Old Babylonian Contracts

Adoption of a Baby, Purchased from Its Parents

                         Transliteration

I dumu-nita-gab
i-li-a-wi-li mu-ni-im
dumu a-a-ar-tum
ki a-a-ar-tum ama-ni-ta
ùe-ri-i8-tum dam-a-ni
ia-si-rum
ùama-dsin
[na]m-dumu-ni-me-eš
d-ba-an-ti-eš
. . .gin ka-babbar II ma-na sìg
ia-si-ru-um
ùama-^dsin
a-na a-a-ar-turn
ùe-ri-ištum
in-na-an-si
ia-si-rum
ùama-^dsin
[ki a-a-ar-turn]
[ùe-ri-iš-tum ì-lí]-a-wi-li
i-za-[ba-a]t-ma i-ta-la-ak

                         Translation

One sucking baby, Ili-awilim by name, the son of Ajartum, from Ajartum its mother, and Erishtum, her husband, Iasirum and Ama-^dSin have taken as their son.

Iasirum and Ama-^dSin shall give to Ajartum and Erishtum ten shekels of silver and two manas of wool as a gift for having given it birth. Iasirum and Ama-^dSin shall take Ili-awili from Ajartum and Erishtum and be allowed to depart.





Adoption of a Young Man, Who Obligates Himself to Provide for His Father

                        Transliteration
 
^mdnin-šubur-ta-a-a-ar-gè
^mpa-ti-ia-ra
nam-dumu-ni-8h ba-da-an-ri-g&
[ě a-šà] giš-sar a-na-me-a-bi
mdnin-šubur-ta-a-a-ar
[^m]pa-ti-ia dumu-ni-ra
in-na-si tukun-bi
[pa-t]i-ia a-na ^dnin-šubur-ta-a-a-ar
ad-da-na-ta ad-da-mu nu-me-en
ba-na-an-dug 1/3 ma-na kh-babbar
i-lal-e h tukun-[bi]
^dnin-šubur-ta-a-a-ar
^mpa-ti-ia dumu-ni-ra
dumu-mu nu-me-en ba-na-an-dug
[1/3 ma-n]a kh-babbar i-lal-e
ê-a h níg-gúna
b a-ra-an-8
^m pa-ti-ia a-na ^dnin-šubur-ta-a-a-ar
itu-da gar?-ra mu-ám I (gur) I (pi) Be-gur
[. . . . m]a-na sig V ka iá-giš
in-na-ab-esig-g6

                       Translation

^dNinshubur-tajar has adopted Patija for his son. House, field and orchard dXnshubur-tajar has given to Patija his son. Should Patija say to ^dNinshubur-tajar, his father: “My father thou art not” he shall pay one third of a mana of silver. And should ^dNinshubur-tajar say to Patija, his son: “My son thou art not” he shall pay one-third of a mana of silver and forfeit house and possessions.

Patija shall sustain ^dNinshubur-tajar by a monthly alimony of flour (?) and a yearly alimony of one gur and one pi of barley, ten manas of wool and five ka of oil.





Loan of Barley, from a Temple

                         Transliteration

I (gur) IV (pi) XL (ka) Be-gur
še ninda-ú ^dutu
ugu ^dda-mu-rí-ba-am
dumu ur-da-tum
^dutu in-tu(ku)
itu aš-a-ka
ninda-kú ^dutu
bí-íb-dúg-gi

                          Translation

One gur, four pi, forty ka of barley, barley for the food of the god Shamash, the god Shamash owns from ^dDamu-ribam, the son of Urdatum. In the month Ash-a the heart of ^dShajmash shall be satisfied with his food.





Manumission Document

                         Transliteration

kišib nam-[el-la]-ni-šù
^míš-tár-ú-ta-ri sag-ge᷉me
^mnu-du-ub-tum dumu şi-lí-^d[šamaš?]
ama-ar-gi-ni in-gar
sag-ki-ni in-láģ- láģ
BI nam- ge᷉me -ni in-gaz
kišib nam-el-la-ni-šù
in-na-an-šub

                          Translation

Ishtar-utari, a female slave, Nudubtum, the daughter of Ṣili-^dShamash, has set free. Her forehead she has cleansed. The mark (?) of her slavery she has destroyed. A manumission document she has given her.





Case & Tablet

                         Transliteration

áš-šum kaspim
šá ^dsin-i-ki-šá-am
a-na nu-úr-^dkab-ta
h na-bi-^dšamaš In-Na-An-Si
^mdsin-i-ki-šá-am
i-na kar-nibru^ki
i-mu-ur-šú-nu-ti-ma
^mna-bi-^dšamaš
ù ^mnu-úr-^dkab-ta
ik-šu-zu-nu-ti-ma
kaspam ma-li e-li-ku-nu
i-šú-ú
S̄àg-Ga-Ni Bi-Ib-Dúg-Gi-Eš
Ū-Kur-S̄ù Lh-ra Inim-Nu-Má-Má
Mu Lugal-Bi In-Pad

áš-šum kaspim
šá ^dsin-i-ki-šá-am
a-na nu-úr-^dkab-ta
h na-bi-^dšamaš S̄eš-A-Ni
i-di-i-nu
^dsin-i-ḳi-šá-am
i-na kar-nibru^ki
mnu-úr-^dkab-ta
ù na-bi-^dšamaš S̄eš-A-Ni
i-mu-ur-ma
ma-li e-li-iu-[nu] i-šú-ú
S̄àg-Ga-Ni Bi-Ìb-Dùg-Gi-Eš
Ū-Kur-S̄ù Lh-Ra Inim-Nu-Mà-Mà-Mà-A
Mu Lugal-Bi In-Pad

                        Translation

Concerning the money which ^dSin-Ikisham to Nur-^dKabta and Nabi-^dShamash, his brother, had given, ^dṢin-ikisham saw them in the Mar of Nippur, and brought suit against them. With as much money as they owe, his heart shall be satisfied. In the future one against the other shall advance no claim. He has sworn by the king.





A Man Marries a Widow, Adopting her Children

                      Transliteration

[^manu-šú-ba]-ni
[^mmu-ḫa-di-tum] nam-dam-a-ni-Sii in-tu (ku)
[^mnin-urta-mu]-ba-li-it
[^mṣi-lí-íš-tár] ù gìr-ni-ì-šag
[dumu-me3 (?)] mu-ha-di-turn
[^manu-šú]-ba-ni-gè ^mmu-ḫa-di-tum-[ra
            nam-ibila-ni-Bh in-na-an-si]
[. . .sar] ê-dú-a da ê ib-ku-^dda-mu
[ti da ê i-li-i-din-nam dumu lu-mu-ur- . . . . .
[. . .] gán a-šà ú-gub uš-a-rá ib-ku-dda-[mu]
[. . . g]án giš-sar ê-gub-ba ê-gal šà a-šà . . . . . . .
uš-a-rá i-da-tum dumu bur-^d . . . . . .
[. . .] X sar a-SA giš-gub-ba šà, id g[u-la?]
uš-a-rá i-li-ip-pa-al-za dumu . . . . . . . . . . . .
h ib-ku-šá dumu ^dsin-ma-gir
[. . .] sar giš-sar igi a-gár ri- . . . . . .
šà a- šà nanga uš-a-rá ì-lí-i[p-pa-al-za'
ù uš-a-rá ib-ku-šà dumu ^dsi[n-ma-gir]
^mmu-ḫa-di-tum-ra dam-a-ni
^mnin-urta-mu-ba-lí-iṭ
^mṣ-lì-íš-tár ti gìr-ni-ì-šag
in-na-ni-in-tu
^mdnin-urta-mu-ba-lí-iṭ šeš-gal-la
sib-ta-na šú-ba-ab-ti-gá
ur-a-si-ga-bi i-ba-e-ne-e5
[tuku]n-bi mmu-ḫa-di-tum
[^manu-š] 6-ba-ni-ra dam-a-[nil
[^mdni]n-urta-mu-ba-lí-iṭ [dumu-ni]
[^mṣi-lí]-ís-tár ù gìr-ni-ì-šag
[dam-mu] nu-me-en ad-da-mu nu-me-[en]
[ba-na-an]-dugê a-šá giš-sar
[ba-ra]-êne-eš
[tukun]-bi ^manu-šù-ba-ni
[^mmu-ḫa-di-tum dam-a-ni ^mdnin-urta-mu-ba-lí-iṭ
[^mṣi-lí-íš-tár] ù gir-ni-?-Sag
"gi-li-iS-t$r ti gir-ni-Gag
[tukuln-bi "mu-ba-di-tum
[ba-na-an]-dug i! a-3$ gi3-sar
[dumu-mu] nu-me-en ba-na-an-dug-e5
[ê a-šá giš-sar] ba-ra-ê-ne-eš
[še-ga-ne-ne-ta (?)] mu lugal-bi in-pad-ne-ei

                        Translation

Anushu-bani has taken Muhaditum for his wife. ^dNinurtamubalit, Sili-ishtar and Girni-ishag the sons of Muhaditum, Anushu-bani to Muhaditum (has given as his heirs) Ten sar of built house, adjoining the house of Ibku-^dDamu and the house of Ili-idinnam, son of Lumur- . . .; ten gan of field, with produce, alongside that of Ibku-^dDamu; ten gan of orchard, with trees standing and a house, from the field . . . . . .; adjoining Idatum, son of Bur-^d. . . .; ten gan and ten sar of field, with trees standing, from the property near the canal Gula (?), and adjoining Ili-ippalza the son of . . . . . . . and Ibkusha, son of ^dSin-magir; ten sar of orchard, in front of the field Ri . . . . from the nanga-field, adjoining Ili-ippalza, and Ibkusha, the son of ^dSin-magir; (this property) to Muhaditum, his wife, ^dNinurta-mubalit, Sili-ishtar and Girni-ishag he (Anushu-bani) has given. After dNinurta-mubalit, the eldest son, had taken his preferred portion, they have divided it among themselves. 

Should Muhaditum to Anushu-bani, her husband, and ^dNinurta-mubalit, Sili-Ishtar and Girni-ishag (to their father) say: “My husband thou art not, my father thou art not’’ they shall forfeit house, field and orchard. Should Anushubani (and) Muhaditum, his wife, say to ^dNinurta-mubalit, SiliIshtar and Girni-ishag “My sons ye are not” they shall forfeit house, field and orchard. By mutual agreement they have sworn by the king.





Lease of an Onion Field

                         Transliteration

2/18 gán a-šà ki-si-ma
šà a- šà nanga
uš-a-rá a-ap-pa-tum
a-šà íš-tár-ilat dumu ta-ri-bu
ki íš-tár-ilat-ta
^mib-ni-damurru
^me-te-el-pî-^dnin-urta ù anu-šú-ba-ni-gè
nam-ki-sí-ma-šù &-muitu-II-a- šù
I gán-ba I Be-gur aga-e-ne
ib-ta-an-ê-êš

                         Translation

Two eighteenths of a gan of onion field, from the nangafield, alongside that of Appatum; a field belonging to Ishtar-ilat, the daughter of Taribu. (This field) Ibni-^dAmurru, Etel-pidNinurta and Anushu-bani have rented from Ishtar-ilat, for the purpose of raising onions, for two months every year. (As rental price) they shall measure out two gurs of barley per gan of field.





Hire of a Gardener
 
                        Transliteration

^mgi-mil-lum mâr ap-pa-li
itti ra-ma-ni-šú
^mi-na-ê-sag-íl-zer mâr warad-ì-lí-šú
a-na irišutim
a-di pa-da-ar e-rī-šī-īm
i-gur-ma
idi waraḫ-I-kam-ma
I Biklu kaspim Ì-Lal-E
II-1/2-^ta-gám kurmât-su
III-1/2-^ta-ám ma-68-ti-xu
a-na ī-nī-ga-an-nī
zu-ub-ri ù si-ib-ba-ti
iz-za-a-az
iṣu^sun ú-ra-ak-ma
kaspam i-ni-tim i-šá-ga-la
i-na waraḫ-III-kam ga-tam i-za-bat
[iṣu^sun] i-na-pu-uS i-na-za-aḫ
i-na-ad-di it-ta-al-la-ak
i-na idi-Su i-te-el-li
i-na libbi idi-šu I Biklu kaspim ma-ḫi-ir

                         Translation

Gimillum the son of Appali, has hired for himself Inaesaggil-zer, the son of Warad-ilishu, as a farmer until the end of the harvest. His monthly wages shall be one shekel of silver, and also two and one half for his food and three and one half for his drink, He shall provide for himself implements and clothing (?). Should the trees prove unfruitful, he shall pay the money at the regular rate. In the third month he shall begin work. The trees he shall widen and transplant. Should he abandon and go away, he will lose his wages. In account of his wages he has received one shekel of silver.


Source: Edward Chiera, Old Babylonian Contracts, Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Museum, 1922.