Cases before judges where the plea and its result can be made out with some certainty are as follows:
Ardi-Sin, son of Eṭiru, sued the sons of Shamash-nâṣir who had sold a plot of land, two and a half GAN in area, to Ibni-Adadi the [pg 105] merchant. He claimed the land as ancestral domain, bît abišu, and denied that he had ever alienated it. The sons of Ibni-Adadi, now in possession, produced the deed of sale, duppu šimâti, which Eṭiru and Sin-nâdin-shûmi, his brother, had executed to Shamash-nâṣir and his son. The judges assigned a small portion of the land, about a sixth, to Ardi-Sin, but make up the rest, apparently, from another quarter. Ammizaduga (?).[205]
Mâr-Martu bought the garden of Sin-mâgir. Ilubânî disputed the legality, ṣimdattu, of the sale. Before the judges at the gate of Nin-marki he deposed that he was the adopted son of Sin-mâgir, which adoption had never been revoked. In the time of Rim-Sin the house and garden had been awarded to Ilubânî and then Sin-mubaliṭ had brought a suit against Ilubânî, which was regularly heard before judges and witnesses from Nin-marki. They had awarded the house and garden to Ilubânî. Sin-mubaliṭ was now bound over to dispute the title no more. Ḥammurabi.[206]
Here it seems that on the deposition of Rim-Sin by Ḥammurabi, Sin-mubaliṭ, excluded by his bond from disputing Ilubânî's title, sold his claim to Mâr-Martu, who attempted to enter into possession. Possibly it was thought that the new rulers would reverse the old decision.
Right of a widow on remarriage to her husband's property or gifts
The sons of Namiatum sue their mother, Iashuḫatum, about her share of their father's property. She appears before the judges of Babylon and puts in an inventory to show that she has taken nothing from the family possessions. Then the sons of Namiatum renounce further claim on the ground of family possession to the property of Idin-Adadi, Iashuḫatum and their descendants. Samsu-iluna 2.[207]
It seems that, after the death of Namiatum, Iashuḫatum married again. The children of the first marriage bring an action to secure judgment that she shall not take with her any property of their father's. She had, as we know, a right to take with her her marriage-portion, but not her husband's gifts to her.
Amêl-Ninsaḫ sues Garudu for the rent of a field. The debtor not paying was ejected. Apil-Sin.[208]
Shûmi-erṣitim sues for right to a sheep and some corn, the naptánu of a god. Judges grant him half share. Ḥammurabi 9.[209]
Judges summon Ibik-iltum before Elali-bânî to account for corn. He purges himself on oath. N. D.[210]