AO 06789

The right to collect tithes from temple land is leased out: Innin-šumu-uṣur/Nanāya-ēreš (Išu) speaks to Nabû-šarru-uṣur, royal courtier (ša rēš šarri) and the temple officials (bēl piqnēti) of Eanna about the temple tithe (ešrû) from Uruk to Babylon, from the (tp)Royal Canal (nār šarri) to the Euphrates. Fields are mentioned in (tp)Dūru-ša-bīt-Dakūru, that is in the irrigation districts (tamirtu) of (tp)Ḫišumātu, (tp)Raqqānu, (tp)Šakillat, (tp)Kuṣāya, (tp)Namzu, as well as fields of the (tp)Market gate (bābu ša maḫīri), and (tp)the compound of the crown prince, with land of Marduk-aplu-uṣur, (Ḫuṣṣētu-ša-mār-šarri, qaqqaru ša Mau). Išu also requests the tithe of (tp)Bīt-Amukani currently at the disposal of Bānia/Nanāya-iddin and offers to pay 500;0 kor of barley and dates per year in the temple measure at the large waterways (mû rabâti). The request is granted.

A contingency on debt notes (uˀiltu) in the possession of Šumu-ukīn(/Bēl-zēri//Basia), chief of the temple plowmen (rab ikkarāti), states that these are to be deducted (naḫāsu). Earlier accounts (epēš nikkasi maḫrūtu) of Išu are with Gabbi-ilāni-šarru-uṣur, Royal Overseer of Eanna (qīpu ša Eanna) and Nabû-aḫḫē-uballiṭ/Ša-Nabû-šū, temple scribe (ṭupšar bīti).

5 witnesses, and the scribe Nabû-mukīn-apli/Zēria.

Lease of temple land for the purpose of collecting tithes incumbent on this land and due to the Lady-of-Uruk.  Dialogue document.

A addresses (ana pāni alāku) B, the courtier (ša rēši), and the commissioners (bēl piqnēti) of Eanna and asks (qabû) them to give him (nadānu, bīnamma) the right to collect tithes (ešrû) on behalf of the temple. It concerns the tithe of the Lady-of-Uruk (from land) that (extends) from Uruk to Babylon, from Nār-šarri to the Euphrates. The plots (eqlu) of the Lady-of-Uruk that will thus be leased out to B are listed as follow: the plots in Dūru-ša-Bīt-Dakūru, the “hundred”-field complexes (meˀatu) of Ḫišdubati, of Raqqanu, of Šakillatu, of Kuṣāya, of Namzû, of Bāb-mahīri, (and) of Ḫuṣṣētu-ša-mar-šarri. A also includes in his request) the land of(?)C1 and the tithe of Bīt-Amukanu at the disposal (ina pāni) of C2. Thus, he seems to ask the temple to transfer to him the ešrû-land currently leased to C1 and C2.

B and the commissioners agree (šemû, lit. listen) and give the plots to A.

In return, A will deliver to the temple 500 kor of barley and dates per year at the big watercourses (mû rabû), using the measure (mašīḫu) of the Lady-of-Uruk. A will also bring in the barley and dates that he owes (ina muḫḫi) to D, the overseer of the ploughmen (rab ikkari) of the Lady-of-Uruk, according to the debt notes (uˀiltu). Both A and D will deliver these together as part of D’s rent payment (sūtu).

This is apart (elat) from the arrears (rēḫu) and earlier accounts at the disposal of A.
the tablet is drafted in the presence (ina ušuzzu) of E1, the royal resident (qīpu) of Eanna (and) E2, the temple scribe (ṭupšar bīti) + names of 5 witnesses and the scribe.

A= Innin-šumu-uṣur/Nanāya-ēreš; B= Nabû-šarru-uṣur; C1= Marduk-aplu-uṣur; C2= Bānia/Nanāya-ibni; D= Šumu-ukīn, overseer of the ploughmen (rab ikkari) of the Lady-of-Uruk, and a known rent farmer; E1= Gabbi-ilāni-šarru-uṣur, royal resident (qīpu) of Eanna; E2= Nabû-aḫḫē-bulliṭ/Ša-Nabû-šū, temple scribe (ṭupšar bīti)