The Jewish garrison of Elephantine · a new plain-English translation from the Aramaic
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15| of silver, ten karsh by the king's we[ight]s, silver at 2 quarters to the 1 karsh, and he shall still be {withdrawn} from these goods over which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.
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