The Jewish garrison of Elephantine · a new plain-English translation from the Aramaic
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11| refined, ten karsh by the king's weight, and we are withdrawn from you and from your children {from} suit concerning that Petosiri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.
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