NBC 01123

Letter of Ninurta-šarru-uṣur (Royal Resident, qīpu) to Nādinu (= Nabû-nādin-šumi/Bēl-šumu-iškun//Dābibī, High Priest, šatammu) and Marduk-ēṭir (/Bēl-šumu-iškun//Dābibī, Temple Scribe, ṭupšar bīti), emphatically and vividly complaining about how hard his work is. He informs them that they have to deliver 110 bricks per man per day, but all strong workers have fled. He therefore tells the recipients to levy strong workers and to send them to him as well as hired workers fit for work. He also stresses that he is dependent on the recipients to receive reeds and straw. All the chiefs of fifty (rab ḫanšē) have gone to the recipients and can tell them how hard the work is. The sender also stresses that he is under royal pressure, as the chief official in charge of agrarian matters (mašennu) and the palace scribe (ṭupšar ekalli) are checking on the work. In closing, he stresses his urgent need for the aforementioned workers and hired workers (kapdu, ḫarrānu ana šēpē šakānu).