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