A good example of a will has already been given above. It appears there that wills like that of Nadinu would stand in spite of the wishes of some of the heirs. We may here illustrate the division of estates among the heirs. This instrument was executed at Borsippa in the third year of Cyrus.

TABLET concerning the division

into gin of an estate the dowry of Banat-Esaggil, their mother,

which Marduk-iddin-akhi, son of Nabu-bel-shinati, son of Nur-Papsukal,

divided and of which he gave to Tukultum-Marduk,

son of Nabu-bel-shinati, son of Nur-Papsukal, his brother, his portion.

Thirty-three and two-thirds cubits, the upper long side on the north,

twenty cubits bordering on the street of _____,

the side of the house of Ina-qibi-Bel, son of Balatu, son of the Rab-Uru,

and the side of the house of Nabu-uballit, son of Kabtiya, son of Nabu-shimi;

thirty-three cubits and eight hands, the lower long side on the south,

by the side of the house of Marduk-iddin-akhi, son of Nabu-bel-shinati,

son of Nur-Papsukal; thirteen cubits eight-hands, the upper short side on the west,

bordering on the street Katnu-agu, thirteen cubits eight hands,

the lower short side on the east, eight cubits eight hands (being on) an alley

which is eight fingers wide, on the side of the streets;

Katnu-la-acu; the sum is eight and two thirds gin,

the measurement of the estate, the portion of Tukultum-Marduk,

together with two gin, the difference _____ which the chief justice,

the shukkaltum and the judges have written upon the tablet

and have granted to Tukultum-Marduk, son of Nabu-bel-shanati,

son of Nur-Papsukal, from Marduk-iddin-akhi,

son of Nabu-bel-shanati, his brother.

Marduk-iddin-akhi has thus given it to Tukultum-Marduk.

An exit, an inalienable privilege

which belongs to the share of Tukultum-Marduk,

Marduk-iddin-akhi, son of Nabu-bel-shanati, son of Nur-Papsukal,

will not remove from Tukultum-Marduk, his brother.

Their suit with one another concerning their estate is ended.

They will not move against one another on the basis of the suit about the estate.

In order that neither may undertake it they have issued duplicate (tablets).

Contract for the Sale of a Standing Crop, Seventh year of Cyrus, 532 B.C.

This contract belongs to a class intermediate between rental and the sale of land. Instead of either, the standing crop is sold.

From a cultivated field which is situated on the alley of Li’u-Bel,

Itti-Marduk-balatu, the son of Nabu-akhi-iddin, the son of Egibi,

has made a purchase from Tashmitum-damqat, daughter of Shuzubu,

son of Shigua, and Nadin-aplu, the son of Rimut, son of Epish-Ilu.

Itti-Marduk-balatu has counted the money,

the price of the crop of that field for the seventh year of Cyrus, King of Babylon,

king of countries, into the hands of Tashmitum-damqat and Nadin-aplu.

(The names of two witnesess and a scribe then follow)

Babylon, Ululu thirteenth, the seventh year of Cyrus.