The Jewish garrison of Elephantine · a new plain-English translation from the Aramaic
Date| 27 Tybi, that [is Nisa]n, year …
1| [To my brother …]{u}s, your brother H[os]ea. Peace and … abundantly … to [you] at all times. Now
2| [we are before Pi]{sina} in court, and his se[rvan]t; they are paying silver, 10 karsh, and karsh …
3| [… in] hand[s of yours], wh[o will] {give} [refined] si[lver], 5 karsh. Now …
4| with you, about his [gi]ving you silver, 5 [kars]h; and write them a document about them. And if [they do] not [give all] the si[lver
5| with the interest, and do not [sa]y to you: "Give pledges; sell the house of Zakkur and the house of Ashn…" — if they do not sell
6| them, look for a man who will buy the [g]reat house of Hodaw, and {give it} to him for the {silver} that is charged on it. And when
7| this letter [r]eaches you, do not linger; come down to Memphis quickly. If you have found silver, [co]me down quickly;
8| and if you have not found any, come down [qu]ickly all the same. Go to Bethel-taddin, and he will give you a shtatn tunic and 1 (doubtful) asah,
9| a y…{ḥh} tunic, 1, of qamr; paʿpas, 1; {sarbalaq}, 1; … {dye} {and} … qṭʾ {prʾ}, 6 k(arsh);
10| 1 [w]orn linen garment. And once he gives them to you, send word to me; and if he has not given them to you, [s]{end} word to me. Now,
11| if you go down to {Memphis}, do not leave {Ashn} . When he has {sold}, {give} me that {kandar}; {not} {k} …
Reverse| (Reverse)
12| when the Jews {bring} them in before [Arsames … l … {n} … you have [kept fa]r [from] {me} …
13| their words. Do not delay; come down quickly, and quickly bring down to me 1 tunic in your hand to [Memphis] … {k} …
14| to {me} . {…} a[bout it]. Written on 27 Tybi, th[at is Nisa]n, {year} …
15| {T}[o my brother …us son of] H{ag}[gai, your brother Hosea]
Cite a passage by its number: every paragraph here has its own anchor (for example https://openscriptorium.com/read/elephantine/042-no-42-hosea-s-letter-about-a-debt-a-house-and-clothing#p1), and the bracketed reference numbers link the same way.
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