Legal tablet & envelope excavated in Sippar-Yahrurum (mod. Tell Abu Habbah), dated to the Old Babylonian (ca. 1900-1600 BC) period and now kept in British Museum, London, UK
tablet obverse 1. asz-szum _1(disz) ansze_ bi-il-tim ts: aššum ištēn imērim biltim en: Concerning 1 pack donkey 2. sza i-na li-<bi> szi-mu-ru-um{ki} ts: ša ina li(b)bi šimu(r)rum en: that in Šimurrum 3. _ki_ ARAD-{d}en-lil2 u3 s,il2-li2-isz8-tar2 ts: itti warad-enlil u ṣilli-ištar en: from Warad-enlil and Ṣilli-ištar 4. {disz}dingir-szu-a-bu-szu _dumu_ {d}suen-na-s,ir ts: ilšu-abūšu mār sîn-nāṣir en: Ilšu-abūšu son of Sîn-nāṣir 5. i-gu-ru-szu-ma ih-li-qu2-szu ts: īgurūšūma iḫliqūšu en: had rented it and (that) fled (from) him. 6. asz-szum _ansze_ bi-il-tim {disz}dingir-szu-a-bu-szu ts: aššum imērim biltim ilšu-abūšu en: Because of the pack donkey, Ilšu-abūšu 7. {disz}ARAD-{d}en-lil2 u3 s,il2-li2-isz8-tar2 i-di-nu-ma ts: warad-enlil u ṣilli-ištar idīnūma en: Warad-enlil and Ṣilli-ištar have started a lawsuit so 8. da-ia-nu i-na _ka2_ {d}utu ts: dayyānū ina bāb šamaš en: the judges, at the Gate of Šamaš 9. i-na li-bi zimbir{ki} ts: ina li(b)bi sippar en: in Sippar, 10. di-nam u2-sza-hi-zu-szu-nu-ti-ma ts: dīnam ušāḫizūšunūtīma en: have granted them a trial and 11. a-na szu-ri-nim sza {d}utu ts: ana šuri(n)nim ša šamaš en: (to take an oath) to the emblem of Šamaš, 12. da-ia-nu {disz}ARAD-{d}en-lil2 u3 s,il2-li2-isz8-tar2 ts: dayyānū warad-enlil u ṣilli-ištar en: the judges, Warad-enlil and Ṣilli-ištar 13. a-na dingir-szu-a-bu-szu id-di-nu-szu-<nu>-ma ts: ana ilšu-abūšu iddinūšunūma en: have sent to Ilšu-abūšu and 14. i-na szu-ri-nim sza {d}utu ts: ina šuri(n)nim ša šamaš en: before the emblem of Šamaš 15. i-na _ka2_ {d}utu la-bi-ru-tim ts: ina bāb šamaš labirutim en: at the Old Gate of Šamaš 16. {disz}dingir-szu-a-bu-szu _dumu_ {d}suen-na-s,ir ts: ilšu-abūšu mār sîn-nāṣir en: Ilšu-abūšu son of Sîn-nāṣir, 17. {disz}ARAD-{d}en-lil2 u3 s,il2-li2-isz8-tar2 ts: warad-enlil u ṣilli-ištar en: Warad-enlil and Ṣilli-ištar 18. im-ta-ag-ru-ma ts: imtagrūma en: have reached an agreement and 19. a-na _6(disz) gin2 ku3-babbar_ sza za-ba-an{ki} ts: ana šeššet šiqil kaspim ša zaban en: for the 6 shekels of silver from (lit. of) Zaban 20. u3 _1(u) gin2 ku3-babbar_ ts: u ešret šiqil kaspim en: and the 10 shekels of silver reverse 1. sza zimbir{ki}-ra-bi-im ts: ša sippar-rabîm en: from (lit. of) Sippar-rabîm, 2. asz-szum _ansze_-szu-nu il-qu2-u2 ts: aššum imērīšunu ilqû en: that for their donkey they had taken, 3. a-na ARAD-{d}en-lil2 u3 s,il2-li2-isz8-tar2 ts: ana warad-enlil u ṣilli-ištar en: against Warad-enlil and Ṣilli-ištar 4. {disz}dingir-szu-a-bu-szu _dumu_ sin-na-s,ir ts: ilšu-abūšu mār sîn-nāṣir en: Ilšu-abūšu son of Sîn-nāṣir 5. u2-ul e-ra-ga-am _u4 kur2-sze3_ ts: ul era(g)gam ana warkiāt ūmī en: will not sue. (That) in future, 6. la i-tu-ru-u2-ma ts: la itu(r)rūma en: again (lit. will not return) 7. {disz}dingir-szu-a-bu-szu _dumu_ {d}suen-na-s,ir ts: ilšu-abūšu mār sîn-nāṣir en: Ilšu-abūšu son of Sîn-nāṣir, 8. {disz}ARAD-{d}en-lil2 s,il2-li2-isz8-tar2 ts: warad-enlil ṣilli-ištar en: Warad-enlil (and) Ṣilli-ištar, 9. a-hu-um a-na a-hi-im asz-szum _ansze_ ts: aḫum ana aḫim aššum imērim en: one against the other, concerning the donkey, 10. u2-ul e-ra-ga-am ts: ul era(g)gam en: will not raise a claim, 11. _mu_ {d}utu {d}marduk a-pil-{d}suen ts: nīš šamaš marduk apil-sîn en: by the life of Šamaš, Marduk, Apil-sîn 12. u3 _iri_ zimbir{ki} isz-ti-ni-isz it-mu ts: u āli sippar ištiniš itmû en: and the city of Sippar, they have sworn together. 13. _igi_ i-din-nu-nu _dumu_ li-pi2-it-{d}en-lil2 ts: maḫar i(d)din-nunu mār lipit-enlil en: Before Iddin-nunu son of Lipit-enlil; 14. _igi_ i-din-{d}ma-mu _dumu_ na-nu-um ts: maḫar i(d)din-mamu mār nanum en: before Iddin-mamu son of Nanum; 15. _igi_ sza-i3-li2-szu _dumu_ {d}mar-tu-na-s,ir ts: maḫar ša-ilīšu mār amurru-nāṣir en: before Ša-ilīšu son of Amurru-nāṣir; 16. _igi_ nu-ur2-{d}kab-ta _dumu_ im-gur-{d}suen ts: maḫar nūr-kabta mār imgur-sîn en: before Nūr-kabta son of Imgur-sîn; 17. _igi_ u-bar-ru-um _dumu_ {d}suen-le-e-i ts: maḫar ubarrum mār sîn-lē’î en: before Ubarrum son of Sîn-lē’î; 18. _igi_ t,a3-ab-<gi6>-uri2{ki} _dumu_ ak-sza-ia ts: maḫar ṭāb-akkadim mār akšaya en: before Ṭāb-akkadim son of Akšaya; 19. _igi_ {d}utu-dingir _dumu_ im-di-{d}en-lil2 ts: maḫar šamaš-ilī mār imdi-enlil en: before Šamaš-ilī son of Imdī-enlil; 20. _igi_ {d}utu-da-a-an _dumu_ sin-ka-szi-id ts: maḫār šamaš-dan mār sîn-kašid en: before Šamaš-dan son of Sîn-kašid; 21. _igi_ ak-sza-ia _dumu_ {d}utu-he2-gal2 ts: maḫar akšaya mār šamaš-ḫengallum en: before Akšaya son of Šamaš-ḫengallum; 22. _igi_ {d}utu-na-s,ir _maszkim di-ku5_ ts: maḫar šamaš-nāṣir rābiṣ dayyānim en: before Šamaš-nāṣir, judicial officer; left column 1 1. _igi_ i-din-{d}suen _dub-sar_ ts: maḫar i(d)din-sîn ṭupšarrim en: before Iddin-sîn the scribe. 2. _iti_ e!-lu-nim _u4 5(disz)-kam_ ts: waraḫ elūnim ūmam ḫamšat en: The month of Elūnum the day 5, column 2 1. _mu_ a-pil-{d}suen! _lugal-e bad3 du-ur-mu-ti{ki} ba-du3_ ts: šanat apil-sîn šarrum dūr durmuti īpušu en: the year "Apil-sîn the king built the walls of Durmuti". envelope obverse 1. _dub_ asz-szum _1(disz) ansze_ bi-il-tim sza i-na li-bi ts: ṭuppum aššum ištēn imērim biltim ša ina li(b)bi en: Tablet concerning 1 pack donkey which in 2. szi-mu-ur-ru-um{ki} _ki_ ARAD-{d}en-lil2 u3 s,il2-li2-isz8-tar2 _szesz-a-ni_ ts: šimurrum itti warad-enlil u ṣilli-ištar aḫīšu en: Šimurrum from Warad-enlil and Ṣilli-ištar his brother, 3. _dumu-mesz_ ku3-{d}nin-szubur {disz}dingir-szu-a-bu-szu _dumu_ {d}suen-na-s,ir ts: mārī kasap-ilabrat ilšu-abūšu mār sîn-nāṣir en: sons of Kasap-ilabrat, Ilšu-abūšu son of Sîn-nāṣir 4. i-gu-ru-szu-ma <<_ansze_>> ih-li-qu2-szu {disz}dingir-szu-a-bu-szu ts: īgurūšūma iḫliqūšu ilšu-abūšu en: had rented and (that) fled (from) him. Ilšu-abūšu, 5. _dumu_ {d}suen-na-s,ir {disz}ARAD-{d}en-lil2 u3 s,il2-li2-isz8-tar2 _szesz-a-ni_ ts: mār sîn-nāṣir warad-enlil u ṣilli-ištar aḫūšu en: son of Sîn-nāṣir, Warad-enlil and Ṣilli-ištar his brother, 6. _dumu-mesz_ ku3-{d}nin-szubur asz-szum _1(disz) ansze_ bi-il-tim ts: mārū kasap-ilabrat aššum ištēn imērim biltim en: sons of Kasap-ilabrat, because of the (lit. one) pack donkey, 7. i-na li-bi zimbir{ki} i-di-nu-ma da-ia-nu-<<um>> ts: ina li(b)bi sippar idīnūma dayyānū en: have handed over in Sippar. The judges 8. i-na ba-ab {d}utu di-nam u2-sza-hi-zu-szu-nu-ti-ma ts: ina bāb šamaš dīnam ušāḫizūšunūtīma en: at the Gate of Šamaš have granted them a trial and, 9. asz-szum _1(disz) ansze_ bi-il-tim sza dingir-szu-a-bu-szu _dumu_ {d}suen-na-s,ir ts: aššum ištēn imērim biltim ša ilšu-abūšu mār sîn-nāṣir en: because of the (lit. one) pack donkey which Ilšu-abūšu son of Sîn-nāṣir 10. _ki_ ARAD-{d}en-lil2 u3 s,il2-li2-isz8-tar2 _szesz-a-ni dumu-mesz_ <ku3>-{d}nin-szubur ts: itti warad-enlil u ṣilli-ištar aḫīšu mārī kasap-ilabrat en: from Warad-enlil and Ṣilli-ištar his brother sons of Kasap-ilabrat 11. i-gu-ru a-na szu-ri-nim sza {d}utu a-na <<i>> na-sa-hi-im ts: īgurū ana šuri(n)nim ša šamaš ana nasaḫim en: had rented, (to take an oath) by pulling out the emblem of Šamaš, 12. da-ia-nu a-na dingir-szu-a-bu-szu {disz}ARAD-{d}en-lil2 id-di-nu-szu-ma ts: dayyānū ana ilšu-abūšu warad-enlil iddinūšūma en: the judges have sent Warad-enlil to Ilšu-abūšu and 13. i-na szu-ri-nim sza {d}utu i-na ba-ab {d}utu la-bi-ru-u2-tim ts: ina šuri(n)nim ša šamaš ina bāb šamaš labirutim en: before the emblem of Šamaš at the Old Gate of Šamaš, 14. {disz}dingir-szu-a-bu-szu _dumu_ {d}suen-na-s,ir {disz}ARAD-{d}en-lil2 u3 s,il2-li2-isz8-tar2 _szesz-a-ni_ ts: ilšu-abūšu mār sîn-nāṣir warad-enlil u ṣilli-ištar aḫūšu en: Ilšu-abūšu son of Sîn-nāṣir, Warad-enlil and Ṣilli-ištar his brother 15. _dumu-mesz_ ku3-{d}nin-szubur im-ta-ag-ru-ma a-na _6(disz) gin2 ku3-babbar_ ts: mārū kasap-ilabrat imtagrūma ana šeššet šiqil kaspim en: sons of Kasap-ilabrat have reached an agreement and for the 6 shekels of silver 16. <<sza>> i-na za-ab-ba-an{ki} u3 a-na _1(u) gin2 ku3-babbar_ i-na zimbir{ki} ts: ina zabban u ana ešret šiqil kaspim ina sippar en: in Zabban and for the 10 shekels of silver in Sippar 17. sza ta-am-gi-<ir>-tim sza asz-szum _1(disz) ansze_ il-qu2-u2 ts: ša tamgirtim ša aššum išten imērim ilqû en: agreed-upon, which for the (lit. one) donkey they had took, 18. {disz}dingir-szu-a-bu-szu a-na ARAD-{d}en-lil2 u3 s,il2-li2-isz8-tar2 _szesz-a-ni_ ts: ilšu-abūšu ana warad-enlil u ṣilli-ištar aḫīšu en: Ilšu-abūšu against Warad-enlil and Ṣilli-ištar his brother 19. u2-ul e-ra-ga-am _u4 kur2-sze3_ la i-tu-ru-u2-ma ts: ul era(g)gam ana warkiāt ūmī la itu(r)rūma en: will not raise a claim. (That) in future, again 20. {disz}ARAD-{d}en-lil2 {disz}s,il2-li2-isz8-tar2 u3 dingir-szu-a-bu-szu asz-szum _1(disz) ansze_ ts: warad-enlil ṣilli-ištar u ilšu-abūšu aššum išten imērim en: Warad-enlil, Ṣilli-ištar and Ilšu-abūšu, concerning the (lit. one) donkey, 21. a-hu-um a-na a-hi-im la e-ra-ga-mu _<mu>_ {d}utu {d}marduk ts: aḫum ana aḫim la era(g)gamū nīš šamaš marduk en: one against the other will not sue, by the name of Šamaš, Marduk, 22. a-pil-{d}suen u3 _iri_ zimbir{ki} isz-ti-ni-isz it-mu ts: apil-sîn u āli sippar ištiniš itmû en: Apil-sîn and the city of Sippar they have sworn together. 23. _igi_ u-<bar>-ru-um _dumu_ {d}suen-le-e-i _igi_ i-din-{d}ma-mu _dumu_ na-nu-um ts: maḫar ubarrum mār sîn-lē’î maḫar i(d)din-mamu mār nanum en: Before Ubarrum son of Sîn-lē’î; before Iddin-mamu son of Nanum; 24. _igi_ i-din-nu-nu _dumu_ li-pi2-it-{d}en-lil2 _igi_ ak-sza-ia _dumu_ {d}utu-he2#-gal2# ts: maḫar i(d)din-nunu mār lipit-enlil maḫar akšaya mār šamaš-ḫengallum en: before Iddin-nunu son of Lipit-enlil; before Akšaya son of Šamaš-ḫengallum; 25. _igi_ sza-i3-li2-szu _dumu_ {d}mar-tu-na-s,ir _igi_ {d}utu-dingir _dumu_ im-di-{d#}en#-lil2 ts: maḫar ša-ilīšu mār amurru-nāṣir maḫar šamaš-ilī mār imdī-enlil en: before Ša-ilīšu son of Amurru-nāṣir; before Šamaš-ilī son of Imdi-enlil; 26. _igi_ t,a3-ab-gi6-uri2{ki} _dumu_ ak-sza-ia _igi_ {d}utu-da-a-an _dumu_ {d}suen-ka-szi-id ts: maḫar ṭāb-akkadim mār akšaya maḫar šamaš-dan mār sîn-kašid en: before Ṭāb-akkadim son of Akšaya; before Šamaš-dan son of Sîn-kašid; 27. _igi_ nu-ur2-{d}kab-ta _dumu_ im-gur-{d}suen ts: maḫar nūr-kabta mār imgur-sîn en: before Nūr-kabta son of Imgur-sîn; 28. _igi_ {d}utu-na-s,ir _maszkim di-ku5_ ts: maḫar šamaš-nāṣir rābiṣ dayyānim en: before Šamaš-nāṣir, judicial officer; 29. _igi_ i-din-{d}suen _dub-sar iti_ e-lu-nim _u4 5(disz)#-kam_ ts: maḫar i(d)din-sîn ṭupšarrim waraḫ elūnim ūmam ḫamšat en: before Iddin-sîn, the scribe. The month of Elūnum, the day 5, 30. _mu_ a-pil-{d}suen _lugal-e bad3 du-ur-mu-ti{ki} ba-du3_ ts: šanat apil-sîn šarrum dūr durmuti īpušu en: the year "Apil-sîn the king built the walls of Durmuti". seal 1 (uninscribed, with caption:) 1. _kiszib3_ t,a3-ab-uri2{ki} ts: kunuk ṭāb-akkadim en: Seal of Ṭāb-akkadim 2. _dumu_ ak-sza-ia ts: mār akšaya en: son of Akšaya seal 2 (uninscribed, with caption:) 1. _kiszib3_ i-din-{d}suen _dub-sar_ ts: kunuk i(d)din-sîn ṭupšarrim en: Seal of Iddin-sîn the scribe seal 3 (uninscribed, with caption:) 1. _kiszib3_ {d}utu-dingir ts: kunuk šamaš-ilī en: Seal of Šamaš-ilī 2. _dumu_ im-di-{d}en-lil2! Blocher reads Im-di-{d}EN.ZU! ts: mār imdī-enlil en: son of Imdī-enlil seal 4 (uninscribed, with caption:) 1. _kiszib3_ sza-i3-li2-szu ts: kunuk ša-ilīšu en: Seal of Ša-ilīšu 2. _dumu_ {d}mar-tu-na-s,ir ts: mār amurru-nāṣir en: son of Amurru-nāṣir seal 5 (uninscribed, with caption:) 1. _kiszib3_ dingir-szu-a-bu-szu ts: kunuk ilšu-abūšu en: Seal of Ilšu-abūšu 2. _dumu_ {d}suen-na-s,ir ts: mār sîn-nāṣir en: son of Sîn-nāṣir seal 6 (uninscribed, with caption:) 1. _kiszib3_ i-din-nu-nu ts: kunuk i(d)din-nunu en: Seal of Iddin-nunu 2. _dumu_ li-pi2-it-{d}en-lil2 ts: mār lipit-enlil en: son of Lipit-enlil seal 7 (uninscribed, with caption:) 1. _kiszib3_ nu-ur2-{d}kab-ta ts: kunuk nūr-kabta en: Seal of Nūr-kabta 2. _dumu_ im-gur-{d}suen ts: mār imgur-sîn en: son of Imgur-sîn