The Jewish garrison of Elephantine · a new plain-English translation from the Aramaic
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4| Vidranga the garrison commander of Syene, saying: I have withdrawn from you from the house of Jezaniah son of Uriah.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.
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