Middle Assyrian Laws

Document Text

Tablet A

A1. If a woman, either a man’s wife or a man’s daughter, should enter into a temple and steal something from the sanctuary in the temple and either it is discovered in her possession or they prove the charges against her and find her guilty, [they shall perform(?)] a divination[?], they shall inquire of the deity; they shall treat her as the deity instructs them.

A2. If a woman, either a man’s wife or a man’s daughter, should speak something disgraceful or utter a blasphemy, that woman alone bears responsibility for her offense; they shall have no claim against her husband, her sons, or her daughters.

A3. If a man is either ill or dead, and his wife should steal something from his house and give it either to a man, or to a woman, or to anyone else, they shall kill the man’s wife as well as the receivers [of the stolen goods]. And if a man’s wife, whose husband is healthy, should steal from her husband’s house and give it either to a man, or to a woman, or to anyone else, the man shall prove the charges against his wife and shall impose a punishment; the receiver who received [the stolen goods] from the man’s wife shall hand over the stolen goods, and they shall impose a punishment on the receiver identical to that which the man imposed on his wife.

A4. If either a slave or a slave woman should receive something from a man’s wife, they shall cut off the slave’s or slave woman’s nose and ears; they shall restore the stolen goods; the man shall cut off his own wife’s ears. But if he releases his wife and does not cut off her ears, they shall not cut off [the nose and ears] of the slave or slave woman, and they shall not restore the stolen goods.

A5. If a man’s wife should steal something with a value greater than 300 shekels of lead from the house of another man, the owner of the stolen goods shall take an oath, saying, “I did not incite her, saying, ‘Commit a theft in my house.’” If her husband is in agreement, he [her husband] shall hand over the stolen goods and he shall ransom her; he shall cut off her ears. If her husband does not agree to her ransom, the owner of the stolen goods shall take her and he shall cut off her nose.

A6. If a man’s wife should place goods for safekeeping outside of the family, the receiver of the goods shall bear liability for stolen property.

A7. If a woman should lay a hand upon a man and they prove the charges against her, she shall pay 1,800 shekels of lead; they shall strike her 20 blows with rods.

A8. If a woman should crush a man’s testicle during a quarrel, they shall cut off one of her fingers. And even if the physician should bandage it, but the second testicle then becomes infected[?] along with it and becomes …, or if she should crush the second testicle during the quarrel—they shall gouge out both her […]

A9. If a man lays a hand upon a woman, attacking her like a rutting bull[?], and they prove the charges against him and find him guilty, they shall cut off one of his fingers. If he should kiss her, they shall draw his lower lip across the blade[?] of an ax and cut it off.

A10. [If either] a man or a woman enters [another man’s] house and kills [either a man] or a woman, [they shall hand over] the manslayers [to the head of the household]; if he so chooses, he shall kill them, or if he chooses to come to an accommodation, he shall take [their property]; and if there is [nothing of value to give from the house] of the manslayers, either a son [or a daughter …]. …

A12. If a wife of a man should walk along the main thoroughfare and should a man seize her and say to her, “I want to have sex with you!”—she shall not consent but she shall protect herself; should he seize her by force and fornicate with her—whether they discover him upon the woman or witnesses later prove the charges against him that he fornicated with the woman—they shall kill the man; there is no punishment for the woman.

A13. If the wife of a man should go out of her own house, and go to another man where he resides, and should he fornicate with her knowing that she is the wife of a man, they shall kill the man and the wife.

A14. If a man should fornicate with another man’s wife either in an inn or in the main thoroughfare, knowing that she is the wife of a man, they shall treat the fornicator as the man declares he wishes his wife to be treated. If he should fornicate with her without knowing that she is the wife of a man, the fornicator is clear; the man shall prove the charges against his wife and he shall treat her as he wishes.

A15. If a man should seize another man upon his wife and they prove the charges against him and find him guilty, they shall kill both of them; there is no liability for him [i.e., the husband]. If he should seize him and bring him either before the king or the judges, and they prove the charges against him and find him guilty—if the woman’s husband kills his wife, then he shall also kill the man; if he cuts off his wife’s nose, he shall turn the man into a eunuch and they shall lacerate his entire face; but if [he wishes to release] his wife, he shall [release] the man.

A16. If a man [should fornicate] with the wife of a man [… by] her invitation, there is no punishment for the man; the man [i.e., husband] shall impose whatever punishment he chooses upon his wife. If he should fornicate with her by force and they prove the charges against him and find him guilty, his punishment shall be identical to that of the wife of the man.

A17. If a man should say to another man, “Everyone has sex with your wife,” but there are no witnesses, they shall draw up a binding agreement, they shall undergo the divine River Ordeal.

A18. If a man says to his comrade, either in private or in a public quarrel, “Everyone has sex with your wife,” and further, “I can prove the charges,” but he is unable to prove the charges and does not prove the charges, they shall strike that man 40 blows with rods; he shall perform the king’s service for one full month; they shall cut off his hair; moreover, he shall pay 3,600 shekels of lead.

A19. If a man furtively spreads rumors about his comrade, saying, “Everyone sodomizes him,” or in a quarrel in public says to him, “Everyone sodomizes you,” and further, “I can prove the charges against you,” but he is unable to prove the charges and does not prove the charges, they shall strike that man 50 blows with rods; he shall perform the king’s service for one full month; they shall cut off his hair; moreover, he shall pay 3,600 shekels of lead.

A20. If a man sodomizes his comrade and they prove the charges against him and find him guilty, they shall sodomize him and they shall turn him into a eunuch.

A21. If a man strikes a woman of the a’ilu-class thereby causing her to abort her fetus, and they prove the charges against him and find him guilty—he shall pay 9,000 shekels of lead; they shall strike him 50 blows with rods; he shall perform the king’s service for one full month.

A22. If an unrelated man—neither her father, nor her brother, nor her son—should arrange to have a man’s wife travel with him, then he shall swear an oath to the effect that he did not know that she is the wife of a man and he shall pay 7,200 shekels of lead to the woman’s husband. If [he knows that she is the wife of a man], he shall pay damages and he shall swear, saying, “I did not fornicate with her.” But if the man’s wife should declare, “He did fornicate with me,” since the man has already paid damages to the man [i.e., husband], he shall undergo the divine River Ordeal; there is no binding agreement. If he should refuse to undergo the divine River Ordeal, they shall treat him as the woman’s husband treats his wife.

A23. If a man’s wife should take another man’s wife into her house and give her to a man for purposes of fornication, and the man knows that she is the wife of a man, they shall treat him as one who has fornicated with the wife of another man; and they treat the female procurer just as the woman’s husband treats his fornicating wife. And if the woman’s husband intends to do nothing to his fornicating wife, they shall do nothing to the fornicator or to the female procurer; they shall release them. But if the man’s wife does not know [what was intended], and the woman who takes her into her house brings the man in to her by deceit[?], and he then fornicates with her—if, as soon as she leaves the house, she should declare that she has been the victim of fornication, they shall release the woman, she is clear; they shall kill the fornicator and the female procurer. But if the woman should not so declare, the man shall impose whatever punishment on his wife he wishes; they shall kill the fornicator and the female procurer.

A24. If a man’s wife should withdraw herself from her husband and enter into the house of [another] Assyrian, either in that city or in any of the nearby towns, to a house which he assigns to her, residing with the mistress of the household, staying overnight three or four nights, and the householder is not aware that it is the wife of a man who is residing in his house, and later that woman is seized, the householder whose wife withdrew herself from him shall [mutilate] his wife and [not] take her back. As for the man’s wife with whom his wife resided, they shall cut off her ears; if he pleases, her husband shall give 12,600 shekels of lead as her value, and, if he pleases, he shall take back his wife. However, if the householder knows that it is a man’s wife who is residing in his house with his wife, he shall give “triple.” And if he should deny [that he knew of her status], he shall declare, “I did not know,” they shall undergo the divine River Ordeal. And if the man in whose house the wife of a man resided should refuse to undergo the divine River Ordeal, he shall give “triple”; if it is the man whose wife withdrew herself from him who should refuse to undergo the divine River Ordeal, he [in whose house she resided] is clear; he shall bear the expenses of the divine River Ordeal. However, if the man whose wife withdrew herself from him does not mutilate his wife, he shall take back his wife; no sanctions are imposed.

A25. If a woman is residing in her own father’s house and her husband is dead, her husband’s brothers have not yet divided their inheritance, and she has no son— her husband’s brothers who have not yet received their inheritance shares shall take whatever valuables her husband bestowed upon her that are not missing. As for the rest [of the property], they shall resort to a verdict by the gods, they shall provide proof, and they shall take the property; they shall not be seized for [the settlement of any dispute by] the divine River Ordeal or the oath.

A26. If a woman is residing in her own father’s house and her husband is dead, if there are sons of her husband, it is they who shall take whatever valuables her husband bestowed upon her; if there are no sons of her husband, she herself shall take the valuables.

A27. If a woman is residing in her own father’s house and her husband visits her regularly, he himself shall take back any marriage settlement which he, her husband, gave to her; he shall have no claim to anything belonging to her father’s house.

A28. If a widow should enter a man’s house and she is carrying her dead husband’s surviving son with her [in her womb], he grows up in the house of the man who married her but no tablet of his adoption is written, he will not take an inheritance share from the estate of the one who raised him, and he will not be responsible for its debts; he shall take an inheritance share from the estate of his begetter in accordance with his portion.

A29. If a woman should enter her husband’s house, her dowry and whatever she brings with her from her father’s house, and also whatever her father-in-law gave her upon her entering, are clear for her sons; her father-in-law’s sons shall have no valid claim. But if her husband intends to take control of her, he shall give it to whichever of his sons he wishes.

A30. If a father should bring the ceremonial marriage prestation and present [the bridal gift] to the house of his son’s father-in-law, and the woman is not yet given to his son, and another son of his, whose wife is residing in her own father’s house, is dead, he shall give the wife of his deceased son into the protection of the household of his second son to whose father-in-law’s house he has presented [the ceremonial marriage prestation]. If the master of the daughter who is receiving the bridal gift decides not to agree to give his daughter [in these altered circumstances], if the father who presented the bridal gift so pleases, he shall take his daughter-in-law [i.e., the wife of his deceased son] and give her in marriage to his [second] son. And if he so pleases, as much as he presented—lead, silver, gold, and anything not edible—he shall take back in the quantities originally given; he shall have no claim to anything edible.

A31. If a man presents the bridal gift to his father-in-law’s house, and although his wife is dead there are other daughters of his father-in-law, if he so pleases, he shall marry a daughter of his father-in-law in lieu of his deceased wife. Or, if he so pleases, he shall take back the silver that he gave; they shall not give back to him grain, sheep, or anything edible; he shall receive only the silver.

A32. If a woman is residing in her own father’s house and her […] is given, whether or not she has been taken into her father-in-law’s house, she shall be responsible for her husband’s debts, transgression, or punishment.

A33. If a woman is residing in her own father’s house, her husband is dead, and she has sons […], or [if he so pleases], he shall give her into the protection of the household of her father-in-law. If her husband and her father-in-law are both dead, and she has no son, she is indeed a widow; she shall go wherever she pleases.

A34. If a man should marry a widow without her formal binding agreement and she resides in his house for two years, she is a wife; she shall not leave.

A35. If a widow should enter into a man’s house, whatever she brings with her belongs to her [new] husband; and if a man should enter into a woman’s house, whatever he brings with him belongs to the woman.

A36. If a woman is residing in her father’s house, or her husband settles her in a house elsewhere, and her husband then travels abroad but does not leave her any oil, wool, clothing, or provisions, or anything else, and sends her no provisions from abroad—that woman shall still remain [the exclusive object of rights] for her husband for five years, she shall not reside with another husband. If she has sons, they shall be hired out and provide for their own sustenance; the woman shall wait for her husband, she shall not reside with another husband. If she has no sons, she shall wait for her husband for five years; at the onset of [?] six years, she shall reside with the husband of her choice; her [first] husband, upon returning, shall have no valid claim to her; she is clear for her second husband. If he is delayed beyond the five years but is not detained of his own intention, whether because a … seized him and he fled or because he was falsely arrested and therefore he was detained, upon returning he shall so prove, he shall give a woman comparable to his wife [to her second husband] and take his wife. And if the king should send him to another country and he is delayed beyond the five years, his wife shall wait for him [indefinitely]; she shall not go to reside with another husband. And furthermore, if she should reside with another husband before the five years are completed and should she bear children [to the second husband], because she did not wait in accordance with the agreement, but was taken in marriage [by another], her [first] husband, upon returning, shall take her and also her offspring.

A37. If a man intends to divorce his wife, if it is his wish, he shall give her something; if that is not his wish, he shall not give her anything, and she shall leave empty-handed.

A38. If a woman is residing in her own father’s house and her husband divorces her, he shall take the valuables which he himself bestowed upon her; he shall have no claim to the bridewealth which he brought [to her father’s house], it is clear for the woman.

A39. If a man should give one who is not his own daughter in marriage to a husband—if [this situation arose because] previously her father had been in debt and she had been made to reside as a pledge—and a prior creditor should come forward, he [i.e., the prior creditor] shall receive the value of the woman, in full, from the one who gives the woman in marriage; if he has nothing to give, he [i.e., the prior creditor] shall take the one who gives the woman in marriage. However, if she had been saved from a catastrophe, she is clear for the one who saved her. And if the one who marries the woman either causes a tablet to be … for him or they have a claim in place against him, he shall […] the value of the woman, and the one who gives [the woman] […]

A40. Wives of a man, or [widows], or any [Assyrian] women who go out into the main thoroughfare [shall not have] their heads [bare]. Daughters of a man [… with] either a … cloth or garments or […] shall be veiled, […] their heads [… (gap of ca. 6 lines) …] When they go about […] in the main thoroughfare during the daytime, they shall be veiled. A concubine who goes about in the main thoroughfare with her mistress is to be veiled. A married qadiltu-woman is to be veiled [when she goes about] in the main thoroughfare, but an unmarried one is to leave her head bare in the main thoroughfare, she shall not veil herself. A prostitute shall not be veiled, her head shall be bare. Whoever sees a veiled prostitute shall seize her, secure witnesses, and bring her to the palace entrance. They shall not take away her jewelry, but he who has seized her takes her clothing; they shall strike her 50 blows with rods; they shall pour hot pitch over her head. And if a man should see a veiled prostitute and release her, and does not bring her to the palace entrance, they shall strike that man 50 blows with rods; the one who informs against him shall take his clothing; they shall pierce his ears, thread them on a cord, tie it at his back; he shall perform the king’s service for one full month.  Slave women shall not be veiled, and he who should see a veiled slave woman shall seize her and bring her to the palace entrance; they shall cut off her ears; he who seizes her shall take her clothing. If a man should see a veiled slave woman but release her and not seize her, and does not bring her to the palace entrance, and they then prove the charges against him and find him guilty, they shall strike him 50 blows with rods; they shall pierce his ears, thread them on a cord, tie it at his back; the one who informs against him shall take his garments; he shall perform the king’s service for one full month.

A41. If a man intends to veil his concubine, he shall assemble five or six of his comrades, and he shall veil her in their presence, he shall declare, “She is my assutu-wife”; she is his assutu-wife. A concubine who is not veiled in the presence of people, whose husband did not declare, “She is my assutu-wife,” she is not an assutu-wife, she is indeed a concubine. If a man is dead and there are no sons of his veiled wife, the sons of the concubines are indeed sons; they shall [each] take an inheritance share.

A42. If a man pours oil on the head of a woman of the a’ilu-class on the occasion of a holiday, or brings dishes on the occasion of a banquet, no return [of gifts] shall be made.

A43. If a man either pours oil on her head or brings [dishes for] the banquet, [after which] the son to whom he assigned the wife either dies or flees, he shall give her in marriage to whichever of his remaining sons he wishes, from the oldest to the youngest of at least ten years of age. If the father is dead and the son to whom he assigned the wife is also dead, a son of the deceased son who is at least ten years old shall marry her. If the sons of the [dead] son are less than ten years old, if the father of the daughter wishes, he shall give his daughter [to one of them], but if he wishes he shall make a full and equal return [of gifts given]. If there is no son, he shall return as much as he received, precious stones or anything not edible, in its full amount; but he shall not return anything edible.

A44. If there is an Assyrian man or an Assyrian woman who is residing in a man’s house as a pledge for a debt, for as much as his value, and he is taken for the full value [i.e., his value as pledge does not exceed that of the debt], he [the pledge holder] shall whip [the pledge], pluck out [the pledge’s] hair, [or] mutilate or pierce [the pledge’s] ears.

A45. If a woman is given in marriage and the enemy then takes her husband prisoner, and she has neither father-in-law nor son [to support her], she shall remain [the exclusive object of rights] for her husband for two years. During these two years, if she has no provisions, she shall come forward and so declare. If she is a resident of the community dependent upon the palace, her [father(?)] shall provide for her and she shall do work for him. If she is a wife of a hupsu-soldier, […] shall provide for her [and she shall do work for him]. But [if she is a wife of a man(?) whose] field and [house are not sufficient to support her(?)], she shall come forward and declare before the judges, “[I have nothing] to eat”; the judges shall question the mayor and the noblemen of the city to determine the current market rate[?] of a field in that city; they shall assign and give the field and house for her, for her provisioning for two years; she shall be resident [in that house], and they shall write a tablet for her [permitting her to stay for the two years]. She shall allow two full years to pass, and then she may go to reside with the husband of her own choice; they shall write a tablet for her as if for a widow. If later her lost husband should return to the country, he shall take back his wife who married outside the family; he shall have no claim to the sons she bore to her later husband, it is her later husband who shall take them. As for the field and house that she gave for full price outside the family for her provisioning, if it is not entered into the royal holdings[?], he shall give as much as was given, and he shall take it back. But if he should not return but dies in another country, the king shall give his field and house wherever he chooses to give.

A46. If a woman whose husband is dead does not move out of her house upon the death of her husband, if her husband [while alive] does not deed her anything in writing, she shall reside in the house of [one of] her own sons, wherever she chooses; her husband’s sons shall provide for her, they shall draw up an agreement to supply her with provisions and drink as for an in-law whom they love. If she is a second wife and has no sons of her own, she shall reside with one [of her husband’s sons] and they shall provide for her in common. If she does have sons, and the sons of a prior wife do not agree to provide for her, she shall reside in the house of [one of] her own sons, wherever she chooses; her own sons shall provide for her, and she shall do service for them. And if there is one among her husband’s sons who is willing to marry her, [it is he who shall provide for her; her own sons] shall not provide for her.

A47. If either a man or a woman should be discovered practicing witchcraft, and should they prove the charges against them and find them guilty, they shall kill the practitioner of witchcraft. A man who heard from an eyewitness to the witchcraft that he witnessed the practice of the witchcraft, who said to him, “I myself saw it,” that hearsay-witness shall go and inform the king. If the eye-witness should deny what he [i.e., the hearsay-witness] reports to the king, he [i.e., the hearsay-witness] shall declare before the divine Bull-the-Son-of-the-Sun-God, “He surely told me”—and thus he is clear. As for the eyewitness who spoke [of witnessing the deed to his comrade] and then denied [it to the king], the king shall interrogate him as he sees fit, in order to determine his intentions; an exorcist shall have the man make a declaration when they make a purification, and then he himself [i.e., the exorcist] shall say as follows, “No one shall release any of you from the oath you swore by the king and by his son; you are bound by oath to the stipulations of the agreement to which you swore by the king and by his son.”

A48. If a man [wants to give in marriage] his debtor’s daughter who is residing in his house as a pledge, he shall ask permission of her father and then he shall give her to a husband. If her father does not agree, he shall not give her. If her father is dead, he shall ask permission of one of her brothers and the latter shall consult with her [other] brothers. If one brother so desires he shall declare, “I will redeem my sister within one month”; if he should not redeem her within one month, the creditor, if he so pleases, shall clear her of encumbrances and shall give her to a husband. …

A50. [If a man] strikes [another man’s wife thereby causing her to abort her fetus …] a man’s wife […] and they shall treat him as he treated her; he shall make full payment of a life for her fetus. And if that woman dies, they shall kill that man; he shall make full payment of a life for her fetus. And if there is no son of that woman’s husband, and his wife whom he struck aborted her fetus, they shall kill the assailant for her fetus. If her fetus was a female, he shall make full payment of a life only.

A51. If a man strikes another man’s wife who does not raise her child, causing her to abort her fetus, it is a punishable offense; he shall give 7,200 shekels of lead.

A52. If a man strikes a prostitute causing her to abort her fetus, they shall assess him blow for blow, he shall make full payment of a life.

A53. If a woman aborts her fetus by her own action and they then prove the charges against her and find her guilty, they shall impale her, they shall not bury her. If she dies as a result of aborting her fetus, they shall impale her, they shall not bury her. If any persons should hide that woman because she aborted her fetus […] …

A55. If a man forcibly seizes and rapes a maiden who is residing in her father’s house, […] who is not betrothed[?], whose [womb(?)] is not opened, who is not married, and against whose father’s house there is no outstanding claim— whether within the city or in the countryside, or at night whether in the main thoroughfare, or in a granary, or during the city festival— the father of the maiden shall take the wife of the fornicator of the maiden and hand her over to be raped; he shall not return her to her husband, but he shall take [and keep?] her; the father shall give his daughter who is the victim of fornication into the protection of the household of her fornicator. If he [the fornicator] has no wife, the fornicator shall give “triple” the silver as the value of the maiden to her father; her fornicator shall marry her; he shall not reject[?] her. If the father does not desire it so, he shall receive “triple” silver for the maiden, and he shall give his daughter in marriage to whomever he chooses.

A56. If a maiden should willingly give herself to a man, the man shall so swear; they shall have no claim to his wife; the fornicator shall pay “triple” the silver as the value of the maiden; the father shall treat his daughter in whatever manner he chooses. …

A59. In addition to the punishments for [a man’s wife] that are [written] on the tablet, a man may [whip] his wife, pluck out her hair, mutilate her ears, or strike her, with impunity.

Month II, day 2, eponymy of Sagiu.

Tablet B

B1. [If brothers divide the estate of their father], orchards [and wells] in the plot of land […], the oldest son shall select and take a double share, and his brothers shall select and take shares one after the other; the youngest son is the one who apportions whatever siluhlu-personnel there are and all the associated equipment in the field; the oldest son shall select and take one share, and for his second share he shall cast lots with his brothers.

B2. If a man, who has not yet received his inheritance share, takes a life, they shall hand him over to the next-of-kin. Should the next-of-kin so choose, he shall kill him, or, if he chooses to come to an accommodation, then he shall take his inheritance share.

B3. If a man, who has not yet received his inheritance share, speaks treason or flees, the disposition of his inheritance share shall be determined by the king.

B4. If there are brothers in possession of an undivided field, and one brother among them […] sows seed […] cultivates the field, [and a second brother] then comes and for a second time [takes the seed of] his brother’s cultivation […], and they prove the charges against him and find him guilty—[on the day that he himself] comes forward, [the brother] who cultivated [the field] shall take [his inheritance share]. …

B6. [If …] intends to purchase [a field or house …]; before he purchases the field or house, he shall have the herald make a proclamation three times during the course of one full month within the City of Assur, and he shall also have him make a proclamation three times within the city of the field or house which he intends to purchase, as follows: “I intend to purchase the field or house, within the common irrigated area of this city, belonging to so-and-so, son of so-and-so. Let all who have a right to acquire [the property] or a contest [against this transfer] bring forth their tablets and present them before the officials, let them thus contest [the purchase], let them clear [the property of other claims], and let them take it. Of those who, during the course of this full month, bring their tablets without fail by the due date and present them before the officials, the man [whose claim is successful] shall take full possession of the extent of his field.” When the herald makes his proclamation in the City of Assur, one of the royal court officials, the city scribe, the herald, and the royal officials are to be present; representing the city of the field or house that he intends to purchase, the mayor and three noblemen of the city are to be present; they also shall have the herald make his proclamation; they shall write their tablets and give [them to the purchaser, saying] as follows: The herald has made proclamations three times during the course of this full month. He who during the course of this full month has not brought his tablet and has not presented it before the officials forfeits [any claims to] the field or house; it is cleared for the benefit of the person who had the herald make the proclamation.” Three tablets that the judges will write [attesting to the fact] of having the herald make a proclamation, one [tablet] the officials […] …

B8. If a man should incorporate a large border area of his comrade’s [property into his own] and they prove the charges against him and find him guilty, he shall give a field “triple” that which he had incorporated; they shall cut off one of his fingers; they shall strike him 100 blows with rods; he shall perform the king’s service for one full month.

B9. If a man transfers a small border area of the lots and they prove the charges against him and find him guilty, he shall give 3,600 shekels of lead; he shall give a field “triple” that which he had incorporated; they shall strike him 50 blows with rods; he shall perform the king’s service for one full month.

B10. If a man digs a well and builds a permanent structure in a field not his own, he shall forfeit his claim to his well and his permanent structure; they shall strike him 30 blows with rods; he shall perform the king’s service for 20 days. … […] … […] the permanent structure […] he shall swear, “[ …],” and further, “I have indeed [dug] the well, I have [indeed built] a permanent structure.”…

B12. If a man plants an orchard, digs a well, or raises trees in a field belonging to [his comrade], and the owner of the field notices it but does not [object], the orchard is clear for the benefit of the planter; he shall give another field in lieu of the field to the owner of the orchard.

B13. If a man either plants an orchard, or digs a well, or raises vegetables or trees in a plot not his own, and they prove the charges against him and find him guilty, when the owner of the field comes forward, he shall take the orchard together with its [new] installations.

B14. If a man digs[? a pit] and makes bricks in a plot not his own and they prove the charges against him and find him guilty, he shall give “triple” the plot; they shall take his bricks; they shall strike him 50[?] blows with rods; he shall perform the king’s service for [x days].

B15. [If a man …] and makes bricks in a plot not his own, they shall take [his bricks; they shall] strike him [x blows with rods]; he shall perform [the king’s service for x days.] …

B17. If there is sufficient water for irrigation available in the common irrigated area in the wells, the owners of the fields shall act together; each man shall perform the work in accordance with the extent of his field, and shall irrigate his field. But if there are some among them who are not amenable to an agreement, the one among them who is amenable to an agreement shall appeal to the judges; he shall obtain a tablet [with the decision] of the judges, and perform the work; he shall take those waters for himself, and irrigate his own field; no one else may irrigate [with the waters].

B18. If there is sufficient rain-water for irrigation available, the owners of the fields shall act together; each man shall perform the work in accordance with the extent of his field, and shall irrigate his field. But if there are some among them who are not amenable to an agreement, then the one among them who is amenable to an agreement shall take the tablet [with the decision] of the judges before those who are not amenable to an agreement; the mayor and five noblemen [of the city shall be present … (gap) … they shall strike] him [x blows with rods]; he shall perform [the king’s service for x days].

B19. If a man intends to cultivate the field of his comrade, [and …] prevented[?] him, [… he swore for] him an oath by the king and he cultivated it. [If …] he should come forth, the cultivator of the field shall harvest and thresh [the grain] at harvest time, he shall store [the grain] in the storage facility, [… and] he shall return the [straw(?)] to the barn; in accordance with the yield of a field of the city, he shall give two shares [to the owner] of the field.

B20. If a man digs […] in a field not belonging to him, surrounds it with a border, sets up a boundary stone, and says, [“ …,”] and they prove the charges against him and find him guilty, […]