“1 slave-woman, Bêlti-magirat by name, and her child, handmaid of Šarrum-Addu and Ḫammurabi-Šamši, Nabium-malik, son of Addu-naṣir, has bought from Šarrum-Addu, son of Addu-naṣir, and Ḫammurabi-Šamši, his wife. As the complete price he has paid 18-½ shekels of silver. At no future time shall they make claim against each other. They have invoked the spirit of Marduk and Ḫammurabi.” (Here follow the names of eight witnesses, including two brothers of the contracting parties.) “Month Tebet, day 21st, year Ḫammurabi the king destroyed, by command of Anu and Bêl, the fortification of Mair, and Malgia.” Tablets referring to the sale and purchase of slaves are numerous, and do not present much variety, being nearly all written in accordance with the usual legal forms. In the _hiring_ of slaves, however, there is a little more dissimilarity— “Awel-Addi, son of Sililum, has hired Arad-îli-remeanni from Erišti-Šamaš, sun-devotee, daughter of Sin-bêl-âbli, for a year. The hire for a year, 5 shekels of silver, he will pay. A first instalment of the sum, 2 shekels of silver, she has received. He will be clothed by his hirer. “He entered (upon his duties) on the 16th of Elul. “Before Šamaš, Aa; before Taribatum; before Nûr-Marduk; before Laḫutum. “Year Samsu-iluna (made) a throne of gold (shining like the stars, for Nin-gala”). The following is a similar text with additional clauses— “Asir-Addu, son of Libit-Urra, has hired Šamaš-bêl-ili from Aḫatani, sun-devotee, daughter of Šamaš-ḫazir, for his first year. As hire for his first year, he shall pay 3-½ shekels of silver. He shall clothe himself. He entered (on his duties) on the 4th of the month Dûr-Addi, in the month Mamitu he will complete (his term), and may leave. “Before Asirum, son of Ea-rabi; before Nin-gira-âbi, son of Eribam; before Arad-Sin, son of Sin-idinnam. “The year of Samsu-iluna, the king.” (The accession-year of Amraphel’s successor.) In the following the slave is hired for produce— “Riš-Šamaš, son of Marduk-naṣir, has hired Nawir-nûr-šu from Šubtum for a year. He will pay 20 _qa_ of oil as his hire for the year. He will clothe him. He entered in the month Elul, in the month Tirinu he may go forth. “Before Rišutum; before Êrišti-Aa. “Year the great fortification....” When a man had no master—was his own master, in fact—he was hired “from himself”— “Idin-Ittum has hired for wages Naram-ili-šu from himself, for six months. He will receive 2 shekels of silver as wages for the six months. “Before Êtel-pî-Uraš, before Sin-îlu, before Aḫum, the scribe. “Month Nisan, day 20th, year the throne ... was....”