Litigation over dates collected as rental income.

This document relates to a dispute about the collection of impost (imittu) from šušānu-fields (eqel šušānē) that A has with B. The impost was due in (ša) Tašrīt of Darius’ 9th regnal year, 5 months previous to the drafting of this document.  A claims that he is held responsible (ina pāni) for it, and accordingly he had assessed the dates (emēdu, wr. ša ēmidu) before the harvest. Apparently something went wrong, and he did not collect them from those liable to pay impost (lúi-mit-tu4). He therefore asks B whether it was he who collected them (našû, wr. tattaššû), upon which the latter replies that he indeed did so (našû, wr. attaššû), after A had assessed them (emēdu, wr. kī tīmidu). The document stipulates that A and B will litigate about (ana muhhi) these (annû) dates in court(?) (dabābu G, Pres. wr. 16A: id-dab-bu-bu, 16B: id-dab-bu-ub. Note that dīnu is lacking). It concludes by referring to another (elat) debt (u’iltu), namely one for 20 kor of dates which B still owes (to the authorities). Remarkably, this document was issued in two examplars (Tablet 16A and 16B). For the minor textual and graphic differences between them, see the edition princeps. Names of 6 witnesses and the scribe: Erība-Enlil/Širiktu.

A= Ahīqam/Rapā-Yāw; B= Nadab-Yāw/Abdi-Yāhû