YBC 06919

Šamaš-bēl-kalāma/Lâbâši (ŠBK), oblate of Ištar of Uruk, was put in shackles and handed over to his brother Anu-zēru-ušebši/Lâbâši (AZU) to chop straw in the royal cattle shed (bīt alpī). On the day ŠBK is seen in the tavern (bīt sābî), AZU will take over his punishment (mullê ina muḫḫišu malû D).

Written in the presence of Nabû-mukīn-apli/Nādinu//Dābibī, High Priest (šatammu) of Eanna.

2 witnesses.

Scribe: Arad-Marduk/Marduk-šumu-iddin//Bēl-aplu-uṣur.

Paraphrase 1

Injunction regarding Šamaš-bēl-kalāma/Lâbâši, a temple oblate (širku) put in irons at the service of his brother Anu-zēru-ušabši/Lâbâši to cut the straw for the royal stables. If he is found again in the tavern (bīt sābê), his brother will have to compensate his work. It is witnessed by Nabû-mukīn-apli/Nādinu//Dābibī, bishop (šatammu) of Eanna. Two further witnesses, both from the Iddin-Papsukkal-family, and Arad-Marduk/Marduk-šumu-iddin//Bēl-aplu-uṣur, the scribe.

Paraphrase 2

Restriction on the movement of an imprisoned temple-serf.

A, a temple-serf (širku) of Ištar of Uruk was placed in fetters (ina semeri ṣabātu) and handed over to B, his brother, to (ana) chop (habāšu) straw (tibnu) in the royal cattle shed (bīt alpi).

The tablet states that if (lit. “on the day that”) A will be seen in a tavern (bīt šikari), B will “give him his just desert” (mullû, in the expression mullê ana muhhišu un-da-al-lu).

The tablet is drafted in the presence (ina ušuzzu) of C, the temple administrator (šatammu) of Eanna + names of 2 witnesses and a scribe.

A= Šamaš-bēl-kullati/Lâbâši, a temple-serf (širku) of Ištar of Uruk (see YOS 97 for his faild attempt to escape prison one year later), brother of B; B= Anu-zēru-šubši/Lâbâši, brother of A and a known scribe; C= Nabû-mukīn-apli/Nādin/Dābibī, temple administrator (šatammu) of Eanna.