VAT 09196

Nabû-ina-tēšî-ēṭir/Innin-šumu-uṣur//Kidin-Marduk (NITE) declares that since Nbn. 10 Balāṭu/Šūzubu//Gimil-Nanāya (B) assessed (emēdu) his taxes and NITE brought in (nakāsu) the harvest (ebūru) from shares (zittu) of fields of Bēl-ēṭir/Marduk-šumu-ēreš, pledged (bīt maškanu) to the Lady of Uruk. Now NITE will supply testimony (kânu D) against B and hand it over to Zēria/Ibnāya//Egibi, High Priest (šatammu) of Eanna, and the scribes of Eanna. Else, he will give to the temple everything he has harvested.

Ṣillāya/Ērešu//Kidin-Marduk guarantees for NITE according to an addendum written below the date form.

4 witnesses.

Scribe: Nādinu/Bēl-aḫḫē-iqīša//Egibi.

The tablet concerns a dispute between A and B, regarding the task of yield estimations and the assessment of impost (imittu) from C’s share (zittu) in land (eqlu, i.c. orchards). The temple had acquired the right to collect impost from C following his pledge of his orchards as security (bit maškanu) to the Lady-of-Uruk.

The nature of A’s accusation against B is not entirely clear when he states that: “B, has been assessing my imposts (emēdu) since 10 Nbn and I have been harvesting (nakāsu) and delivering (nadānu) him the yield (ebūru).” 

Whatever the exact nature of this dispute may have been, A now has to prove (kanû, D) B’s guilt and hand him over (nadānu) to D, the temple administrator (šatammu) of Eanna, and the scribes of Eanna. Otherwise, A will have to deliver to Eanna (dates from) all the plots that he harvested.

Names of 4 witnesses and the scribe.

E guarantees (pūtu našû) for A.

A= Nabû-ina-tēšê-ēṭir/Innin-šumu-uṣur//Kidin-Marduk; B= Balāṭu/Šūzubu//Gimil-Nanāya; C= Bēl-ēṭer/Marduk-šumu-ēreš; D= Zēria/Ibnāya//Egibi, temple administrator (šatammu) of Eanna; E= Ṣillāya/Erēšu//Kidin-Marduk