The Jewish garrison of Elephantine · a new plain-English translation from the Aramaic
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.
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