Letter: ENA NS 58.4

Description

Fragment of a letter in Judaeo-Arabic. The story is interesting but very fragmented. Refers to a girl (ṣabiyya), probably the sender's sister-in-law, who behaves erratically (kānat takhruj min ḥāl ilā ḥāl) and to a female slave (jāriya). "She has completed [...] and whoring and [...]...., for the neighbors said to my brother, "Get up! ... you have killed yourself, since when something happens to your household.... with them in this madness (khabṭ). Even if you stole right now.... everyone in the city in selling her, because if she remains with the girl (al-ṣaghīra), [she will continue to behave?] erratically." For my mother (? sittī), God have mercy on her, did not [get stricken with a fatal illness?] except because of her. My brother swore by the Torah that if there should remain in... [possession] this female slave, until she comes (or you come), and he will see what should be done with her... Efrayim.... and she is dreadful (fazʿāna)... the eyes of the female slave.... and Sitt al-[...]."