Ber. P. 23156

Line 1. The term מנת is only attested so far in the Aramaic corpus from Egypt in the construct state, as it is here (from מנה). In the known documentation it refers to an official portion (e.g. P. 13489 = TAD B.5.1), that appears to be defined by context. When referring to a specific type of tax on oil it may have been standardized.*1* Its only other occurrence so far in a letter is a fragmentary petition*2* found at Elephantine and referring to a decree sent to high officials regarding the allotment of “shares” in the province. In other contexts, the share is defined by a relative clause that explains to whom or where it was given. The reading כל is fairly certain, and may refer to the people to whom the shares belong (“the share of all/every [person]”) or the item designated as a share (“the share of all [item]”). Alternatively, the word may derive from its administrative usage in which case it means, “share: total [number].” Line 2. The word שתין is a G-stem masculine plural active participle and probably not a feminine plural, which is not yet identified or attested in the Aramaic corpus from Egypt (Muraoka and Porten §37). for the second word, one may read either עבד (G-stem pf.) “made” or “servant.” Alternatively read עבור “grain,” but grain seems the unlikely subject or object of the verb to drink. See 476 b + et al. and discussion. The consuming of a liquid suggests that the share allocation may be wine. Line 3. The reading תהוי is a best guess; this form would be a G-stem imperfect second feminine singular (and probably not a defective second masculine singular). While shares are official distributions or taxes, it is noteworthy that women also received them (P. 13489 = TAD B.5.1). Read either לי or less likely ליד for the second word. Verso, line 1. The last two letters are damaged, by the surviving strokes look like they were made in a different hand and/or with a different pen than that on the recto. The letters אנא are found as the start of a proper name in TAD A.6.16.2, a fragment from the Aršama leather collection. The pronoun “I” spelled אנא is not known in IA. If this is an official petition, the writing on the verso may be the name of an administrator who signed off on the document as it (or copies of it) moved through the administration.*3* *1*Yardeni, “Maritime,” 72. *2*See discussion in Moore, “Provincial Decrees,” ##. *3*Ibid, ##.