Wahpremahi … … … … … … 25| As the order has been issued … … wrote … (blank) 26| (Demotic) 27| (Address:) {From} Arsames, who is in … 28| Nabuaqab the scribe. On 13 [of] Tebeth, year 12 (units doubtful) of Dari[us the king]. ======== No. 27 — Petition of the Jewish garrison against the priests of Khnum ======== 1| …][n]tngn {we} … when detachments of the Egyptians revolted, we did not abandon our posts, 2| and [no]thing harmful was found in us. In year 14 of [Ki]ng Darius, when our lord Arsames 3| went to the king, this is the misdeed that the priests of the god Khnum [committ]ed in Elephantine the fortress, 4| in collusion with Vidranga, who was frataraka here: they gave him silver and goods. There is a part 5| of the king's barley-house which is in Elephantine the fortress; they demolished it, and a wall they {bu}[ilt in] the middle of the fortress of Elephantine. Col. 2| (Col. 2) 6| And now that wall is built in the middle of the fortress. There is one well that has been built 7| with[in the for]tress, and it does not lack water to give the garrison drink, so that whenever they are on garrison duty 8| they drink the water in th[at] w[ell]. Those priests of Khnum have stopped up that well. If inquiry 9| is made of the judges, the police officers and the informers who are appointed in the province of Tshetres, 10| it will become kno[wn] to our lord in line with what we are saying. Moreover, we are clear Reverse| (Reverse) 11| [of th]{at} [harm] in the {holdings} which [were] in Elephantine the f[ortress. 12| … s]o we are {clean}; {al}[so nothing 13| harmful like thi]s was found in [us. And they do not allow 14| us — [they, the pries]ts — to bring a mea[l-offering and incense 15| and burnt offering] to make there to Yahu the G[od of Heaven 16| … {…} {…} … 17| …] except {one} atrorin [they made there, 18| and the rest of] the material they took for them[selves, all of it. 19| And now, i]f it seem very good to our lord, [let] the wr[ong be remembered 20| which was don]e [to us], we of the [Jewish] garrison. 21| [If it please] our [l]ord, let [an order] be issued [thus, 22| as] we [say]. If it please [our] l[ord, let it be sent, 23| that they do not h]arm the things that b[elong to us, 24| and th]e [altar] of ours which they demolished, to [rebuild it. ======== No. 28 — Mahseiah and Jedaniah divide their mother's slaves ======== Date| 24 Shebat, year 13, that is 9 Hathor, year 14 of King Darius 1| On 24 Shebat, year 13, that is day 9 of Hathor, year 14 of King Darius, in Elephantine the fortress, 2| Mahseiah son of Nathan, 1, and Jedaniah son of Nathan, 1, both Arameans of Syene of the detachment of Va[riza]th, declared, saying: We have agreed 3| together and divided among ourselves the slaves of Mibtahiah our mother. And here is the share which came to you as a portion, you Jedaniah: 4| Petosiri by name, his mother Tabi, a slave, yod 1, marked on his hand at the right with a mark reading in Aramaic thus: 5| "Mibtahiah's." And here is the share which came to me as a portion, I Mahseiah: Bela by name, his mother Tabi, a slave, yod 1, 6| marked on his hand at the right with a mark reading in Aramaic thus: "Mibtahiah's." You, Jedaniah, have rights over Petosiri, 7| that slave who came to you as a portion, from this day and forever, and your children after you, and to whomever you wish you may give him. I shall not be able, 8| I Mahseiah, nor a son or daughter of mine, a brother or sister of mine, or a person of mine, to bring suits against you or against your children concerning Petosiri 9| by name, the slave who came to you as a portion. If we bring a suit up against you, we Mahseiah and my children, or sue a son 10| or daughter of yours or a person of yours concerning Petosiri, that slave who came to you as a portion, then we shall give you a penalty of silver, 11| refined, ten karsh by the king's weight, and we are withdrawn from you and from your children {from} suit concerning that Petosiri 12| who came to you as a portion. He shall be yours and your children's after you, and to whomever you wish you may give him, without suit. Moreover, there is Tabi 13| by name, mother of these boys, and her son Lilu, whom we have not yet divided between us. When [the t]ime comes, we will divide them 14| between us, and each of us shall possess his share; and we will draw up between us a document of our division, without suit. Nabutukulti son of Nabuzeribni wrote 15| this document in Elephantine the fortress at the instruction of Mahseiah and Jedaniah his brother. The witnesses hereto: Menahem son of Gaddul; 16| witness Hanan son of Haggai; witness Nathan son of Jehour; witness Shallum son of Nathan. 17| (Endorsement) Document … of the division of the slave Petosiri, which Mahseiah son of Nathan wrote for Jedaniah son of Nathan his brother. ======== No. 29 — Nathan son of Hosea acknowledges a debt to Islah son of Gaddul ======== Date| [month of] Mesore, year 16 (partly restored) of King Darius 1| [In the mo]nth of Mesore, year 16 (partly restored) of [Da]rius the king, in Elephantine the fortress, [Nathan son of] Hosea, an Aramean of 2| Syene, of the detachment of Nabukudurri, [declared] to Isla[{h}] son of Gaddul, an Aramean of Syene, of the detachment of [… say]ing: You have a claim on me for 3| silver, kar[sh 1, shekels 4 …]tri, in number 5 [… which were] owed by me from part of the silver, 4| the price of the {house} {mn}[…for]{ever}. I, Na[than], declare: [I will repay] you this silver, 5| {1} karsh, 4 (shekels), by {…} … the month of Pahons, year [17 of Dar]ius the king, 6| within [thi]s mont[h]. And if this silver, 1 karsh, 4 shek[els, I have not re]paid, I shall give you 7| … mina … ======== No. 30 — Petition to Bagohi to rebuild the temple of Yahu ======== Date| 20 (doubtful) Marheshwan, year 17 of King Darius 1| To our lord Bagohi, governor of Judah, your servants Jedaniah and his colleagues, the priests who are at Elephantine the fortress. The welfare 2| of our lord may the God of Heaven seek after abundantly at all times, and may he grant you favor before King Darius 3| and the members of the royal house a thousand times more than now, and give you long life; and be happy and strong at all times. 4| Now your servant Jedaniah and his colleagues say thus: In the month of Tammuz, year 14 of King Darius, when Arsames 5| had left and gone to the king, the priests of Khnum the god who are in Elephantine the fortress, in collusion with Vidranga, who was frataraka here, 6| said: "Let them remove from there the temple of Yahu the God that is in Elephantine the fortress." Then that Vidranga, 7| the wretch, sent a letter to Nefayan his son, who was garrison commander in Syene the fortress, saying: "The temple which is in Elephantine 8| the fortress, let them destroy it." Then Nefayan led the Egyptians with other troops; they came to the fortress of Elephantine with their weapons; they 9| entered that temple, demolished it to the ground, and the columns of stone that were there they smashed. Moreover, there were gateways 10| of stone, 5, made of hewn stone, that were in that temple; they destroyed them. And their doors were standing, and their hinges 11| of those doors were of bronze, and the roofing of their timbers was of cedar: all of it, along with the remainder of the furnishings and other things which were there, 12| all of it they burned with fire. And the basins of gold and silver and the things that were in that temple, they took all of it 13| and made their own. Back in the days of the king of Egypt our fathers built that temple in Elephantine the fortress, and when Cambyses came into Egypt, 14| he found that temple built; but the temples of Egypt's gods they overthrew, all of them, and no one damaged anything in that temple. 15| And when this had been done, we with our wives and children were wearing sackcloth and fasting and praying to Yahu the Lord of Heaven, 16| who let us gloat over that Vidranga, the dog: they took the fetter off his feet, and all the property he had acquired was lost, and all the men 17| who sought harm for that temple were all killed, and we looked on them. Moreover, before this, at the time when this harm 18| was done to us, we dispatched a letter to our lord, and to Johanan the high priest and the priests his colleagues who are in Jerusalem, and to {Ostanes}, brother 19| of Anani, as well as to the nobles of the Jews. Not a single letter did they send us. Moreover, from the month of Tammuz, year 14 of King Darius, 20| until this day we have been wearing sackcloth and fasting; our wives are made like widows; with oil we do not anoint ourselves 21| nor do we drink wine. Moreover, from that time until the present day, year 17 of King Darius, meal-offering, inc[en]se and burnt offering 22| {they have} not made in that temple. Now your servants Jedaniah and his colleagues and the Jews, all the citizens of Elephantine, say thus: 23| If it please our lord, take thought for that temple to rebuild it, since they do not let us rebuild it. {Look} on the 24| recipients of your goodness and your friends who are here in Egypt: let a letter from you be sent to them concerning the temple of Yahu the God, 25| to rebuild it in Elephantine the fortress as it was built before; and they will offer the meal-offering, the incense and the burnt offering 26| on the altar of Yahu the God in your name, and at all times we will pray for you — we and our wives and our children and the Jews, 27| all who are here. If they do this until that temple is rebuilt, it will be a merit for you before Yahu the God of 28| Heaven greater than a man who offers him burnt offering and sacrifices worth the value of 1,000 talents of silver, and of gold. About this 29| we have sent and informed you. Moreover, all the matters we have sent, in one letter under our name, to Delaiah and Shelemiah, sons of Sanballat the governor of Samaria. 30| Moreover, of all this that has been done to us Arsames knew nothing. On 20 (doubtful) Marheshwan, year 17 of King Darius. ======== No. 31 — Duplicate petition to Bagohi to rebuild the temple of Yahu ======== Date| 20 Marheshwan, year 17 (partly restored) 1| To o[ur lord Bagohi, governor of Judah, your servants Jedaniah and] his [colleagues], the pr[iests 2| may the God [of Heaven s]eek after at all times; may he [gr]a[nt you] favor [before Da]rius […] 3| and give you long life; and be happy and strong at all times. Now your serv[ant] Jedaniah […] 4| year 14 of King Darius, when Arsames went out and went [to] the {k}ing […] 5| the fortress, silver and goods they gave to Vidranga, the frataraka who was here, s[aying: 6| "Let them remove from there." Then that Vidranga, the wretch, sent a letter to Ne[fay]an his son, wh[o 7| of Yahu the God which is in Elephantine the fortress let them destroy." Then that Nefayan {led} the Egypt[ians 8| their weapons; they entered that temple, they demolished it to the ground, and the columns of s[tone 9| 5 great gateways, made of hewn stone, that were in that t[em]ple […] 10| those, of bronze; and the roofing of that temple, all of it, timbers of cedar, with the r[est 11| they burned with fire; and the basins of gold and of silver and the [thin]gs […] 12| they made. And from the time of Egypt's kings our fathers built that temple in Elephantine […] 13| found that one built; and the temples of the Egyptians' gods, [a]l[l of them, they overthrew], and anyone any[thing 14| done. We, with our wives and children, were wearing sackcloth and f[asting 15| let us gloat over that Vidranga, the dog: they took his fetters off his feet, and a[ll 16| who sought harm for that temple, all were killed, and we looked on them. Moreover […] 17| to us. A letter about this […] we sent to our lord, al[so] to Johanan […] 18| and to Ostanes, brother of Anani, and the Judean nobles; one let[ter] […] 19| year 14 of King Darius, and until this day we have been wearing sackclo[th 20| we do not anoint with oil and we do not drink wine. [Moreover, fr]om that t[im]e until th[is 21| meal-offering, incense and burnt offering {they have} not made in that temple. Now […] 22| and the Jews, all the citizens of Elephantine, say thus: If it please our lo[r]d, t[ake thought 23| they let us build it. Look on the recipients of your goodness and your friends who are here […] 24| about the temple of Yahu the God, to build it in Elephantine the fortress as […] 25| and burnt offering we will offer on the altar of Yahu the God in your name, and we will pr[ay 26| and the Jews, all who are here. If you do this, until that temple [is rebuilt 27| Heaven, more than a man who offers him burnt offering and sacrifices worth the value of a thousand talents of silver. About […] 28| the matters, in one letter, under our name, we sent to Delaiah and Shelemiah, the s[ons 29| of all that has been done to us Arsames knew nothing. On 20 Marheshwan, year 17 (partly restored). ======== No. 32 — Memorandum of Bagohi and Delaiah on the altar-house of the God of Heaven ======== 1| Memorandum of what Bagohi and Delaiah said 2| to me. Memorandum: Let it be your part in Egypt to say 3| before Arsames concerning the altar-house of the God of 4| Heaven, which was built in Elephantine the fortress 5| formerly, before Cambyses, 6| which that wretch Vidranga destroyed 7| in year 14 of King Darius: 8| to rebuild it on its site as it was formerly, 9| also the meal-offering and the incense they shall offer on 10| that altar just as formerly 11| used to be done. ======== No. 33 — Offer of five Jewish leaders on the rebuilding of the temple ======== 1| Your servants: Jedaniah son of Ge[mariah] by name, 1; 2| Mauzi son of Nathan by name, [1]; 3| Shemaiah son of Haggai by name, 1; 4| Hosea son of Jathom by name, 1; 5| Hosea son of Nathun by name, 1. In all, 5 men, 6| Syenians who [h]o[ld propert]y in Elephantine the fortress, 7| say thus: If our lord [is fa]{vorable} 8| and the temple of Yahu the God — [our own — is rebuilt 9| in Elephantine the fortress as it was for[merly bui]lt, 10| and sheep, ox and goat are [n]ot offered there as burnt offering, 11| but only incense, meal-offering [and libation … 12| and our lord ma[kes] a declaration [about this, then 13| {we will give} to the house of our lord si[lver … and also 14| barley, a thou[sand] ardabs ======== No. 34 — Letter naming the women and men seized in the gateway ======== 1| … m-s 2| … Khnum. Here are the names of the women that were f[ound 3| [in the gateway in Thebes and were seized as] prisoners: Rami wife of Hodaw, Esorshut wife of Hosea, Pallul wife of Islah, {Reia} […] 4| {Zibia} daughter of Meshullam, {Yekola} her sister. Here are the names of those men who were found in the gateway in Thebes and were seiz[ed as prisoners]: 5| Jedaniah son of Gemariah, Hosea son of Jathom, Hosea son of Nathum, Haggai his brother, Ahio son of {Mah}[{seiah} …] 6| The houses which they entered in Elephantine and the goods which they took they have given back {ʾm} to their owners; but they reported to the lor[d … silver] 7| 120 karsh. Further, there will be no further order about them here. Greetings to your house and children until the gods let {us} see [them]. ======== No. 35 — Menahem's acknowledgement of a debt of silver to Salluah ======== Date| 21 [Pham]enoth, year 5 of King Amyrtaeus 1| On 21 [Pham]enoth, year 5 of King Amyrtaeus, then 2| said [Menahem] son of [Shal]lum, an Aramean of Elephantine the fortress, in the detachment of Nabukudurri, 3| addressing Sallu[ah] daughter of Sa[m]uah, as follows: There is due to you from me silver, 2 sh(ekels), 4| that is, [silv]{er}, 1 stater, from the portion of the silver and goods that are in the document concerning 5| your marriage. I, Menahem, shall give it and pay it to you by 6| 30 Pharmouthi, year 5 of King Amy[rta]eus. [If I do n]ot 7| [pay] and give you this silver, 2 [s]hekels, [that is,] [1] stater, 8| [by] this [date] which is written above, [and] [1 Pa]chons [ar]rives, 9| this silver of yours [shall be owing], silver, [2] sh[ekels], that is, sil[ver, 1 stat]er, 10| [and I will give] you, [you] Salluah, your [silver] and […] your [sil]ver 11| … all {until} [if I s]ue yo[u or sue] a s[on frag b.1| (fragment b) {t-m} … ḥ frag b.2| (fragment b) this … ky frag b.3| (fragment b) sh … not frag b.4| (fragment b) y{d} frag b.5| (fragment b) ʾ frag c.1| (fragment c) ṣ frag c.2| (fragment c) barley frag c.3| (fragment c) 3 shekels frag c.4| (fragment c) to the {prefect} frag c.5| (fragment c) silve(r) frag c.6| (fragment c) mn frag d.1| (fragment d) tnq frag d.2| (fragment d) suit … ʾ frag d.3| (fragment d) … all frag d.4| (fragment d) ʾ frag e.1| (fragment e) … frag e.2| (fragment e) {in}side frag f.1| (fragment f) … frag f.2| (fragment f) {s}m sh frag f.3| (fragment f) … ʿ … frag f.4| (fragment f) … ======== No. 36 — Part of a marriage contract: list of goods ======== 1| new, 11 (doubtful) {k-n} sh… 2| 5 cubits 4 handbreadths by 3 and 4 (doubtful) handbreadths, worth in silver 3 shekels; 1 {m}…{t}, new, cubits 3| 7 by 4 and a span, worth in silver 4 shekels 20 hallurs; 1 {m}…{t}h, new, of qamr, worth in silver 4| 10 hallurs; 1 bowl of bronze, worth in silver 15 (doubtful) hallurs; 1 cup of bronze … frag b.1| (fragment b) {silver}, 2 shekels … its [pr]ice in silver, 2 k(arsh) frag b.2| (fragment b) {price}, 8 (last two units doubtful) shekels frag c.1| (fragment c) and to {her} {and gr}… frag c.2| (fragment c) l … ʾ ======== No. 37 — Letter to Jedaniah and the garrison about the Egyptians' bribes ======== 1| To my lords Jedaniah, Mauziah, Uriah and the garrison, your servant […. The well-being of my lords may the gods] 2| seek after at all times. Here, all is well with us. Now, every day that […] 3| he complained to one investigator; Ziwak, he complained to an[other] investigator 4| As for us: because the Egyptians give a bribe, {and} since […] 5| that the Egyptians before Arsames; but they act by stealth, {also} […] 6| the province of Thebes, and they say thus: "Mazdayazna, he is the official in charge of the province" […] 7| We are afraid, because we are few, plundered. Now look, {I thought} […] 8| If we had shown our faces to Arsames before, then it would not ha[ve been] like this 9| he will speak words before Arsames. Pisina is calming our faces […] 10| you will find honey, tqm, cords, ropes, {skins}, ṣl, shp[…] Reverse| (Reverse) 11| words to your house. Pasu son of Mannuki came to Memphis and […] 12| and the investigator, and he gave me silver, 12 staters, and one of it […] 13| Hori gave me, when they had detained him. Accordingly Tiri said, "b[…]" 14| in the king's business, and they are detaining (them), but Arsames will suffer loss, and {Zeho} denied [ 15| and Hori, whom they detained. On day 6 of Paophi the letters reached [the province of Thebes, and we 16| will do the thing. Address| (Address) 17| To my lords Jedaniah, Mauziah, [Uriah ======== No. 38 — Mauziah's letter recommending Zeho and Hor ======== 1| To my lords Jedaniah, Uriah and the priests of Yahu the God, {Ma}ttan son of Jashobiah and Neriah son of […], 2| your servant Mauziah. The welfare of [my] lord[s may the God of Heaven at all times seek after abundantly, and] may you {be} in favor {before} 3| the God of Heaven. Now, when Vidranga the chief came to Abydos, he imprisoned me on account of one refiner's stone which 4| they found stolen in the hands of the merchants. At last Zeho and {Hor}, servants of Anani, exerted themselves with Vidranga 5| and Harnufi, under the protection of the {God} of Heaven, until they rescued me. Now see, they are coming there to you. You, look after them: 6| whatever they want, and whatever matter Zeho and Hor ask of you, stand by them in such a way that a bad thing 7| they may not find in you. {y-h-y} … {Kh}num is {against} us from the time that Hananiah was in Egypt until now. 8| And whatever you do for Hor, you do it for [the two of the]m. Hor is a servant of Hananiah. Give freely from our houses Reverse| (Reverse) 9| goods, and in proportion to what is in your hand, {whatever it amounts to}, give. {What} I lack is {one} with you. For this reason I am sending to you. He 10| said to me: "Send a letter ahead of [th]em." Losses: a {deposit} is set to his account in the house of Anani. Whatever you do 11| for him will not be concealed from Anani. 12| To my lords Jedaniah, Uriah [and] the priests and Jews of the gar[rison], {Mauziah son of Zeho} ======== No. 39 — Hosea's greetings to his lady Shelowah ======== 1| To my lady Shelowah, your servant Hosea. Gr[eetings]. At all times may all the {gods} seek after your well-being. Greetings to 2| my lord Menahem; greetings to my lady Abihi; gr[eetings to] her [son] and her daughter; greetings to Tahnum and Jehoishma; greetings to 3| Meshullemeth; greetings to Hazzul; greetings to … -n who are with you; greetings to {Kalkaliah}. Now, I have sent 4| … Yaush said to me, saying: "{Give it} {in gold}" 5| To [my] lad[y Shelowah], your {servant} … ======== No. 40 — Hoshaiah's letter to his brother Palti ======== 1| To my brother Palti, your brother Hoshaiah. [The welfare of my brother may the Go]d of Heaven [s]eek after at all times. Greetings to Shewa and his sons; greetings to Ab[…] 2| I have heard of the trouble you went through when … I {went}, I and Zeho son of Pahe; we said to Pisina, and […] 3| and he sent a letter about this to Ṣʾ[… conce]rning the children. Concerning you my heart is {empty}. All that he gave […] 4| Mauziah. A matter of yours you will {send} to … 5| To my brother Pal[ti son of Jau]sh, your brother Hoshaiah son of Nathan ======== No. 41 — Letter to Zeho and his sons ======== 1| To my brother Zeh[o and his sons, your brother … For my brother's welfare may the god]s, all of them, seek af[ter] abundantly at al[l times … 2| -wt … {so} your greeting reached me; I heard it and rejoiced greatly. I heard 3| … which was {com}[i]{ng} to you. I was going to send to ask after your welfare. Now 4| … they did not tell [me] about you. I would have spoken for your house before Delaiah. 5| … {…} from Syene; not one letter about your welfare have you sent me. Reverse| (Reverse) 6| … look after the servants and my house, as you would for your own house. 7| … far from it, fr[om] what he does in his {own sight}. Your welfare and your {news} 8| … in peace. 9| To [my brother Zeho son of Pahe and his sons] … son of {H}[… y]our brother ======== No. 42 — Hosea's letter about a debt, a house and clothing ======== Date| 27 Tybi, that [is Nisa]n, year … 1| [To my brother …]{u}s, your brother H[os]ea. Peace and … abundantly … to [you] at all times. Now 2| [we are before Pi]{sina} in court, and his se[rvan]t; they are paying silver, 10 karsh, and karsh … 3| [… in] hand[s of yours], wh[o will] {give} [refined] si[lver], 5 karsh. Now … 4| with you, about his [gi]ving you silver, 5 [kars]h; and write them a document about them. And if [they do] not [give all] the si[lver 5| with the interest, and do not [sa]y to you: "Give pledges; sell the house of Zakkur and the house of Ashn…" — if they do not sell 6| them, look for a man who will buy the [g]reat house of Hodaw, and {give it} to him for the {silver} that is charged on it. And when 7| this letter [r]eaches you, do not linger; come down to Memphis quickly. If you have found silver, [co]me down quickly; 8| and if you have not found any, come down [qu]ickly all the same. Go to Bethel-taddin, and he will give you a shtatn tunic and 1 (doubtful) asah, 9| a y…{ḥh} tunic, 1, of qamr; paʿpas, 1; {sarbalaq}, 1; … {dye} {and} … qṭʾ {prʾ}, 6 k(arsh); 10| 1 [w]orn linen garment. And once he gives them to you, send word to me; and if he has not given them to you, [s]{end} word to me. Now, 11| if you go down to {Memphis}, do not leave {Ashn} . When he has {sold}, {give} me that {kandar}; {not} {k} … Reverse| (Reverse) 12| when the Jews {bring} them in before [Arsames … l … {n} … you have [kept fa]r [from] {me} … 13| their words. Do not delay; come down quickly, and quickly bring down to me 1 tunic in your hand to [Memphis] … {k} … 14| to {me} . {…} a[bout it]. Written on 27 Tybi, th[at is Nisa]n, {year} … 15| {T}[o my brother …us son of] H{ag}[gai, your brother Hosea] ======== No. 43 — Mibtahiah's deed of withdrawal to her sister Asori, for silver and a royal ration ======== Date| [1]5 Pa[ophi], year lost 1| [On the 1]5th of Pa[ophi, that is …, year … of King …; then in Elephantine said Mibtahiah daughter of Gemariah, a Jewess] 2| of Elephantine the fortress, of her detachment, an A[ramaean], to Asori daughter of Gem[ari]ah her sister; {and she trusted her}, {sa}[ying: I], {Mibtahiah}, 3| have given you silver, 6 shekels, that is, six, by the king's weights, silver {2 quarters} to 1 karsh. I, Mibtahiah, gave it to you in {affection} 4| in return for the support [that you gave me; and I have with]drawn from yo[u] from this day for ever. I will not be able to bring suit against yo[u], suit [or] action, in the name of 5| [this silver which I gave you and the document I wrote above, and] a son or a daughter of mine, a brother or a sister of mine, near or far, shall n[ot be] able 6| [to bring suit against you, suit or process. Whoever brings suit against you in the name of this silver which] I gave you shall give you a penalty of silver, 2 karsh, [ac]cording to what I said, 7| [I, Mibtahiah. Also, there is a ration of mine from the king's house; I, Mib]tahiah — that which was in your hand you have given to me, and my heart is satisfied 8| [with it. From this day for ever I have withdrawn from you from this sil]ver and from the ration which was mine from the king's house, and I shall not be able 9| [to bring suit against you, I, Mibtahiah, … son] or daughter of mine, partner or associate of mine, [in the na]me of this silver 10| [which is written above and the ration which was mine from the king's house; and anyone] of mine who brings suit against you in the name of this silver and the ra[tion that is wri]tten {above} 11| [shall give you silver, 2 karsh. … son of … wrote] this document at the dictation of Mibtahiah daughter of Gemariah, and the witnesses herein: 12| [witness … son of …; witness … son of] Pedaiah; witness Menaki son of Sepamra. 13| (Endorsement) Document of [withdrawal which Mibtahiah daughter of Gemariah wrote for Asori] her sister. ======== No. 44 — Oath of Menahem son of Shallum to Meshullam son of Nathan about a she-ass ======== 1| The oa[th which] Menahem son of Shallum son of 2| Ho[daviah, which he] swore to Meshullam son of Nathan 3| by {Y}[ahu the Go]{d}, in the place of prostration, and by Anat-Yahu, 4| {and} [he said to him] thus: "The she-ass which is in the hand of 5| P[amisi and Asp]emet, which you sued me 6| ab[out it. See,] half of it is mine; it is just." 7| {A}[lso he said to him]: "As to its ownership, Pamisi your father 8| [indeed] gave me an ass in exchange for the half, 9| {and} he did not [give] me silver or the value of silver in exchange for 10| [the half]." ======== No. 45 — Settlement of a dispute over fish, sworn by Yahu, with Mahseiah son of Shibah ======== Date| [… Nisa]n, year [… of A{r}taxerxes the k]ing 1| [On the … of …, that is, … Nisa]n, year [… of A{r}taxerxes the k]i[n]g, in Sy[ene] the fortress, [said … 2| [son of …, of the detachment of Artaban]u, to Mahseiah son of Shibah, an {Ar}amaean of Syene [the fortress … 3| [saying: I sued you] about fish, {saying}, "You took them from {me} by force," and [you were] que[stioned before 4| [the judges, and an oath was impose]d on you by Yahu the God, that fish you did not ta[ke from me by force. 5| […] I will return, or {this grain} as the price of your fish [… 6| […] to you all your fish or their price which there[… 7| […] to you. If I do not give you {by} da[y … 8| [… I will give you a penal]ty: 1 kab of barley per 1 peres, every month and year [… 9| [… Nathan son of] Anani [wrote this] document in [Sye]ne the fortres[s at the dictation of 10| … ======== No. 46 — Fragment of a deed concerning the house Shelomam gave to his wife Abihi ======== 1| and her property which … 2| Shelomam son of {Shenit} … 3| she has {with} … 4| … and she … and … 5| … l … ʾ … 6| a citizen or a ci[tizen … 7| to a mother, {has no right} … 8| And whoever rises up to expe[l her from this house which Shelomam gave 9| to Abihi his wife [shall give her a penalty of silver, 5 karsh 10| by the king's weights, si[lver 2 quarters to the ten, and the house is nonetheless the house 11| of the wife of Shelo[mam son of Hodaviah, which he {gave} her, and there is no suit. 12| The witnesses: Zaccur {so}[n of …; witness … son of …; witness 13| Meshullak son of Hoshai[ah; witness … son of …; witness … son of …; 14| witness Gaddul son of Ho[…; witness … son of …; witness … son of …. 15| Total 8. W[rote … son of … this document at the dictation of Abihi 16| and Shelomam son of Hod[aviah her husband. ======== No. 47 — Fragments of a conveyance with penalty and no-suit clauses ======== 1| … which your sons from … 2| … son or daughter of yours, before prefect and lord … 3| … I gave you, I will give you silver, karsh … 4| … {by suit} and process in the name of the ho[use … 5| … {I asked} … 6| … {nḥ} … 7| I shall be able to complain against you before prefect and {l}[ord … 8| and I gave you. Also, I shall not be able to say, "You … ======== No. 48 — Fragments perhaps of a marriage contract ======== 1| son of Zaccur {S…} … 2| of all the {silver} which is written above, and not … 3| your daughter to take as wife; I will give to Mahseiah … ======== No. 49 — Fragment of a deed of claim between Semaki son of Sheshai and Shelomam son of Galgal ======== 1| Said Semaki son of Sheshai to Shelomam son of Galgal, say[ing … 2| I said to you: {I have (a claim)} against you silver and wheat and barley … 3| [and] {any}thing by which a man lives, and to Shel[… 4| to you, and a daughter shall [se]n[d ag]ainst you (pl.) anything of all {z} … 5| … {ʾ} … the {witnesses} {here}[in … ======== No. 50 — Fragments of a legal document mentioning men examined and a storehouse ======== Date| year 13 1| … 2| … wrote [in Pa]chons … 3| … [P]amenhotep, year 13 … 4| … he sought against you the men {d} … 5| … the men who were examined, until … yea[r … 6| … they shall stand in the {st}orehouse, the house of Nahm … 7| … 2 {m} … Kenufi … 8| … m … 9| … {talents}, 1,000; sh(ekels) 1 … 10| … m{r} … 11| … {n}ʾt {ḥ}k … 12| … l {sh} … 13| … n 4 … 14| … to give … 15| … 16 … ======== No. 51 — Fragment of a list of Persian and other non-Jewish names ======== 1| … 2| {B}atuhi 3| … b{w} … 4| {P}ahi 5| Vahishtab 6| Artabanu 7| {D}ar{g} … 8| Isk … 9| Farnam 10| (margin: 10) Bagabakhsh 11| Farnish 12| Zabman 13| Frataparna 14| Ashirdat ======== No. 52 — Fragments of two columns: a judgment and a list of names ======== Col. i| (Column i) 1| … w 2| … hu 3| … d 4| … {bqʿ} 5| … and we shall judge 6| … they will cry out 7| … jud]ged concerning 8| … -diah, whom I [s]eized Col. ii| (Column ii) 9| (mark A) {Josiah} {son of} … 10| (mark B) … son of Zechar[iah 11| … ʿdsh hsh … 12| (mark C) Shemaiah son of … 13| Hoshaiah son of [Zeph]aniah 14| (mark D) Jezaniah son of [Shep]hatiah 15| (mark A) Zechariah son of [Zeb]adiah 16| (mark E) Meshullam son of [Je]zaniah 17| (mark F) Jezaniah [son of] Hilkiah ======== No. 53 — Fragment of a list of mostly Egyptian names ======== 1| … son of … 2| Petese son of Nethin 3| {Haggai} son of Beeri 4| Pasu son of {K}ushi 5| (side stroke) … {N}ahahnum son of Hanmu 6| Ashmakadri son of Ap{ʿ} 7| Hor son of A{s}kashit 8| … Reverse| (Reverse) 9| {Esh}maram son of Nabunad … 10| Pasu son of {M}anki 11| … ======== No. 54 — Two fragmentary letters about ten asses and Nabunathan ======== 1| {Your} servant [Wash]{ahi}. 2| Now, I have sent 3| to Nabunathan: 4| if you have 5| 10 asses, 6| let them release them. 7| {Also} to {you} … 8| … who is here, {his sons}, much 9| … {your} [s]ervant; we will {rescue} [him] Reverse| (Reverse) 10| From ʿA]{qab}nabu. The welfare of my lord 11| [abundantly]. Now, if I have 10 asses 12| … {ʾ} {yours} y … 13| … {nw} Nabunathan {at his wish} 14| … to g[o] from before the chie{f} 15| … send to Nabunathan, and let him release ======== No. 55 — Fragment of an inventory or letter listing items ======== Obverse| (Obverse) 1| and tapsah, 1 2| and he gave me 3| Zechariah a karsh 4| … 1 which 5| I said to … 6| {gave} to {Gaddukh} Reverse| (Reverse) 7| Bethelnad[an 8| mashan, 1, which 9| … {bw} … {w}ḥt … 10| … {N}athan 11| and a hat, 1 12| {ṣṣnn}, 2 ======== No. 56 — Opening of a letter about a journey to Syene, with its address ======== 1| … may the gods, at all times, seek after your welfare. And now … 2| … {T} son of Y{ḥ} … went to Syene and made for Yahu … 3| … y {Azibu} [so]n of Berechiah {hu} … Reverse| (Reverse) 4| (Address) [To my brother … son of] Gaddul, your brother Yislah son of Nathan. ======== No. 57 — Fragments of a letter with greetings and a list of hats ======== 1| … greetings to Yatna, greetings … 2| … h]ats, 2; {bread} {nm} … 3| … y … {h}u … 4| … your (pl.) welfare … 5| … ty … 6| … bt, not … 7| … {kmyʾ} {wh}ich … 8| … welfare … 9| … time … 10| … ======== No. 58 — Fragment of a letter address and two lines of a writing exercise ======== 1| … m{ʾ}: the God of all — may he grant you (f.) welfare; welfare … 2| … welfare, all, all of me {redeem me}; welfare … 3| … son of … son of Shabbethai ======== No. 59 — Endorsement of an oath document written in Demotic ======== Verso| (Verso, endorsement) Document of oath which Hamen wrote … ======== No. 61 — Inventory of bronze and silver cups and other items ======== Date| [1 A]dar, year lost 1| [Me]morandum: cups of bro[nze 2| Hanan son of Haggai, into the hand of […] 3| cups of bro[nze]: 21 […] 4| a silver cup: {one} 5| bylwp, 3 … 6| … (margin: a sign) 7| bylwp … (margin: lg) 8| … of {s}[tat]ers: 2 9| rk … for eating: 3 10| Memorandum: {ʿAni} {brother of} 11| Menak[i so]n of Anani{ah}, 12| on da{y} [1 of A]dar, year … 13| cups … silver (?), sh(ekels) 21 14| a {cup} of silver: 1 15| {they will} st[and] {sh} 1 … 16| {w} … 3 17| 1,000 (?) … 6 18| {s}k, 3 (doubtful) … 1 19| … ======== No. 62 — Fragments of accounts on the back of the Behistun text ======== No. 1| (Fragment 1) 1.1| Hana[n 1.2| (division mark) 1.3| {myt} Nabuaqab son of […] 1.4| Memorandum: Hanan son of Azari[ah 1.5| l … concerning pt[…] 1.6| not … sh{w} bʾ[…] 1.7| … {silver} No. 3| (Fragment 3) 3.1| q … 3.2| and to … 3.3| in it … 3.4| bḥ … 3.5| 1 bought … 3.6| 1 to … 3.7| b{ḥ} … ======== No. 63 — Accounts and memoranda in two columns on the back of the Behistun text ======== Date| year 15 (partly restored); year 6; Epiphi, year 13 (units doubtful); month Mesore Col. i| (Column i) 1| … 1, year 15 (partly restored), {silver} … came to {Ḥ}[…] 2| … 4: Taweia wife of Ahartim, sh., p., 4 (partly restored) 3| … -kk daughter of Zac[cur … ]{b}k, p. 2, seahs 4 4| … l, Shelomith {sh} … 5| … p. 1 6| … {ʾ} Eliehoish[ma] son of … {ʿ}abi son of 7| … {ʾ} Col. ii| (Column ii) 8| Zaccur son of … y, year 6[…] 9| Azariah, to Hanna the carpenter {tn}[…] 10| Memorandum concerning Menahem son of Shallum […] 11| length: cubits 3, k. 2 b … […] 12| Memorandum concerning Az[ar]iah, to Hanna {wh}[ich …] 13| second {ʿ}.ʾ ʿ … {n}ʾ the great, which … […] 14| Memorandum: the {reeds} which Hapshar, and to … […] 15| [Penu]liah son of Oshea, in Epiphi, year 13 (units doubtful) […] 16| … gave to … rin in the month Mesore […] ======== No. 64 — Small fragments found with the Behistun text, mentioning Xerxes ======== No. 17| (Fragment 17) 17.1| […]kryʾ 17.2| [… G]ladan 17.3| … {Ṣar}melekh […] 17.4| […]y month No. 18| (Fragment 18) 18.1| […the k]ing; barley […] 18.2| […]{to give} concerning[ … No. 19| (Fragment 19) 19.1| […] … I set up […] 19.2| […]m I, h[e No. 20| (Fragment 20) 20.1| […]Xerxes[…] 20.2| […] sent to you […] 20.3| […in] {Sivan}, year […] 20.4| [… ye]ar another, h[…] 20.5| [… from] Egypt, sa[id … 20.6| […]{ʾ} with what […] 20.7| […] … {year}[…] No. 21| (Fragment 21) 21.1| … […] … to sh[…] 21.2| […] ceased … […] bʾw[…] No. 22| (Fragment 22) 22.1| […]{t}[…] 22.2| […]{between}[…] No. 23| (Fragment 23) 23.1| […]{from} kb{sh}[…] 23.2| […]nkt ḥ[…] No. 24| (Fragment 24) 24.1| […] year […] 24.2| […]{daugh}ter[…] No. 25| (Fragment 25) 25.1| […]sh[…] 25.2| […]{h} pll? … […] No. 26| (Fragment 26) 26.1| […]ʾ which to Qa{n}[ ]ʾb{wṭ} 26.2| […]{s}aid {Pakram}[ ]lql yšrʾ? No. 27| (Fragment 27) 27.1| […th]ere is k[…] 27.2| […I will re]pay you[…] No. 28| (Fragment 28) 28.1| […]{t}ʾ {w}[…] 28.2| […]ydyn[…] 28.3| […]sh bn h[…] No. 29| (Fragment 29) 29.1| [… the me]n who are imprisoned […] 29.2| [… X]erx[e]s the king […] ======== No. 65 — Eighteen fragments of legal documents and letters ======== No. 1| (Fragment 1) 1.1| […] and its interest […] 1.2| […] this silver […] 1.3| […]{t}w{r} vessel {z}[…] No. 2| (Fragment 2) 2.1| […] Gaddul so[n of 2.2| […] Jedaniah son of […] No. 3| (Fragment 3) 3.1| Said {Mattan} son of Yash[…] 3.2| to Zakkum, the detachment […] 3.3| was to possess … […] No. 4| (Fragment 4) 4.1| […] the welfare of my brother at all 4.2| […] welfare. Now 4.3| to the sister {h} 4.4| […] you (f.), who {t} No. 5| (Fragment 5) 5.1| […] 9 (partly restored) of the month Ḥ[…] 5.2| […] daughter of Ashin, Aramaean[s No. 6| (Fragment 6) 6.1| […] the king […] 6.2| […]{k}ʾ in Ele[phantine No. 7| (Fragment 7) 7.1| […]kt … {b}ʾtw[…] 7.2| … sil[ver, k]arsh five […] 7.3| {son of} Tahnu{m}, [thi]{s} document 7 demotic| (a line in Demotic) 7.5| […] Zabdi so[n of … ]el 7.6| […] house […] No. 8| (Fragment 8) 8.1| […]{they} will question {me}[…] 8.2| […] this document […] No. 9| (Fragment 9) 9.1| […]ml[…] 9.2| […]h{n}[…] 9.3| […they g]av{e}[…] No. 10| (Fragment 10) 10.1| […]d […] 10.2| […] karsh 10 […] No. 11| (Fragment 11) 11 demotic?| (Demotic?) 11.2| […] witness Pet{p}[…] 11.3| […A]chaemenes … […] No. 12| (Fragment 12) 12.1| [thi]{s}[…] 12.2| […]{wr}itte[n No. 13| (Fragment 13) 13.1| […] expel her […] 13.2| […] month {T}[…] No. 14| (Fragment 14) 14.1| […] {my} son[…] 14.2| […]{ṣ}p{n}[…] 14.3| [… si]lver, th[is 14.4| […]{ny} not[…] 14.5| […] … p{rʾ}[…] No. 15| (Fragment 15) 15.1| Nusku-baʿad[ri No. 16| (Fragment 16) 16.1| […] 3 […] 16.2| […] ? m{r}[…] 16.3| […] ? ? pk[…] No. 17| (Fragment 17) 17.1| […]{a}gainst him[…] No. 18| (Fragment 18) 18.1| [… do]cument[…] 18.2| […] Hodaviah so[n of Nos. 7 + 11 combined (Cowley's commentary, n206)| (Fragments 7 + 11 combined, as read in Cowley's commentary) c1| […]kt … {b}ʾtw[…] c2| […]si[lver, k]arsh five […] c3| [… wrote], {son of} Tahnu{m}, [thi]{s} document [at the dictation of …, and the witnesses herein: c4 demotic| (a line in Demotic) c5| […] witness Pet{p}[ … son of …; witness] Zabdi so[n of …]el c6| [A]chaemenes [ … ] house [ … ======== No. 66 — Sixteen fragments of legal documents, one naming Cambyses ======== No. 1| (Fragment 1) 1.1| [These are the na]mes of the men […] 1.2| […]{t} son of Petenter, his na[me 1.3| […] the men whose na[mes are written above 1.4| […] men from among us, Yah[…] 1.5| [befo]re Cambyses l … […] No. 2| (Fragment 2) 2.1| […]mt[…] 2.2| […]ʾ son of Ḥ[…] 2.3| […] written […] 2.4| […]w b{r}b … […] 2.5| […] … […] No. 3| (Fragment 3) 3.1| […]{y}mh to you […] 3.2| […] between, nḥt[…] 3 lost| (one line lost) 3.4| […]yn y{w}[…] No. 4| (Fragment 4) 4.1| […]{l}ḥ which m[…] 4.2| […] of the detach{ment}[…] 4.3| […]{bar}ley […] 4.4| […] you […] No. 5| (Fragment 5) 5.1| […]y ʾ[…] 5.2| […] 1 p{y}[…] 5.3| […] … thm[…] 5.4| […] bond … […] 5.5| […]{b}tl[…] No. 6| (Fragment 6) 6.1| […] Bagadat son of […] 6.2| [… in Elephantin]e the fortress […] 6.3| [from the days of the k]ing of Egyp[t No. 7| (Fragment 7) 7.1| [… wor]ds adjoining {it}[…] 7.2| […]{h} at the gate of the h[ouse 7.3| […] Atarparat […] No. 8| (Fragment 8) 8.1| {that}: karsh 1 […] 8.2| {A}nani, {th}i[s] document 8.3| Az{ani}ah, Anan[i No. 9| (Fragment 9) 9.1| […] the welfare of your servant […] 9.2| […] and {I reaped}[…] No. 10| (Fragment 10) 10.1| […]lwnpr[…] 10.2| […] to Jezaniah […] No. 11| (Fragment 11) 11.1| […] {fr}om you (pl.) and from b[…] No. 12| (Fragment 12) 12.1| […]{my por}tion[…] 12.2| […]{y} A{s}uti{s} […] 12.3| […]m the price of […] 12.4| […]m k … {belonging to}[…] 12.5| […] l […] No. 13| (Fragment 13) 13.1| […] its boundaries [ No. 14| (Fragment 14) 14.1| […] 3 b[…] 14.2| […]{h} to him, {house}[…] 14.3| [withdra]{wal} of the house, 1 (doubtful), which {w}[rote 14.4| … No. 15| (Fragment 15) 15.1| … 15.2| […] … ʾ ʾ … from the [ri]sing to the west […] 15.3| […] 3 (doubtful) ʿ … No. 16| (Fragment 16) 16.1| […] you shall give him in yea[r 16.2| […] to you (pl.). If g … ======== No. 67 — Eighteen fragments of legal documents ======== No. 1| (Fragment 1) 1.1| ]of Tybi, ye[ar 1.2| ]{Adon}-Nabu, to[…] No. 2| (Fragment 2) 2.1| …{m}] on the 5th of P[…] 2.2| ]I {sent} to[…] 2.3| … ]š{ḥ}[…] No. 3| (Fragment 3) 3.1| ]{b}iah, an Aramean of Syene, of the detachment[…] 3.2| ]I have brought suit against you[…] 3.3| ]Yatomah and Saluah […] No. 4| (Fragment 4) 4.1| ]of Adar, he[…] 4.2| ]-qu{n}, an Aramean of[…] 4.3| … No. 5| (Fragment 5) 5.1| ]{and} content of heart[…] 5.2| ]I have withdrawn from you from th[is day 5.3| ]anyone of mine shall bring against you a s[uit 5.4| … which … No. 6| (Fragment 6) 6.1| ]{z} son of Pas[…] 6.2| ]{k}m son of {kṭ}[…] 6.3| ]son of Ag{i}[…] 6.4| ]{w}r […] No. 7| (Fragment 7) 7.1| ]-i all 7.2| [to] {him}, my lord 7.3| l- …] there is No. 8| (Fragment 8) 8.1| month by month pq[…] 8.2| To my brother M[…] No. 9| (Fragment 9) 9.1| ]-šn[…] 9.2| ]stater 1 … […] No. 10| (Fragment 10) 10.1| ]{-w}š 4, of the {inter}[est 10.2| ]year 18 of Dar[ius No. 11| (Fragment 11) 11.1| Ho]shea […] 11.2| ] greeting […] No. 12| (Fragment 12) 12.1| After me there shall be […] 12.2| … No. 13| (Fragment 13) 13.1| ]{-mr}, wheat 2 […] 13.2| ]in the sun, 11 (doubtful) … […] 13.3| ]{y} n{ʿ}[…] 13.4| ]-ʾ{r}[…] 13.5| ]-t{r}g 13.6| ]-n{ʾ} ḥ[…] No. 14| (Fragment 14) 14.1| ]-ti[…] 14.2| ]-t to bi{nd}[…] 14.3| ]sai{d} … […] 14.4| ] … we will go {m}[…] 14.5| ]-m you shall forget š[…] No. 15| (Fragment 15) 15.1| ]{-k} Yahu 15.2| ]great, brother[…] No. 16| (Fragment 16) 16.1| ]2 shekels[…] 16.2| ]the silver shall be given[…] No. 17| (Fragment 17) 17.1| ]Seha … […] No. 18| (Fragment 18) 18.1| ]and they shall take her[…] 18.2| … ======== No. 68 — Twelve fragments of legal documents, letters and accounts ======== No. 1 Obv.| (Fragment 1, obverse) 1.obv.1| fr]om you and from us … 1.obv.2| ]greetings; your brother Taqutiya; greetings […] No. 1 Rev.| (Fragment 1, reverse) 1.rev.1| … may there be welfare[…] 1.rev.2| concerning … l- No. 2 Obv.| (Fragment 2, obverse) 2.obv.1| ]{-š} the king. Then in [Elephantine 2.obv.2| ]{z}i to me {ḥ}[…] 2.obv.3| ]-t with you (fem.) to[…] No. 2 Rev.| (Fragment 2, reverse) 2.rev.1| dau]ghter of Zaccur No. 3 Obv.| (Fragment 3, obverse) 3.obv.1| ]-i p- … […] 3.obv.2| ]{b}a to[…] 3.obv.3| ]until you see[…] 3.obv.4| ]your garment, and not[…] 3.obv.5| ]-lt Pithom No. 3 Rev.| (Fragment 3, reverse) 3.rev.1| ]l{q}, total 10 […] 3.rev.2| ] … l … […] 3.rev.3| ] … t […] No. 4 Obv.| (Fragment 4, obverse) 4.obv.1| ]Then in Elephantine I said: Mibt[…] 4.obv.2| {š} No. 4 Rev.| (Fragment 4, reverse) 4.rev.1| ]which I wrote. Mibtahiah da[ughter of No. 5 Obv.| (Fragment 5, obverse) 5.obv.1| ]-h I made[…] 5.obv.2| ]karsh, in seed, zyl[…] No. 5 Rev.| (Fragment 5, reverse) 5.rev.1| ]-mw 5.rev.2| ]{in} words … this[…] 5.rev.3| ]. R 2 No. 6 Obv.| (Fragment 6, obverse) 6.obv.1| ]{-ʾ} given […] 6.obv.2| the pr]ovince[…] No. 6 Rev.| (Fragment 6, reverse) 6.rev.1| ]to me {ʾ}zk[…] 6.rev.2| ]took {ʾ}mš[…] 6.rev.3| ]. šml[…] No. 7 Obv.| (Fragment 7, obverse) 7.obv.1| ]{bk}[…] 7.obv.2| ]{q}i b{t}[…] 7.obv.3| ]. -tʾl {ʾ}[…] 7.obv.4| ]-tʾl{h}[…] No. 8 Obv.| (Fragment 8, obverse) 8.obv.1| ]Sitri, your brother[…] 8.obv.2| ]and her children, greetings […] No. 8 Rev.| (Fragment 8, reverse) 8.rev.1| ]my sister S[itri No. 9 Obv.| (Fragment 9, obverse) 9.obv.1| ]Nathan, wit{ness}[…] No. 9 Rev.| (Fragment 9, reverse) 9.rev.1| My lor[d No. 10 Obv.| (Fragment 10, obverse) 10.obv.1| ]-p{rd} . {wnḥ}[…] 10.obv.2| ]with which you shall gi[ve 10.obv.3| ] {sureties}, strong […] No. 10 Rev.| (Fragment 10, reverse) 10.rev.1| Je]hoishma son of […] 10.rev.2| ] . your son, {son of} […] 10.rev.3| ] . {Nabu}-shedar[…] No. 11 Obv.| (Fragment 11, obverse) 11.obv.1| On the 3rd of Tybi[…] 11.obv.2| Memorandum: Ḥem{d}[an 11.obv.3| in the {land} . […] 11.obv.4| On the 3rd of Tybi, Am[…] 11.obv.5| all[…] No. 11 Rev.| (Fragment 11, reverse) 11.rev.1| ]. l … Ḥe{m}dan 1 11.rev.2| ]the province of Thebes No. 12 Obv.| (Fragment 12, obverse) 12.obv.1| your servants[…] 12.obv.2| betwee{n}[…] 12.obv.3| ʾrt[…] 12.obv.4| with bricks[…] 12.obv.5| all d-[…] 12.obv.6| all d-[…] No. 12 Rev.| (Fragment 12, reverse) 12.rev.1| The {do}c[ume]nt of {Lbḥ}ta, his wife . […] ======== No. 69 — Six fragments of a story, letter or report ======== A col. i| (Fragment A, column i) A.i.1| … A.i.2| ]{between} A.i.3| … A.i.4| ]{the sun} A.i.5| ]-ʾ . rods, in A.i.6| … A.i.7| … the governor{ of} A.i.8| ]{they took captive} {in Elephantine}, and to me A.i.9| ]{-ntki}, which A.i.10| ]ptyrwt, {my son, to me} A.i.11| ]Amhut son of … -th, which A.i.12| ]the god A.i.13| ]left … l- … A col. ii| (Fragment A, column ii) A.ii.1| [he will] {make kno}wn {yw}[…] A.ii.2| [Afterwards] he spoke about Petenephthoph[…] A.ii.3| ]thus he said: 'Seize[…]' A.ii.4| ʾ- … {and they bound} him and[…] A.ii.5| they did not release him until {n}[…] A.ii.6| ʾ- … A.ii.7| … A.ii.8| {all} … {ntw} in {Bab} {hn}[…] A.ii.9| {ns.lt}; they {sealed} {it}; succe{ss}ful[…] A.ii.10| b- … ḥ given under[…] A.ii.11| {nhy.š}, qastar 3, {and he} spoke about[…] A.ii.12| which I gave him not for wages; also I {gave}[…] A.ii.13| to {Lush}an and his colleagues […] B| (Fragment B) B.1| They thus sa[id B.2| {Set} for him[…] B.3| the treasury {ʾ}[…] B.4| {d}o{ne}[…] B.5| {wr} D| (Fragment D) D.1| A]mhu[t D.2| 12 {ḥ}[…] D.3| {š} {š} 20[…] D.4| {tr}ʾ {ʾ} … 20[…] D.5| her{e}[…] C| (Fragment C) C.1| {Gr}eetings to {Bar}[…] C.2| -h with whom[…] E| (Fragment E) E.1| 20[…] E.2| wine of {the} outside, zyn[…] E.3| lyn[…] F| (Fragment F) F.1| … F.2| … F.3| 4 l-[…] F.4| 2 {l}-[…] ======== No. 70 — Opening of a letter to Mithravahisht ======== 1| To my lord Mithravahisht, your servant Pahim. {Wel}[fare, 2| life, joy and strength! May my lord be ab[undantly ======== No. 71 — Fragments of a story: Bar Puneš and the king ======== A. Recto| (Fragment A, recto) 1| and their b[ell]y shall not be filled with {br}[ead 2| each one, the pains of their {fa}thers[…] 3| before them, until they build, qr[ (side column:) ]-yn 4| and in later days he shall eat[ (side column:) ]-ʿ 5| righteousness to his father, and he shall bu[y (side column:) ]-whi 6| and he shall weigh him in {his heart}, and he shall kill a man l-[ (side column:) … / ]-t{k} 7| his lord, and he shall {release} him, a man, the {sons} of {his lord}[ (side column:) ]-ʾšh 8| bread. And the gods of Egypt shall gather[…] 9| … 44 years {p}ḥ[…] A. Verso| (Fragment A, verso) 10| …] to the sons, on the testimony of the king, and he hea[rd 11| …] Bar Puneš, he. Then the king answered[…] 12| …] Bar Puneš the words that the king had said, and [answered 13| … you have k]{il}led them. You shall go with the sword of your army, and you[…] 14| ]{and} {that} shall {pass}, and the captives that you took captive in this year[…] 15| ]-bʾlk, and your bones shall not go down to Sheol, and your shadow[…] 16| Bar Pune]š over the thousands of the king, and … in vict[ories B. Recto| (Fragment B, recto) 17| ]the king, and he cried out, and {anointed}[…] 18| ]this, which {happened}[…] 19| you shall h]ang him, just as you did to hi[s] sons 20| ]were it not that in the place of the s[e]a you kill[ed him 21| ]-š{ʿ}t{r}m in Tema{y} {and} Menah[em 22| th]at, you shall go and {drink}[…] 23| ]-h with gods, {and} a spell, {help}[…] 24| ]{ṣ}b . b … [and in days] later[…] B. Verso| (Fragment B, verso) 25| ] which his father {will give} him[…] 26| shall gath]er, the gods of Egypt [who 27| Eg]ypt, and they shall be[…] 28| ]-mh, and righteousness {shall perish}, and {ʾy}[…] 29| ]-sw, and a man {was brought out}[…] 30| ]{š} because of his silver, {kšr}[…] 31| ]{his corpse} to {bury} it, [and to 32| ]{and they} {shall say} to him, and he shall answer[…] 33| ]-nth in {half} … you shall go, and to[…] ======== No. 72 — Wine accounts of a household for the month Paophi ======== A| (Side A) 1| Its outgoings in the month of Paophi (side column:) ]{P}aophi, which {is given} 2| On the 1st of Paophi, for the meal: Sidonian wine, jar 1; Egyptian[…] 3| On the 2nd of Paophi, for the meal: Egyptian, flagon 1, jars 2 (side column:) ]Egyptian, jar 1 4| Given to Seha son of Pamet: Egyptian wine, vessels 5[ (side column:) Egypt]ian, flagon 1, jars 2 5| Within that: flagons 2, jars 3; charged to you, {a little}, š{r} 6| ]b.l; charged to you, before ʿAḥar: Eg[ypt]ian, flagon 1 7| ]Egyptian, flagon 1 8| ]{l}.lʾ: Egyptian, jar 1 9| ]{which} in ṣ- …: Egyptian, flagon 1 10| ]for the meal: Sidonian wine, jar 1; Egyptian[…] 11| ]son of Paha: Egyptian, flagon 1 12| ]for [the meal: Egyptian, f]lagon 1 B| (Side B) 13| On the 23rd, for the meal: flagon 1, jar 1 14| On the 24th, for Bagdu, 1; jars 2 15| For a libation before Apathu, the great god: jar 1 16| For a libation ⸢before⸣ Isis the {goddess}: jar 1 17| For the meal: Sidonian wine, jar 1 (side column:) ]here 18| On the 25th of Khoiak, which is the day of the vow, for the meal: flagons 2 (side column:) ]1 19| On the 26th, before ʾ-[ (side column:) ]jar 1 20| Charged to you: {ʾndwmʾ}[…] 21| On the 28th, for[ (side column:) ]1 22| On the 29th, for[ (side column:) ]-y 1 23| {ʿ}Aḥrenpi, {to} him[ (side column:) ]-p{ṣ}ta 24| For the meal[…] 25| For[…] ======== No. 73 — Fragments of accounts ======== 1| ]charged to {you}: bnpʾ npyʾ ⊔ {p}š[…] 2| [the] {servant}; that is the total 3| 23,885, {rʾ} bgrwm 4| Gi]ven to Anḥapi son of Petese, for {s}- … l- mpš 5| … 850 ⊔ to ʿ.ln 6| {m}w; in all, pasture 10 7| ex]penditure of his own … to the hand; they shall be made b- … 8| Given to Taba daughter of {M}- …, bnp{y}ʾ 9| To] Anḥebes son of Petese, for me and for my son and for {you} 10| b- … | To Shaḥpimu son of Shenut … 2 11| To {P}eteḥarpakhrat son of Pet- …, with you, {and} whkdw{ʾ} 12| ⊔ To Neftsobek 13 pš 13| pasture | To Pamsa son of Shaḥpimu, pasture 125 14| Expenditure of the province 15| šl | ⊔ To Petekhnum, pasture 60 16| ⊔ To Aḥarḥib son of Ḥapimu 60 17| Total of pasture: 814 ======== No. 74 — List of Egyptian names ======== 1| Peti son of Paḥpi, his share: t.qʾ 2| Psammetichus son of Pa[me]t son of N{ʿṣ}b, b{g}- … 3| Pamun son of {B}en[t] … 4| Semtu son of Anḥmu{t} 5| Hadyu son of Pete{se} 6| Ḥan{s} son of Petese ======== No. 75 — Inventory of a plot, perhaps a plantation ======== 1| Rabtakah, in the {pas}ture, {gr}ou[nd … 2| and the ḥnmyʾ, the {ne}ar one … 3| {ʾhb}th, in the {pas}ture, gr[ound 4| Paqarqaptaḥ, the {ne}[ar one 5| All the tamarisks, 30 (doubtful) … 6| Second: cubit … 7| Rabtakah, tamar{is}[ks … 8| Her sister, she … 9| [Al]l [the tamar]i[sks … ======== No. 76 — Fragment of a report of legal proceedings ======== 1| … Ḥotem, until as … lmy R 12 {thus} {said} … -k, the said Seha … 2| … -r and his colleagues, hnš … ⸢done⸣ to … {daughter of} the said Seha … 3| … -h, the said Seha, to Je[d]aniah on the 10th [of Pa]uni. Now … 4| … -tn concerning the request … l- . with … ======== No. 77 — Opening of a letter ======== 1| The welfare of my lord … 2| One servant the[re … Reverse| (Reverse) 3| … {here}, to … ======== No. 78 — Fragment of accounts ======== Obverse| (Obverse) 1| Charged to us in the mon[th … 2| Building 3| Silver, shekels 6 … 4| Price, and thousand: 111 (doubtful) 5| Total silver, sh[ek]els 2 … 6| Total silver, karsh … ======== No. 79 — Specification of building timbers ======== 1| … 2| One structure: 12 cubits; width 1 cubit; its course, h[and]breadths 4 (partly restored) … 3| Structure, another board: 9½ cubits; width 1 cubit; its cour[se … 4| Another [b]oard: 5 cubits; width c[ubit 1]; its course, hand[breadths … ======== No. 80 — Report of an incident concerning the garrison ======== 1| Concerning b- … 2| They s[a]id … {t}w {tur}[n … 3| … to them, and [the o]fficers of their hun{d}reds … 4| Ruin; a gar[rison] there is not … 5| [This] garrison {were} posse[ssing … 6| Moreover, now, in this {fo}r[tre]{ss} a gar[rison … Reverse| (Reverse) 7| Now, thus {s}[ays] Mithradates … 8| You, the judges, say to … 9| let it be given [to] the {lords} ======== No. 81 — Business accounts: grain, wine, deeds and loans ======== Col. a| (Column a) 1| Account of the grapes that I wrote down … my fathers 2| Shelam{ṣ}in, the plantation of Zebadiah: wheat, seah 1, quarter 1 3| Shabbethith daughter of {ʿ}Obadia{h}: wheat, seah 1, {Q} 7, 1 P 4| {Arsin} …: wheat, ardabs 12 5| At Ars[in]'s: {deed} 1, ʾ- … 6| … 7| … [jar]{s} . . of mine, 19 8| [From Shim]{e}on, jars 2; Johanan the priest, jar 1 9| From Shabbethai Jashib, jars 2; from Nathan 1, jar 1 10| From Haggai Diphras, jars 2 11| T{b}a daughter of {Ḥan}iah, {the house} ⟋: ardabs 3, ardab 1, against . . 12| … ʾ, and from S.grh 13| … Col. b| (Column b) 14| The deeds in the hands of Jonathan and myself: 15| {went up} to the boat: Simeon son of Haggai 16| {At} Shammathi's: deed 1, for she-asses 40 17| At Simeon's: deed 1, for karsh 12 18| shekels 8 19| At Simeon's: deed 1, [for zuz] 400 20| [At Simeo]n's: [d]eed 1, for hallurs 4, mdlʾ 21| and months 12, mdlʾ 22| Obadiah{u} Zaccur: deed 1, for zuz 120 23| At Obadiahu Zaccur's: deed 1, for wheat, ardabs 10 24| Shabbethai Haggai, Tatan: deed 1, for his house 25| At Shabbethai Haggai's: deed 1, for wheat, ardabs 24 26| In his hands: dee[d] 1 (doubtful), Johanan son of Delui, ʿ- … 27| for zuz 100 Col. c| (Column c) 28| In the hand{s} of [Jo]nathan: the wheat [of ?] Yaḥyai son of ..baniah 29| In the hands of Jonathan: bundles 6, of wine 30| a tray of silver, 10; {nḥt}n 2, of silver 31| In the hands of Nathan: and the cup of Meshullam son of Azgad, at shekels 2 32| and my own cup is in his hands, and our great cup is in his hands 33| the great one is in his hands, {and the zwlʾ} is in his hands, k{h}..h, fine 34| In his hands … {z}ʾ of {Jedaniah} … 35| In [his] ha[nds … 36| … {wheat}, ardabs 2, quarter 1 37| [In] {his} [hands]: the bronze tool, {N}kras. daughter of Haniah . . 38| In his hands: our tool, in Mṣy . . ʾ 38a| b- 39| The wine which they gave {ytly} this year, šl- … {the pr}iest 40| in Tmas{u}, 21; vinegar, jars 2; hn- … 41| Delui the younger: garden, at 46; vinegar 1 … 42| In Midlah, Abitai: jars 3 43| Obadiahu Paḥes: jars 6, vinegar 1 44| From these: {zuz} 100 Col. d| (Column d) 45| {which} . . -ḥt, for {good}, {h}- … 46| {r} . . 4, hyd {ḥ} 1 (doubtful) … 47| lḥ . . sheep, {large}, 2 … 48| sheep, [lar]ge, 6, p{ʾ} … 49| … vinegar, one, qr{h} … 50| … y{n} . y{h} 5 {b} … 51| … {qsr} … Col. e| (Column e) 52| tʾ w- 53| {nḥ} 54| t- 55| which 56| Hargalti, at shekel- 57| 64, quarter 1 58| ʾ š 59| š verso, Col. f| (Verso, column f) 60| … the fourths, in the boat 61| K 10 (doubtful), ka 1, for shekel 1, quarters 2; remainder, shekel 1 62| Nakim: logs 6, for quarters 3; remainder, {K} 1 P 63| At Nakim's: logs 6, for quarters 3; remainder 1 64| Apelnim {will give}: ka 1 P, for shekels 2, quarter 1 65| ⟋Yaniya: logs 2, 2, for quarters 2 66| ⟋Yaniya: logs … 67| … for quarter 1 68| … [lo]gs 6, for quarters 3 69| Myself: logs 2 70| {N}athan Narbi: log 1, for M 1 P 71| ⟋Yaniya: logs 3, for quarter 1, M 1 P 72| At Nakim's: logs 6, for quarters 3 73| ⟋Yaniya: log … Col. g| (Column g) 74| ⟋Nabas: logs 6, for quarters 3 75| ⟋Yaniya: logs 4, for quarters 2 76| At Nakim's: logs 6, for quarters 3 77| remainder, quarters 2 78| ⟋Judah: logs 2, for quarter 1 79| At Nakim's: log 1, M 1 P 80| ⟋Yaniya: logs 2, for {quarter} 1 (doubtful) 81| ⟋Yaniya: ka 1 P, {b}- … 82| … {b}- … quarter 1 83| in jars, five . . 84| ⟋Isidorus: logs 2, for quarter 1 85| ⟋{P}ras: ka 1, for shekel 1, quarters 2 86| ⟋Hargalti: half, for quarters 3 87| ⟋Lysimachus: logs 7, for quarters 3, M 1 P 88| ⟋Kastas: logs 6, for quarters 3 89| ⟋Diphros: logs 4, for quarters 2 90| Abitai, give{n} … {for quarters} 3 Col. h| (Column h) 91| Abi{t}ai {b}- … 92| ⟋Isidorus: logs 4 . for quarters 2 93| ⟋Yaniya: logs 6, for quarters 3 94| ⟋Bakim: logs 9, for shekel 1, M 1 P 95| ⟋the Greek: logs 2, for quarter 1 96| ⟋Judah: logs 5, for quarters 2, M 1 P 97| ⟋Yaniya: logs 3, for quarter 1, M 1 P 98| ⟋Raḥbel: log 1, for M 1 P 99| ⟋{ʿObadi} Jashi{b} l- … 100| … [logs] 4, for quarters 2 101| Y{a}[niya]: logs 4 (partly restored), for quarters 2 102| ⟋Patpi: logs 4, for quarters 2 103| ⟋Pat{u}: logs 6, for quarters 3 104| ⟋the Greek: logs 4, for quarters 2 105| ⟋Zaphrah: logs 2, for quarter 1 106| b- Patu: kas 2, for shekels 3; remainder ⸢M 6⸣ 107| ⟋Arm{i}s: logs 3, [f]or quarter 1, M 1 P 108| … Col. i| (Column i) 109| In the house of Jashib: yq{l}. lʿtyk 5 110| {In} our house: {mlʿtyn} 2, brʾmn 2, doors 111| The copper money that they paid for the dates of Paḥi 112| this year, in customs duty: karsh 7, shekels 3 113| ⟋At Patu's: logs 8, for shekel 1 114| ⟋At Patu's: logs 2, for quarters 2 (one unit doubtful) (erased:) logs 8, for shekel 1 115| ⟋Abitai, for our house … ⟋the Ara{b}: logs 3, for quarters . . ⟋ 116| … k- … 117| … [logs] 4, for quarters 2 Col. k| (Column k) 118| … remainder tk- … {gi}ven 119| {at mi}ne: Nakim, price of wi{ne} . . 120| {shekels} 3 121| … -ph Nakim ḥ- … 122| 30th of Thoth 123| {d}- (erasure) ʾ 124| zuz 24, quarter 1 125| … 126| ⟋Sasrat{as}: [logs] 3, for quarter 1, M 1 P 127| Myself: logs 12 ⟋Shabbethai Haniah: logs 4 / for quarters 2 128| At my own: logs 4 129| At my own: logs 6 130| shekel 1. At my own: logs 6 131| for quarters 2. ⟋Nakim: ka 1, shekel 1, for quarters [2; rem]ainder, quarters 2 / quarters 2 132| for quarters 2. ⟋Judah: logs 12, {for} [shekels] 3 (partly restored); remainder, quarters 3 133| for quarters 2. At [my own]: logs 4 Col. l| (Column l) 134| 2, for whe[a]t, seah 1 135| 3, M 1 136| 3, for wheat, seah 1 137| quarters 2, M 1 138| 2, until ======== No. 82 — Report of the judges on a division of property ======== 1| … {and} your servants, the judges in A[but] … 2| [son of De]lui, Delaiah son of Ḥ[aggai], Shebah son of Obadiah[u] … 3| … the house of {Z}umi in Tebah, the fortress, {came}, s{a}w … 4| … which š{wq} {p}..{y} I shall give another … 5| … Shelomith, over the heads of the {con}[gregation] … 6| … shall come forward in it, and they testified concerning all the {goo}[ds] … 7| … ʾ, and the others, according to 3 shares. Now … 8| … -phw, and there {was} no matter against me, and they shall give to … 9| … -th to them, n{ot} … son of … and they shall give a {sh}[are] … 10| … 3 [sha]res, of his ox, to Paltah his sister, to … 11| … -lyhʾ, tw{o} {which} among them shall come, šly … 12| … their father, Yashar, share … 13| … we stood at A[but] … 14| … {them}, because … ======== No. 83 — Grain account (recto) and list of names (verso) ======== 1| On the 4th of Tybi 2| Came to Seha {the Memphite} 3| On the 5th, from Pete{se}[ 4| in exchange, ardabs [2]5 5| On the 6th, ardabs 25 6| On the 7th, ardabs 25 (partly restored) 7| [On the] 8th, ardabs 2[5] 8| On the 9th, ardabs 2[5] 9| On the 10th, ardabs 25 10| On the 11th, ardabs 25 11| On the 12th, ardabs 25 12| On the 13th, ardabs 25 13| On the 14th, ardabs 25 14| [On the] 15th, ardabs 25 15| On the 16th, ardabs 25 16| On the 17th (partly restored), [ardabs] 25 (partly restored) 17| On the 18th, [ardabs 2]5 18| On the 19th (partly restored), ardabs 25 19| (Reverse) {sacks} 8 20| … -{r}n 3 21| Members of the table: 22| Seha 1 23| Petenather 1 24| Paso 1 25| Seha 1 26| Ye{shem} 1 27| Pi 1 28| Outgoing: Ṣemi 29| for the myrrh, talents 3 30| servant {Seḥ}a, {to}tal 1 … ======== The Words of Ahikar ======== Col. i| (Col. i) 1| [These are the wo]rds of one Ahikar by name, a wise and skilful scribe, who taught his son […] 2| [For] he said: 'Surely I shall have a son.' Before his wor[d]s, Ahikar was [grea]t, and coun[sellor of all Assyria he was, 3| and bear]er of the seal of Sennacherib king of Assy[ria. And he said: 'I] have n[o] sons.' [And on my counsel 4| and my words Sennacherib king of Assyria depended. Th[en Sen]nacherib, k[ing of Assyria, died, and there arose one named 5| Esarhaddon, his son, and he became king in Assyria in pla[ce of Sennacherib his f]ather. {T}[hen I said: 6| 'I am old, [and who will be] to [me] a son afte[r me … at] {his death}? [And who will be 7| a [scribe and bearer of the sea]l to Es[arhaddon the king, just as I was to Sennacherib 8| king of] Assyria?' Then I, [Ahikar, took one named Nadin,] the son [of my sister, and I raised him 9| and taught him wisdom, and {[lavished]} kindness, [and] se[t him up at the ga]te of the palace with m[e, before the king, among 10| his courtiers. I presented him to Esarhaddon king of Assyria, and he learned the [things 11| th]at he asked him. Esarhaddon king of Assyria then loved him and said: 'A[bundant] life [be to Ahikar, 12| the wise {[sc]ribe}, counsellor of all Assyria, who has set up his son — though [he has] no son, [his sis]ter's son!' 13| [When the king of Assy]ria [had said this,] I, Ahikar, bowed down and did obeisanc[e] before Esarh[addon, king of] Assyria. 14| [Some days later I, A]hikar, when I s[a]w that the face of Esarhaddon king of Assyria was favourable, spoke up 15| [and said before the kin]g: 'I [served Senna]cherib the king, your father, [wh]o was kin[g before you; 16| …] and now, look, Col. ii| (Col. ii) 17| I am old; I cannot serve at the gate of the palace [and do your work for you. 18| Lo]ok, Nadin by name, my son, is grown, and he will succeed me as scribe [and counsellor of the whole of Assyria, and he 19| will be bear]er of the seal for you. My wisdom too and [my {coun}sel] I have taught him.' Esarhaddon answered, 'Let it b[e', 20| the kin]g of Assyria, and he said to me: 'Just so! [Your son as scribe and counsellor and seal-bearer to me 21| [shall be] in your place; your work he shall do [for me.' Then, when I, Ahikar, heard 22| the word that was gi]ven, went off to my house [and was at ease in my house. And this son of mine, 23| whom I had rais]ed and stationed at the palace gate [before Esarhaddon king of Assyria among 24| his courtier]s — I said, 'He will seek good [for me in return for what I have done for him.' But 25| the son of] my [sis]ter, whom I had raised, plotted agai[nst me evil, and he said in his heart: 26| '[Such wo]r[ds] I can s[ay: "That old man Ahikar, who {was} seal-bearer 27| to Sennach[eri]b the king, your father, [is corrupting the land against you, for counsellor and scribe 28| wise is he, and on his counsel and [his] wo[rds all Assyria depended." Then Esarhaddon 29| will be greatly agitated, hearing words [like these that I say to him, and he will kill Ahikar.' Then, 30| when my son, who was no son of mine, had invented [this lie against me … 31| to … Col. iii| (Col. iii) 32| [Then Esar]{haddon} king of Assyria [was filled with rage], and he said: 33| '[Let Nabusumiskun come to me, on]e of my father's officers, who my father's bread 34| [ate.' The king said: 'Ahikar —] seek him out; wherever you find him, 35| [kill him.] Surely [Ah]ik[{ar}], that old man, a wise scribe 36| [and counsellor of all Assyri]a — lest he ruin the {land} against us!' Then, when 37| [the king of A]ssyria [had said this], he appointed 2 other men with him, to see how 38| [it would be done. Off went Nab]usumiskun, that officer, {riding} on a [h]orse, a swi[ft] one, 39| [and those men] with him. Then, three [d]ays later, 40| [he, with the o]ther [men] who were with him, {[saw me]} as I was walking among the vineyards. 41| [And when Nab]usumiskun, [that] officer, [saw me, {at} on]ce he tore his tunic and lamented, 42| [and said: 'Are you] the wise scribe and master of good counsel, who 43| [was a righteous man, and o]n whose counsel and words all Assyria depended? {Your …}, 44| [the son whom you rais]ed, whom you set up at the gate of the palace — he has ruined you, and the requital 45| [is evil.' At o]nce I, Ahikar, was afraid; I answered and said to Nabusum[iskun, 46| that officer: 'Yes,] I am that Ahikar who once saved you from being killed though innocent, 47| [when Sennacherib,] the father of this King Esarhaddon, was enraged against you 48| [to kill you. At o]nce I brought you to my own house; there I provided for you Col. iv| (Col. iv) 49| as a man does for his brother, and I concealed you from him. I declared, 'I have killed him,' until, at a[n]other ti[me] and after 50| many days, I brought you before Sennacherib the king and removed your offences before him, and har[m] 51| he did not do you. Indeed, King Sennacherib loved me greatly because I had let you live and had not put you to death. Now you, 52| as I did for you, so do for me: do not kill me. Lead me to your house unt[il] other days. 53| King Esarhaddon is merciful, as is known; later on he will remember me and seek my counsel. Th[en] you 54| [will bri]ng me before him, and he will let me live.' Then Nabusumiskun the officer [answered] and said to me: 'Do not be afraid; 55| [you shall l]ive, Ahikar, father of all Assyria, on whose counsel King Sennacherib and the army of Assyria, 56| [all of it, depended.'] At once Nabusumiskun the officer spoke to his companions, those two men who accompanied him: 57| '[Lis]ten, [and pay atten]t[ion] to me, and I shall tell you [my] plan; and it is a 58| [very] good plan.' Th[en those two men answered] and said to [him]: '[You] t[e]ll us, Nabusumiskun, officer, 59| what [you] th[ink, and we will heed] you.' At once [Nabusumiskun the o]fficer [answered] and said to them: 'Listen to me: 60| this [Ahi]kar is a great man [and the bearer of the se]al of [King] Esarhaddon, and on his counsel and words 61| the whole army of [Assyr]ia depended. Let us not kill him. [An innocent slave-boy,] a eunuch of mine, I will give you; 62| let him be killed {betw}[een] [the]se two mountains in place of this Ahikar. And whe[n it is reported,] the king [will se]nd other [m]en 63| for [o]thers to view the corpse of this {Ahikar}; afterward [they will see the cor]pse of [thi]s eunuch, my slave-boy, Col. v| (Col. v) 64| until, later on, [King] Esarhaddon [remembers Ahikar and seeks his counsel and grieves 65| over him, and the heart of [King] Esarhad[don turns back to me, and he says to his officers and courtiers: 66| "Riches I will give you, as the num[ber of the sand, if only you could find Ahikar."' And this plan 67| pleased his companions, those t[{w}o men. They replied and said to Nabusumiskun the officer: 68| 'Do as you have planned. [We will not kill him; you will give us the slave-boy, 69| that eunuch, instead of [this] Ahikar; [he will be killed between these two mountains.' 70| At that time it was heard in the pro[vince of Assyria that Ahikar, the scribe of Esarhaddon 71| the king, had been killed. Then Nabus[umiskun, that officer, brought me to his house and hid me; and 72| he provided for me there li[ke a man for his brother, and he said to me: … bread and water 73| shall be carried before my lord. I[f … 74| ample provision and plen[tiful] goods [he gave me. Then Nabusumiskun, that officer, 75| went in to Esarhaddon the ki[ng and said to him: 'As you told me, so I have done: 76| I went and found [that] Ahik[ar and killed him.' And when Esarhaddon heard this, 77| the king questioned the t[wo] men [he had appointed along with Nabusumiskun, and they said: 'It was so, as 78| he says.' Th[e]n until [King] Esarha[ddon … Col. vi| (Col. vi) 79| Wh[at] is stronger than wine roaring in the [pr]ess? 80| A son who is taught and disciplined, and has a path set at [his] feet … 81| Do not hold back your son from the rod; otherwise you will not be able to save [him from evil]. 82| If I strike you, my son, you will not die; but if I leave you to your own heart, [you will not live]. 83| A blow for a slave-boy, a re[buke] for a slave-girl, and for all your servants disc[ipline]. + A man who 84| buys a law[less] slave [and] a thieving slave-girl — f[ear] he [brings into his house, and … 85| his father's name, and his offspring by the name of his wantonness. + The scorpion [finds ?] 86| bread and does not [ea]t it [until it] lives; and t[o] it that is better than what it might ta[ste 87| to […] you did […] … the doe, much … 88| The lion will lie in wait for the stag in the cover of the thicket, and he [… 89| and its blood he will shed and its flesh he will eat. Just so is the encounter of [me]n. + … lion [… 90| An ass that leaves it and will not carry it shall bear shame from its fellow, [and shall c]arry a lo[ad] that is not [its own] 91| and be laden with the load of a camel. + The ass bend[s] down to the she-ass [out of l]ove for her, and the birds [… 92| Two things are {good}, {and} a third is dear to Shamash: one who dri[nks] wine and shares it; one who masters wisdom [?] 93| and hears a word and does not disclose it. + See, this is dear [before] Shamash. And whoever {drinks} wine and does not [share it, 94| and whose wisdom is lost, [and … ] who has seen? + … … the nations [their wisdom], the gods [… Col. vii| (Col. vii) 95| To the gods also she is precious; fo[re]v[er] the kingdom is [hers]; in hea[ve]n she is set, for the lord of holy ones has exalted [her]. 96| My [son], do not ch[a]tter overmuch, until you disclose [every wo]rd 97| [that] comes to your mind; for their [eyes] and their ears are everywhere. B[ut] guard your mouth, lest it become [your] prey. 98| Above all watching, watch your mouth, and [over] what you have h[eard] harden your heart; for a word is a bird, and the man who lets it go has no s[ense]. 99| … the riddles of your mouth; after that bring them out to your [brot]her at his need. For an ambush of the mouth is stronger than an ambush of battle. 100| Do not quench a king's word; may it be a healing for your [brot]her. Soft is the speech of a king, yet it is sharp, and stronger than a double-[edged] knife. 101| Look: something hard is before you [in the pr]esence of the k[ing]; do not stand still; slight as a flash beside lightning are you — be on your guard. 102| Let him not di[spl]ay it over your w[o]rds, and you depart [be]fore your days. 103| [In the presen]ce of a king, if something is commanded, it is a burning fire. Do it at once. [Do n]ot put sackcloth on yourself and cover your palms; [for 104| so] too the word of a king is in the heat of the heart. + [Wh]y should wood contend with fire, flesh with a blade, a man with [a king]? 105| I have tasted even the bitter wild fruit, and the [tast]e was strong; but there is nothing more [b]itter than poverty. A k[ing]'s tongue is soft, 106| but a dragon's ribs it will break, like death, which is [n]ot seen. + Do not let your heart rejoice in many children, and in their fewness [do not be ashamed]. 107| A king is like one who is merciful; even his voice is lofty. Who is it that can stand before him, but one with whom God is? 108| A king is beautiful to behold, like the sun, and his splendour is precious to those who tread the earth in quie[t]. 109| A good vessel cove[rs] a thing within it, but [one that] is broken lets it out. 110| The lion went up to gr[eet the ass, saying]: 'Peace be with you.' The ass answered, saying to the lion: Col. viii| (Col. viii) 111| I have carried sand and borne salt, but there is nothing heavier than [debt ?]. 112| I have carried straw and lifted bran, but there is nothing lighter than a sojourner. 113| A sword troubles calm waters between good neighbours. 114| A small man who multiplies his words — they fly up above him; for his mouth's opening calls up 115| the gods. And if he is beloved of the gods, they will put something good in his palate to say. 116| Many are the [s]tar[s of heaven whose] names no one knows; just so, mankind no one knows. 117| In the sea [there is no] lion; that is why they call the qappa a lion. 118| The leopard came upon the goat, and she was bare. The leopard spoke up and said to the goat: 'Come here, and I will cover you with my hide.' [answered] 119| the goat and said to the leopard: 'What use is that to me, my lord? Do not take my own skin from me.' For [he] does not [as]k after 120| the welfare of the gazelle except to suck its blood. + The great one went to the la[mbs] … … 121| fell silent. The lamb[s] answered and said to him: 'Take for yourself what you will [ca]rry from us; we are [your la]mbs.' 122| For it is not in the hands of m[e]n to l[if]t their feet and to set them down apart fr[om the gods]; b[ut … 123| for it is not in your hands to l[if]t your foot [and] to set it down. + If good comes out of the mouth of m[en, good; 124| but if evil comes out [of] their mouth, the gods will do evil to them. + If the gods' eyes are on m[en, 125| a man splits wood in darkness and does not see, like a thief breaking into a house and being [caught ?]. Col. ix| (Col. ix) 126| [Do not bend] your [b]ow and do not set your arrow against a righteous man, lest God come to his aid and turn it back against you. 127| … You, O my son, reap every harvest and do every work; then you will eat and be satisfied and give to your children. 128| [If you ben]d your bow and set your arrow against a righteous man, the sin is from you; from the gods … 129| … You, O my son, borrow grain and wheat, so that you may eat and be satisfied and give to your children with you. 130| A heavy [l]oan, and from an evil man, do not borrow. A[nd if] you do borrow a loan, give yourself no rest until 131| the [l]oan [you repay. A loa]n is sweet wh[en one is in n]eed, but repaying it fills a [h]ouse. 132| [Whatever you hear, test i]t with your ears; for a man's charm is his trustworthiness, [and] his hatefulness the lying of his lips. 133| [At fir]st the throne is for the liar, [. .]{…}; but at the e[nd] his lies [will over]take him, and they will spit in his face. 134| The liar — his neck is cut, like a southern maiden who [hides ?] her face, like a man doing evil 135| that did not come from the gods. + 136| [Do not despise] what is in your lot, and do not covet a great thing that is withheld from you. 137| [Do not heap up] wealth, and do not make the heart great. 138| [One who] does not take pride in his father's name and his mother's name — may the su[n] not shine [on him], for he is an evil man. 139| [From me] my evil has gone out, and with whom shall I be in the right? + The son of my own body has spied out my house; [? and wh]at shall I say to strangers? 140| He [h]as been a lying witness against me, so who will justify me? + From my own house the wrath has gone out; with whom shall I contend and struggle? 141| Do not reveal [your sec]rets before your [fri]ends, [and] let your name not be made light before them. Col. x| (Col. x) 142| With one who is higher than you, do not enter into a qu[arrel ?]. 143| With one who is nob[ler] and stronger than you [do not go to law, for he will take 144| from your portion [and to] his own [will {add} ?]. 145| Just so is a small man who [goes to law] with [a great man]. 146| Do not remove wisdom from yourself, and [ … 147| Do not be overly clever, [and] let your w[isdom] not be snuffed out. 148| Do not be sweet, lest [they swal]low you; do not be bitter, [lest they spit you out]. 149| If you wish, my son, to be [exalted, humble yourself before God, 150| who brings low the exalted man (?) and [raises up the lowly man]. 151| What the l[ip]s of [me]n curse, [the gods do] n[ot curse]. 152| It is good to subdue … 153| your soul; let it not love … 154| they let them fall, except one with whom God is … 155| they will ruin my hands, and not my mouth, and not … 156| God will twist the mouth of the twister and tear out [his] tongue. 157| Let good [ey]es not be darkened, and [good] ears [not be stopped, and let a good mouth love 158| the truth and {speak it}. Col. xi| (Col. xi) 159| A man of [fi]ne bearing with a good heart is like a strong [bo]w that is dr[awn] by a m[an] of strength. 160| [If] a man [does not] stand with the gods, how will he be guarded by the strength within him? 161| … who … womb; and one who has God with him — who will b[e his j]udge? 162| … … men and peoples passed through them and did not leave them, and their heart [was open ?]. 163| [No] one [knows] what is in his fellow's heart. And when a good man [se]es an e[vil] man, [let him beware of him]; 164| [let him not] keep company with him on [the road], nor {be} a partner for hire to him — a good man [wi]th an [evi]l m[an]. 165| [The bram]ble sent to the pomegranat[e], saying: 'Bramble to Pomegranate: what good are your man[y] thor[ns to one who t]ouches your [fr]uit?' 166| … The [pomegranat]e [answer]ed and said to the bramble: 'You are thorns, al[l of you], to whoever touches you.' 167| As for the righteous among men, all who strike against him become his help. 168| [The house] of the wicked will be shaken on a day of wind, and in calm its gates will sink down; for the plunder 169| [of the righteous are they.] + My eyes that I raised toward you, and my heart that I gave you in wisdom, 170| [you have despised, and have gi]ven my name over to wanton[ness]. 171| If the wicked seizes the skirts of your garment, leave it in his hand. Then draw near to Shamash: he 172| will take what is his and give it to you. Col. xii| (Col. xii) 173| Establish me, O God, as a righteous man with you, [for 174| my enemies will die, and not by my sword […] 175| I left you in the shade of the cedar, and [you went around ?] 176| You abandoned your friends and honoured [my enemies]. 177| … a man who does not know what […] 178| Wise in speech, for the opening of the mouth […] 179| The she-ass […] and she […] 180| […] 181-183| … 184| … the moth [f]ell into the woof […] 185| … water […] 186| … … the bronze, the moth fell […] 187| My soul does not know its way; therefore [ … 188| Hunger makes bitterness sweet, [and] thirst […] 189| Let him be sated like a people, from bread, and let [the soul of the poor] be refreshed [with wine]. 190| men … sand … … Col. xiii| (Col. xiii) 191| One bent his bow and set his [arr]ow, and not […] 192| If your master entrusts water to you to keep […] 193| to leave gold in your hand. + Do not [ … ‖ … ? … ? 194| … and he does not {interpret} ‖ Approach me, and let him not tell you, 'Keep f[a]r from me.' 195| … and he does not … to him. 196| [A slave on whose fe]et is the road, and [who is a thi]ef, is not to be [b]ought. 197| … + ‖ … his house with him; [f]ire [has gone ou]t fr[om the pre]sence 198| [of God. +] … to [his] m[aster] … … in his judgment, when he did ev[il] to his [m]aster. 199| … {…} his master … the father was … + The birds … … upon … 200| … … an evil man who overtakes … 201| … when he [s]ends [you], why should you change colour before him? 202| … likeness … his face, because 203| … the seller … [be]fore you, tested before 204| … one to help him: '[Let me ride] on you, and [I] will provide for you.' 205| '[Yours be] your provender and your covering, and I will not see your rider.' 206| [Between fle]sh and my sandal, let no pebble get into my foot. 207| If … + Let the rich man not say, 'In my riches I am glorious.' (c)| (fragment c) 197*| … + 198*| to … 199*| {…} his master 200*| … (d)| (fragment d) d1| know … you d2| you hate Col. xiv| (Col. xiv) 208| (A) [Do not sh]ow the Arabs the sea, nor the Sidonians the c[ountry]; (B) for their work is {distinct}. 209| … the wine — {it is he} who ought to taste it, and … ‖ he will [g]uard it. 210| … {…} {said}: 'Dead is {my enemy}', and you answered, and [does not ‖ k]now what will [c]ome after him. 211| … {he will tear out} and blood from {my skin}. + {…} … ‖ in weeping {if} … {…} … from … {your} mind 212| … {so} {it} … … ‖ … but {…} … 213| … ‖ … blind of eyes … 214| … will come … (B) … {to him} … 215| … eyes … (D) … water … 216| … a young child and one deaf of ears to … (C) … {…} … children … 217| … from {the womb} a freeborn son knows, and not {fr}[om] … {…} … 218| … {let no man acquire} a woman not {[m]arried} (C) who … … (E) {for good} 219| … is acquired, his n[eighbour] like his neighbour, and [his] wife (H) … (G) … (F) … 220| … {…} … {all} … upon … 221| … what … what … who … (H) a thief (G) … (F) … 222| … {this}: the house of his neighbour he sets {on fire}. 223| … {merciful} … from {the lord of} {…} ======== The Behistun Inscription of Darius I (Aramaic version) ======== heading| (Col. i. Sachau, plate 52) 1| [they killed among them] 827 (partly restored) and took alive […] hundred and 6. [A second time the rebels gathere]d; they went 2| [against Dadarshi] to do battle. [Th]en they fought the battle [a]t a fortress named Tigra in Urartu. Ahuramazda help[ed me; by the protection of 3| Ahuramazda my army] killed the rebels. On Iyyar the 18th they fought a battle; they killed among them 5,04[6]. 4| [… time, the rebels ga]thered; they went agains[t] Dadarshi to do battle. Then they fought a battle at Hiyu [by name, 5| a fortress in Urartu. Ahura]mazda helped me; by the protection of Ahu[ramazda] my army [k]illed the reb[e]ls. On the 9th (partly restored) [of Sivan 6| they fought a battle; they killed am]ong them 472 (partly restored) and took aliv[e …] hundred and 2. Then Dadarshi did no[thi]ng; he was wait[ing for me in Urartu. 7| Darius the king says:] One named Vaumisa, {my servant}, a Persian, [to Urartu] I s[ent]. I said: Go; that rebel a[rm]y [which does not 8| obey me, kill them]. Then Vaumisa went to Urartu. On his arrival the reb[el]s gat[h]ered; [they] wen[t against] Va[umisa to do 9| battle. Then they fought the battle]; he killed among them 2,034. 10| [A second time the reb]els gathered; they w[e]nt against Vaumisa to do battle. They [fo]ught the battle [on the 30th] of Iyyar; [they] fo[ught the battle; 11| they killed among them 2,04]5 [and] took alive 1,578 (partly restored). Then Va[umi]sa did [no]thing; he was [wa]iting for me [in Urartu. 12| Darius the king says: Then I from Babyl]on [went ou]t; I went to Me[dia]. On arriving [in] Media, at a place named Kunduru in Med[ia, that Fravar]tish w[ith 13| an army came to do battle; we fought the battle]. Ahura]ma[zda he]lped m[e]; by the pro[tec]tion of Ahuramazda the army of [Fravartish I ki]lled. On [the 25th 14| of Marheshwan (?) we fought the battle; I killed among them …] 5, [and] I took alive 108 thousand and 10[… Then that Fravartish 15| …… Then I sent] the ar[my heading| (Col. ii. Sachau, plate 54, col. 1) 16| [Darius the king says: Then the land became] mine. This I did in Parthia. 17| [Darius the king says: A land rebelled,] named Margiana; they made a king over them, 18| [one named Frada. Then I sent one named Dadarshi, the gov]ernor [of Bactri]a. I said: Go, [k]ill 19| [the rebel army. Then Dadarshi fought the ba]ttle with the M[argian]s. Ahuramazda helped me; 20| [by the protection of Ahuramazda they killed the rebels], those. On the 2[3rd of Kis]lev they fought a battle; 21| they killed among them 55,243 [and took alive] 6,972 (partly restored). 22| [Darius the king says: A man named Vahyaz]{data}, a Persian, was living in Persia. [He said: 23| 'I am Bardiya, son of Cyrus.' After that the Persian army], as much of it as was in the houses, among those {o}f the fo[r]tre[ss, 24| rebelled against him; they went (over to him); he became the king in Per]sia. Then I: the army that was in Persia, small, 25| [which did not rebel, and the army of Media that was with me], I sent; one named Artavardiya, a Persian, 26| [at their head I sent. Then the army of] Persia and Medi[a] with me we[nt]. Then Arta[vardiya 27| went with the army to a place named Rakha in Persia. Then Vahyazd]ata, [that one,] who sai[d] 'I am B[ar]diya' [ca]{me} [wi]th 28| [an army to do battle; they fought the battle]. Ahuramazda helped me; by the protection of Ah[uramazda 29| my army killed the army of Vahyazdata. On the 12th of Iyyar] they fought the battle; they [k]illed among them 303 ‥ 30| [and took alive … Then that Vahyazdata went with] a smal[l] army, horsemen, t[o 31| [a fortress named Pishiyauda. Then with an army he ca]me against Artavardiya to do 32| [battle; they fought the battle; my army killed] the arm[y of Vahyazd]ata in the month of T[ishri (?) heading| (Plate 56³, parallel copy) 18*| … nam[ed 19*| {ʾ} then {D}[…] 20*| the army of m[ine 21*| 5,220[…] 21a*| [it be]came; this is what I[…] 22*| sa[ys:] Vahyazdata by na[me 23*| [the so]n of C[y]rus. Then [{h} 24*| [aga]inst him; they went; he (was) k[ing 25*| [reb]elled, and the army of Media[…] 26*| […]m I sent, and š[…] 27*| [the ar]my [to] Rakh[a] by name[…] 28*| … {b}[att]le z{q}[…] heading| (Sachau, p. 203, no. 7) 19†| [the M]arg[ians 20†| 3 21†| [thou]sand heading| (Col. iii. Sachau, plate 54, col. 2) 33| they fought the battle; they killed among th[em … and took alive … 34| Vahyazdata they seized, and the nobles that were with [him they seized. Darius the king says: Then 35| I set 10 (doubtful) ‥ slain, and the no[bles who were at his side I impaled at a place named Hudizya (?) in Persia. 36| 52. This is what {I} [did] in Persia. 37| Darius the king says: That V[ahyazdata who said 'I am Bardiya' an army to Arachosia 38| sent, and one man at the[ir] head, [against one named Vivana, my servant, a Persian, the governor 39| in Arachosia, saying: Go; [Vivana and the army that obeys Darius the king 40| kill. The army of Vahyazdata [went against Vivana to do battle; they fought the battle. 41| Ahuramazda helped me; [by the protection of Ahuramazda my army killed the rebels; they killed 42| among them 4,570 (partly restored) [‥ and took alive … On the 13th of Tebeth 43| they fought a battle. Ahuramazda h[elped me; by the protection of Ahuramazda my army killed the army of 44| the rebels; they killed among them 3[‥ and took alive … Then 45| that man who was chief [over them went with a small army, horsemen; he came 46| and fl]ed (to) Ar[sha]da, the [for]tress in the pr[ovince of Arachosia. Then Vivana went with an army against him 47| to do battle; he fou]ght a bat[tle; he seized him, and the nobles who were with him he killed. The total of the slain 48| and the living whom my ar]my killed [and seized … Darius the king says: Then the land became mine. 49| This is what in Arach]osia I di[d. Darius the king says: … heading| (Plate 56⁸, parallel copy; followed by blank) 46*| […]{army}[…] 47*| […]total {s}[…] 48*| […]then the la[nd…] heading| (Col. iv. Sachau, plate 55, col. 1) 50| [Darius the king says: Yo]u, the king who will be after me, a man who lies 51| …… ]from many lies; beware {ʿ} … who lies 52| …… ]make known how you are acting [and how (?)] your conduct (is) 53| …… y]ou; he will say: {hear} what the fratar will say (?) 54| …… ]d, which he will do {deviously}; that, look, (it is) also before you 55| …… ]your good; {ʾymnyš} you will be, {wrk}lyk over children (?) 56| …… ]ḥrʾ t … the lie {n} … [wh]ich … 57| …… th]is … do not {conceal} … 58| …… ab]undantly, and your days will be long; and i[f you conceal 59| [Darius the king says: These are the me]n who stood with me un[til] I [killed] G[au]m[ata], 60| [that Magian who said 'I am Bardiya'; they] greatly [with me] exerted themselves: 61| [one named Vindafarna, son of Vayaspara], a P{er}[sian; Gaubaruva], son of Mardunya (?), 62| a Persian; …… a Per]sian; m … mnʾ, his son (?) 63| …… ʾ sbl …… heading| (Plate 56⁸ reverse, parallel copy) 62*| a Pers[ian 63*| l 64| son heading| (Fragments of a copy or copies, n300ff. Sachau, plate 56¹ obv.) 56.1:1| […] which was ours was taken; that, I[…] 56.1:2| […] their property and their houses […] 56.1:3| […]this I did; I[…] 56.1:4| […]t by the protection o[f] Ahu[ramazda heading| (Sachau, plate 56² obv.) 56.2:1| […] . did[…] 56.2:2| [they w]{ent} to d[o 56.2:3| […]and alive […] 56.2:4| [the Mar]gians […] 56.2:5| […] in Per[sia 56.2:6| [the ar]my o[f 56.2:7| […]ʾ in[…] 56.2:8| […] who (were) with[…] heading| (Sachau, plate 56² rev.) 56.2r:1| 3 56.2r:2| I gave heading| (Sachau, plate 56⁴ obv.) 56.4:1| […]ʾ {wḥ}[…] 56.4:2| [my army killed] the ar[my of 56.4:3| […] hundred and 76[…] 56.4:4| [A{h}]uramazda, the army [of mine 56.4:5| [and took al]ive 300[…] 56.4:6| […]ʿy{b} heading| (Sachau, plate 56⁴ rev.) 56.4r:1| ‥ {n} l[…] 56.4r:2| Ahuramazda yb 56.4r:3| Ahuramazda y{q}[…] 56.4r:4| Darius[…] heading| (Sachau, plate 56⁵ obv.) 56.5:1| […]army […] 56.5:2| […]{q}n […] 56.5:3| [by the pro]tection[…] heading| (Sachau, plate 56⁵ rev.) 56.5r:1| … 56.5r:2| […]šʾ[…] 56.5r:3| […]{yb}r[…] 56.5r:4| […]y[…] heading| (Plate 56⁶ obv.) 56.6:1| […]b 1[…] 56.6:2| […]kil[l heading| (Plate 56⁶ rev.) 56.6r:1| ‥ 56.6r:2| […]rd[…] heading| (Plate 56⁷ rev., obv.: see under ll. 19–21) 56.7r:1| […]tt[…] 56.7r:2| […]{h} […] heading| (Plate 56⁹ rev., obv. illegible) 56.9r:1| […]{g} […] heading| (Plate 56¹⁰ rev., obv. illegible) 56.10r:1| […]š 1 {y}[…] heading| (Plate 56¹¹ obv.) 56.11:1| […]{m}y[…] heading| (Plate 56¹¹ rev.) 56.11r:1| […]{mzd}[…] heading| (Plate 56¹³ obv.) 56.13:1| [the arm]y of[…] 56.13:2| [the bat]tle[…] heading| (Plate 56¹³ rev.) 56.13r:1| 2 […] 56.13r:2| […] 3 […] 56.13r:3| […] 3 […] 56.13r:4| […] 3 […] heading| (Plate 56¹⁴ obv., rev. nothing certain) 56.14:1| […]{ḥy}[…] 56.14:2| […]{mrt}[…] 56.14:3| […] not […] 56.14:4| […] 100 […] 56.14:5| [Ah]ur[amazda heading| (Plate 56¹⁵ obv., rev. blank) 56.15:1| […]5[…] heading| (Plate 56¹⁶ obv.) 56.16:1| […]which l[…] heading| (Plate 56¹⁷ obv.) 56.17:1| […]and aliv[e heading| (Plate 56¹⁸ obv.) 56.18:1| […]{pr}t[…] 56.18:2| […]Parthia[…] heading| (Plate 56¹⁹ obv., rev. blank) 56.19:1| […]ʾly[…] heading| (Sachau, plate 57) 57.1:1| […]the arm[y 57.1:2| [they o]bey me[…] 57.1:3| [in Med]ia, great[…] 57.2:1| […]h[…] 57.2:2| […the]m 3[…] 57.2:3| […]n{d}n[…] 57.3:1| [at] Maru by na[me 57.3:2| [Ahu]ramazda, the ar[my 57.3:3| [and] thousand 6[…] 57.3:4| [my se]rvant[…] 57.3:5| [Dari]us the king[…] 57.3:6| […]against[…] 57.3:7| [Ahura]mazda helped me[…] 57.4:1| [any]thing he did not d[o 57.4:2| [they ga]there[d 57.4:3| […]{man}[…] 57.7:1| [Da]darshi w[ent 57.7:2| […]to do[…] 57.7:3| […]by the protection of Ahuram[azda 57.8:1| … 57.8:2| {the}[n 57.9:1| w{r} 57.11:1| […]301[…] 57.11:2| […]w[…] 57.12:1| […]3[…] 57.13:1| on the Euphrates 57.14:1| […]{m}[…] 57.14:2| [Dada]rshi[…] 57.15:1| [a Pe]rsian[…] 57.15:2| […]ʾ[…] 57.16:1| … 57.16:2| […]r . […] heading| (Cowley's conjectural combination of pl. 57 nos. 1, 3, 7, n305) 57r:1| (Cowley's combined reconstruction) …… [the army of Persia 57r:2| (Cowley's combined reconstruction) and Media that was with me was small. Then I] an ar[my sent to Media, and one named Vidarna at their head. 57r:3| (Cowley's combined reconstruction) I said: Go; the army of Media that does not o]bey me, [kill them (?). Then Vidarna went to Media; he fought 57r:4| (Cowley's combined reconstruction) a battle at] a place named Maru; [a man who in Med]ia (was) great [did not stand (?). Ahuramazda helped me; by the protection 57r:5| (Cowley's combined reconstruction) of Ahu]ramazda the ar[my of mine killed those rebels. On the 17th of Tebeth they fought the battle; 57r:6| (Cowley's combined reconstruction) they killed …] thousand 6[ hundred … and took alive …… Darius the king says: Dadarshi 57r:7| (Cowley's combined reconstruction) by name, my se]rvant, [an Urartian, I sent to Urartu. I said: The rebel army that does not obey me, kill them (?). 57r:8| (Cowley's combined reconstruction) Dari]us the king [says: Then Da]darshi w[ent to Urartu. On his arrival the rebels gathered; 57r:9| (Cowley's combined reconstruction) they went] against [Dadarshi] to do [battle. Then they fought the battle at a place named Zuz in Urartu. 57r:10| (Cowley's combined reconstruction) Ahura]mazda helped me; by the protection of Ahuram[azda my army killed those rebels.