A Property Dispute Settled by Oath

A Jewish family takes a judicial oath by YHW (the usual spelling of YHWH, God’s name, in the Elephantine texts) to deny a property claim made by Darga-mana, a Persian. Apparently, the oath was imposed by the court because neither party had proof of ownership; in such cases, the party currently in possession of the property asserts its claim by oath, and the claimant must accept the oath. This document is from 464 BCE.