Today's Economic History: The Mesad Hashavyahu Ostrakon
: Mesad Hashavyahu: "Meṣad Hashavyahu is an ancient fortress on the border of ancient Judea...
...facing the Philistine city of Ashdod near the Mediterranean Sea.... It dates from approximately 630 BCE to 609 BCE, within the reigning years of Josiah, king of Judah... just after the death of the Assyrian king Ashurbanipal and before the occupation of the Philistine Plain by Psammetichus of Egypt.... The fact that the fort was south-facing may imply that it was built for the protection of Yavne and the surrounding agricultural lands including the seaport area of Yavne-Yam, against aggressors from the south, either Philistine or Egyptian. The fortress was abandoned in 609 BCE or shortly thereafter, likely associated with the loss of territory due to occupation by the Egyptian army following Josiah's death....
An ostracon containing a written appeal by a field worker to the fortress's governor regarding the confiscation of his cloak.... The worker makes his appeal to the governor on the basis of both the garment's undeserved confiscation and by implication, the biblical law regarding holding past sundown a person's cloak as collateral for a debt (Exodus 22; cf. Deut 24).... The ostracon also bears the first known extra-Biblical reference to the Hebrew Sabbath.... Shmuel Ahituv states,[7] 'The letter is written in good biblical Hebrew, plus a possible scribal omission here or there, and the script is that of a trained scribe. The work supervisor mentioned in the text bears a clearly Judaean name, Hoshavyahu. All these factors point to a time of Judaean control'....
Let my lord, the governor, hear the word of his servant!
Your servant is a reaper. Your servant was in Hazar Asam, and your servant reaped, and he finished, and he has stored (the grain) during these days before the Sabbath. When your servant had finished the harvest, and had stored (the grain) during these days, Hoshavyahu came, the son of Shobi, and he seized the garment of your servant, when I had finished my harvest.
It (is already now some) days (since) he took the garment of your servant. And all my companions can bear witness for me--they who reaped with me in the heat of the harvest--yes, my companions can bear witness for me. Amen! I am innocent from guilt. And he stole my garment! It is for the governor to give back the garment of his servant. So grant him mercy in that you return the garment of your servant and do not be displeased...
