In all this we have not referred to the practice of writing on leather specially prepared with salt and flour, [4575] nor to the Qelaph, or parchment in the stricter sense. [4576] For we are here chiefly interested in the common mode of writing, that on the Pinaqes, or tablet,' and especially on that covered with wax. Indeed, a little vessel holding wax was generally attached to it (Pinaqes sheyesh bo beth Qibbul shaavah [4577] ). On such a tablet they wrote, of course, not with a reed-pen, but with a stylus, generally of iron. This instrument consisted of two parts, which might be detached from each other: the hard pointed writer' (Kothebh), and the blotter' (Mocheq) which was flat and thick for smoothing out letters and words which had been written or rather graven in the wax. [4578] There can be no question that acknowledgments of debt, and other transactions, were ordinarily written down on such wax-covered tablets; for not only is direct reference made to it, [4579] but there are special provisions in regard to documents where there are such erasures, or rather effacements: such as, that they require to be noted in the document, [4580] under what conditions and how the witnesses are in such cases to affix their signatures, [4581] just as there are particular injunctions how witnesses who could not write are to affix their mark.
But although we have thus ascertained that the bonds' in the Parable must have been written on wax - or else, possibly, on parchment - where the Mocheq, or blotter, could easily efface the numbers, we have also evidence that they were not, as so often, written on tablets' (the Pinaques). For, the Greek term, by which these bonds' or writings' are designated in the Parable (grmmata [4582] ), is the same as is sometimes used in Rabbinic writings (Gerammation) for an acknowledgment of debt; [4583] [4584] the Hebraised Greek word corresponding to the more commonly used (Syriac) term Shitre (Shetar), which also primarily denotes writings,' and is used specifically for such acknowledgments. [4585] [4586] Of these there were two kinds. The most formal Shetar was not signed by the debtor at all, but only by the witnesses, who were to write their names (or marks) immediately (not more than two lines) below the text of the document, to prevent fraud. Otherwise, the document would not possess legal validity. Generally, it was further attested by the Sanhedrin [4587] of three, who signed in such manner as not to leave even one line vacant. [4588] Such a document contained the names of creditor and debtor, the amount owing, and the date, together with a clause attaching the property of the debtor. In fact, it was a kind of mortgage; all sale of property being, as with us, subject to such a mortgage, [4589] which bore the name Acharayuth (probably, guarantee' [4590] ) When the debt was paid, the legal obligation was simply returned to the debtor; if paid in part, either a new bond was written, or a receipt given, which was called Shobher [4591] or Tebhara, because it broke' the debt.
But in many respects different were those bonds which were acknowledgements of debt for purchases made, such as we suppose those to have been which are mentioned in the Parable. In such cases it was not uncommon to dispense altogether with witnesses, and the document was signed by the debtor himself. In bonds of this kind, the creditor had not the benefit of a mortgage in case of sale. We have expressed our belief that the Parable refers to such documents, and we are confirmed in this by the circumstance that they not only bear a different name from the more formal bonds (the Shitre), but one which is perhaps the most exact rendering of the Greek term ({hebrew}, [4592] a writing of hand,' note of hand' [4593] ). For completeness' sake we add, in regard to the farming of land, that two kinds of leases were in use. Under the first, called Shetar Arisuth, the lessee (Aris = oros [4594] ) received a certain portion of the produce. He might be a lessee for life, for a specified number of years, or even a hereditary tiller of the ground; or he might sub-let it to another person. [4595] Under the second kind of lease, the farmer - or Meqabbel - entered into a contract for payment either in kind, when he undertook to pay a stipulated and unvarying amount of produce, in which case he was called a Chokher (Chakhur or Chakhira [4596] ), or else a certain annual rental in money, when he was called a Sokher. [4597]