UET VII 41–42

A New Interpretation Based on an Understanding of ḫibiltu and ginû

Abstract

This study is a rereading of two Middle Babylonian documents (UET VII 41–42) with the same textual format. UET VII 41 is written on the topic of the “damage” which the brewers in the temple of Sin in Ur inflicted on Sin-leqi-unninni, in my interpretation, denoting his material loss, i.e., their unpaid debts to him. Also it seems that as a retaliatory measure he stopped supplying them with barley for ginû. When Sin-leqi-unninni made a direct appeal to the king on this matter, in his judgment the king granted his appeal and ordered the brewers to repay their debts, while at the same time probably he ordered Sin-leqi-unninni to resume supplying the barley. The ginû in this document, as in UET VII 47 and 63, seems most likely to mean rations from the temple to the brewers, and Sin-leqi-unninni is known from other sources as a member of the temple personnel engaged in receiving various goods from outside and distributing them inside to the brewers (and others?) for rations and raw materials. The topic of UET VII 42 is the “damage” which Riš-Marduk inflicted on Sin-napšira, i.e., the latter’s material loss. Although it is difficult to understand the text because of the bad state of preservation, I am of the opinion that it is a record of two cases where Riš-Marduk obtained the release of Sin-napšira, a man under restraint, by disposing of the latter’s properties (without his consent?).