This important dossier of letters was discovered at Skythopolis, west of the river Jordan. The letters were written at the time when the Syrian king Antiochos III was seizing complete control of Palestine; Ptolemaios son of Thraseas, the governor of the region, was co-operating with him. Another letter from Antiochos to Ptolemaios, preserved by the historian Josephus, granted privileges to the Jews ( Joseph:AJ_12'138-144 ).
The translation is adapted from S.Sherwin-White & A.Kuhrt, "From Samarkhand to Sardis", pp. 49-50 ( Google Books ). Some changes have been made, especially in documents A and B, to reflect the new edition of the text by J. Heinrichs, "Antiochos III and Ptolemy, Son of Thraseas, on Private Villages in Syria Koile around 200 BC: the Hefzibah Dossier
" ( academia.edu ). For the historical background, see now B. Chrubasik, "The Epigraphic Dossier Concerning Ptolemaios, son of Thraseas, and the Fifth Syrian War" ( academia.edu ).
[A] King Antiochos to Ptolemaios, greetings. Take care that [your memoranda regarding] the (?) villages, [along with our] letters, are inscribed on stone steles and set up in the [villages] belonging to you. [We have written] about this to [Kleon and] Heliodoros, the dioiketai, that [they may obey it]. Year (?) 112, ... day of Hyperberetaios, {? September 200 B.C.}.
[B] King Antiochos to Kleon, greetings. The possessions registered [as grants] to [Ptolemaios] the strategos and high priest shall be [? taxed at the same rate as] before. Regarding his possessions, [the same rights were granted] to him as were granted to many of the (?) followers [in] the first year of our succession. The same letter has been sent to Heliodoros, the dioiketes in the territory where [we have succeeded as king] . . .
[C] King Antiochos to Kleon, greetings. A copy of the memorandum, [which] Ptolemaios, the strategos [and high priest, has submitted] to us, is attached. It shall be done as he requests. Year (?) 111, . . .{202/1 B.C.}.
[D] To king Antiochos, memorandum of Ptolemaios, strategos and high priest, [concerning] disputes that may arise: I request [that] instructions be given so that those [problems] that may arise [between] the peasants of [my] villages shall be settled by my agents, while those problems that may arise with peasants from other villages shall be examined by the oikonomos and the headsman [of the place], and that if it is a case of murder or appears [to be] of some importance the matter shall be referred to the strategos of Syria and Phoenicia; and that the garrison-commanders [and those] in charge of the administration of the district should not in any way [reject] the majority of the complaints. The same letter has been sent to Heliodoros.
[E] King Antiochos to Kleon, greetings. The other memorandum which Ptolemaios, the strategos and high priest, has submitted [to us] is attached. It shall be done as he requests. Year (?) 112, 4th day of Audnaios, {? December 201 B.C.}.
[F] To the great king Antiochos, memorandum of Ptolemaios, strategos and high priest. I request, if it please you, O king, [to write] to Kleon and Heliodoros, the dioiketai, that no-one has the right, either in the villages that belong to my domain, or in the royal property or in those villages that you have ordered to be registered, to billet himself for any reason or bring others there or requisition any property or take peasants away. The same letter has been sent to Heliodoros.
[G] King Antiochos to Marsyas, greetings. Ptolemaios, the strategos and high priest, has informed us that several of the troops en route are billeting themselves in his villages [and] committing a number of other ills, thus ignoring our orders in this respect. So be sure not only to prevent them, but also to have them punished tenfold for what they have done . . . The same letter has been sent to Lysanias, Leon and Dionikos. Year 117, ... Xandikos. {? March 195 B.C.}.
[H] King Antiochos to Heliodoros, greetings. A copy of the letter, [which] we have written to Marsyas, is attached. [So] obey it . . . Year 117, 4th day of Xandikos. {? March 195 B.C.}.
[I] Attached [is] a copy of the letter to Marsyas; similarly, to Theodotos a copy of the letter to Lysanias; to Apollophanes a copy of the letter to [Leon]; to Ploutogenes a copy of the letter to Dionikos
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