YBC 03607

Letter of Nabû-aḫu-iddin (NAI) (Royal Overseer, ša rēš šarri bēl piqitti) to the High Priest (šatammu, Nabû-mukīn-apli/Nādinu//Dābibī), "his brother", about a lack of workers. Hired workers have left for the harvest (ana Tašrītu) and the available workers cost 6 shekels per month per person (i.e. more than three times the usual). The oblates the temple is sending have no travel provisions (ṣidītu) with them, which is why they flee after a few days of work. NAI shows that he knows that the temple has neither barley nor dates, but he tells the High Priest to by the goods in the city center and to give (each) man 0;0.5 of barley for 15 days. NAI also requests more workers. As both NAI and the High Priest are unhappy with the situation, NAI offers to trade places with him.