Egyptian Literature Part 28

71 B. M.-The usual salutation from a servant of the King, whose name is broken, but reads _Mus_ ... _ni_. "I hear the messages of the King my Lord which he sends to his servant, hearing what is spoken by thy chief (_Ka_), and (it is) 'Strengthen thou the fortresses of the King thy Lord which are with thee.' Now they have minded the message of the King my Lord to me, and the King my Lord learns of his servant. Now _Biia_ the son of the woman _Gulata_(303) was my ... of my brethren whom I am despatching to go down from the city _Yapu_ (Joppa), and to be the defenders of the messengers returning to the King my Lord; and now _Biia_ is the son of _Gulata_, he took them; and the King my Lord shall learn this message of his servant. Thus since the King my Lord said to me, 'Make him leave thy city, on the appearance of _Biia_.' He also indeed is made to leave; and both go, and indeed both are sent down O King my Lord day and night till they reach the place."

Joppa is not mentioned in the history of Joshua's wars in the south, but the "border before (east of) j.a.pho" is noticed in the later topographical charter (Josh. xix. 46).

LETTERS FROM ASCALON

129 B.-"To the Great King my Lord _Dagantacala_(304) thy servant speaks.

Seven times and seven times at the feet of the Great King my Lord I bow.

And now behold _Dagantacala_ is thy servant O Great King my Lord. He hears carefully the message of the Great King his Lord ... like my fathers, (and) what my fathers have not done for the Great King I have done for the Great King my Lord. And the Great King my Lord says to me, 'Listen thou for us to the head man (_Ka_) thy governor.'(305) I hear this carefully as to the chief governor, and the ruler knows it."

74 B. M.-This begins with the same salutation from _Dagantacala_, and continues: "Redeem me from the strong foes, from the hands of men of blood. The chiefs are hiding and the chiefs are flying, and redeem thou me O Great King my Lord. And the son of a dog has ... But thou (art) the Great King my Lord. Come down redeem me, and I shall rejoice because of the Great King my Lord."

118 B.-From _Yadaya_ of _Ascalon_, a captain of the horse of the "King-the Sun from Heaven." The usual salutation is much broken. The letter continues: "Now I shall defend the places of the King that are with me.

The strong chiefs who are not foes of the Law (or throne) have cherished greatly the King's _Paka_. Now both they and I listen to him very exceedingly-to the _Paka_ of the King my Lord the Son of the Sun from the heavens."

119 B.-From the same _Yadaya_, chief of the city of _Ascalon_, with the usual salutation. He is a captain of the horse and the dust of the King's feet. He continues: "The trusty adherent-the chief of the King my Lord, who is sent by the King my Lord-the Sun from heaven-to me, I listen exceeding much to his messages; now I will defend the King's land which is with me."

121 B.-From the same writer, with the same salutations. "Now the King's land which is with me is defended, and all that the King has sent to me they hear. The decree is very powerful. Who am I but a dog, and shall such a one not listen to the message of the King his Lord, the Son of the Sun?"

122 B.-From _Yadia_, the captain of the horse, with the usual salutation; it continues: "Now they guard ... my. May the G.o.ds of the King my Lord grant to all his lands not to be confounded. I hear the message of the King my Lord to his _Paka_. Lo! without resting he has caused the land of the King my Lord to be defended; and now establish O King my Lord one who is in favor in the sight of the _Paka_ of the King my Lord, who is mighty in the sight of the King my Lord. He will work with joy to ... whatever is (proclaimed?) by desire of the King my Lord. Now he will watch the land carefully."

54 B. M.-From the same _Yadaya_, captain of the horse, with the usual salutation; it continues: "Now (they watch for a message?) of the King my Lord the Son of the Sun. And now I am sending drink, oil, sheep, oxen, beasts, to meet the soldiers of the King my Lord ... with all for the soldiers of the King my Lord. Who am I-a dog, and shall such a one not hear the messages of the King my Lord the Son of the Sun?"

53 B. M.-The same salutation from _Yadaya_, captain of horse and "dust of the King's feet." "Now they guard the land of the King my Lord, and the King's chief city, as has asked the King my Lord-the Sun from Heaven.

Behold what the King my Lord has said to his servant-to take arms: I am now sending to the King my Lord thirty bands to carry weapons. Moreover, who am I but a dog, and shall such a one not hear the message of the King my Lord the Sun from Heaven? the Sun-Son of the Sun whom you adore."

52 B. M. is very similar to 54 B. M. _Yadia_ watches the land and the city, and is a dog unworthy to hear the King's message; he sends drink (beer, according to one value of the sign-and the Egyptians drank beer)(306) and oxen, and beasts, and (beans?), and all that the King requires for the soldiers.

It is to be remarked that Ascalon was not among the cities that Joshua took, but we learn that the region submitted to the Hebrews (B. 103) and Ascalon was lost before 1360 B.C.

LETTERS FROM MAKKEDAH

These letters appear to be early. They have been supposed to come from Megiddo, but the topography (111 B. and 72 B. M.) cannot be reconciled with the latter, and applied exactly to the former town (now _El Mughar_); in addition to which Megiddo appears as _Makdani_ in the letter from Accho (95 B.).

113 B.-"To the King my Lord ... and my Sun by letter thus (says) _Biridi_ a faithful servant, that I bow at the feet of the King my Lord and my Sun and my G.o.d, seven times and seven times. I have heard (literally, the servant has heard) the messages of the King my Lord and my Sun, and now they guard the city of _Makidah_, the chief city of the King my Lord." The text is broken, but seems to read probably "without rest, and is set right ... without rest they watch with chariots, and they guard with chariots of the King my Lord, from those who do injury. And now behold a battle of chiefs in (or from) the land (below Mizpah?).(307) The King is my Lord for his land."

114 B.-"To the King my Lord and my Sun by letter thus (says) Biridia, Chief of the city _Makidda_, a faithful servant of the King. At the feet of the King my Lord and my Sun seven times and seven times prostrated. I have been obedient then, zealous for the King ... thirty oxen ... they have gathered, and I (too) to fight."

115 B.-_Biridia_ sends the usual salutation without mentioning his city.

The text is rather worn and broken, but may be read as follows: "Let the King my Lord know this. Lo! since the Egyptian soldiers (_bitati_) have gone down (or away) _Labaya_ makes war against me and (without cause?) coming angrily and (without cause?). Thereupon the entrance (of gate) has been closed through the appearance of _Labaya_. Behold learn this, and there are no men of the Egyptian soldiers with us. So now it is desired to see them sent into the city of _Magiid_(_da_) and let the King see accordingly whether (it is to be) done. Let not _Labaya_ seize the city.

If there is no word the city will open its gates. (For two years?) he rebels; and will not the King grant this also-chiefs of his guard as defenders of his chief city. Let not Labaya take her, though those who have fled from _Labaya_ have failed in this. Moreover those who disgraced the city _Ma_ ... are slain."

112 B.-"To the King my Lord and my Sun thus _Labaya_ thy servant, and the dust of thy feet. At the feet of the King my Lord and my Sun seven times seven times I bow. I have heard the message which the King sent to me; and who am I? and the King will afflict his country before me. (I swear?) I am myself a faithful servant, and I have not sinned, and I have not murmured at my tribute, and I have not murmured at the wishes of my friends (or subjects). Lo! this province my destroyers eat up, and I have had no food.

The King my Lord (says) it is my fault. Once more he makes it my fault.

Lo! I strive with the city Gezer (_Gazri_)(308) and I complain of the young men. The King one hears will march. I restrained the band of _Milcilu_ and my band desirous to fight. The quarrel of _Milcilu_ against me is relinquished; as to _Ben Zachariah_ the King has sent not to attack.

Lo! _Ben Zachariah_ with men of blood was known to us to march, and I marched, and we are conquering him. He gives up _Abukasu_. Once more he has made peace. The King has sent to my band (saying) 'I order peace.' I am desirous of peace, since the King has sent to me. Stay thy sword, ponder in thy heart, and is the peace hollow. Nay, the King's messages have been done."

59 B. M.-"To the King my Lord and my Sun and my G.o.d thus _Yasdata_ a faithful servant to the King, and (he is) dust of the King's feet. At the feet of the King my Lord and Sun and my G.o.d seven times and seven times I bow. Let the King my Lord know this. Lo! all whatsoever things the King my Lord judges for his servant ... him ... the chiefs of the city of _Tabu_(309) have slain a hundred of my oxen, and they have wasted me. And with _Biridia_ I have caused (men) to go forth. Let the King my Lord know this as to his servant."

This letter shows that the writer lived near _Biridia_, who was attacked by _Labaya_, and that the Hebron hills were inhabited by marauders.

72 B. M.-"Lo! a letter as to destruction of my brethren because of what the G.o.ds of the King our Lord have done. And the people of _Labaya_ are conquered; and so we have ordered _Khaia_(310) that this be borne by him to the King our Lord. And a (company?) of my horse was placed, and the people are sent out after him, and he rides with _Yasdata_ also till I come. And he is gone away to smite him, and now _Yasdata_ is thy servant, and he strives mightily with me in battle array, and has not he ... the rule of the King my Lord, and let there be ... to the King my Lord ... and _Zurata_ is stopping the way of _Labaya_ from the city _Makidda_. And he asked me to gather ships-my fleet, and it will go straight to inform the King; and _Zurata_ marches on him and hinders him; from the city of _'Anana_ which is his. _Zurata_ is damming the marshes. They have contrived a stoppage of the head (waters) from his drinking. Behold what thus I have done for the King my Lord. Lo! possession is possible for me, but it is difficult. My brethren (have become few?) but _Zurata_ delays _Labaya_, and _Zurata_ hinders _Addumemur_ from them. And does not the King my Lord know this?"

This letter (confirmed by 154 B.) shows that a town near the sea, not like Megiddo, inland, is intended. Labaya had apparently taken Makkedah from Biridia, who had been afraid of it (115 B.). The writer of the present letter was probably Biridia and he was perhaps blockading the province by sea on the west, while Yasdata, who was on the east (which agrees with 59 B. M.), blocked up the stream near 'Anana. This site would be the Enam of the Bible (Josh. xv. 34), which is thus fixed at the ruin of _Kefr 'Ain_, by the numerous head springs which feed the river _Rubin_, which pa.s.ses close to Makkedah on the south. The marshes here between the hills would easily be dammed, and the water supply of Makkedah (_el Mughar_) so cut off. Makkedah is close to the only stream of perennial water south of Joppa, and stands high on a cliff, not far from the sea. It is in the centre of the province, the boundaries of which Labaya's sons describe (154 B.).

149 B.-"(To the) King my Lord thus (says) _Addu_(_urbilu_) thy servant at the feet of my Lord I bow-to the King my Lord. And know thou, behold I have raised my ... what I desire as to _Milcilu_. Lo! my chiefs are going against his servants. As to _Takanu_ a chief will march out to subject his servants for me.(311) And I have requited to this slave what they did to us." The letter then becomes broken, but refers to Milcilu, who was the King of Gezer. Takanu (or Tagi) is mentioned again in connection with _Givti_ (B. 199).

61 B. M.-"To the King (my master?) by letter thus (says) _Labaya_ thy servant. I bow at the feet of the King my Lord. Lo! a message as to me.

Strong were the chiefs who have taken the city. As when a snake coils round one, the chiefs, by fighting, have taken the city. They hurt the innocent, and outrage the orphan. The chief man is with me. They have taken the city (and he receives sustenance?). My destroyers exult in the face of the King my Lord. He is left like the ant whose home is destroyed.

You (will be displeased?), but I have extended to the hand of her chief that which is asked of him: like me he is ruined and unfortunate; and this same taking of my city had been stopped if you had spoken against it. This wickedness (or foolishness) you caused, and thou hast destroyed thy city.

They have desired to throttle (or persecute) us-the chiefs who have taken the city from him. It is the city of my fathers also (that) they persecute."

154 B.-"To the King my Lord by letter thus (says) _Addurbilu_ thy servant, at the feet of the King my Lord seven times and seven times I bow. The King my Lord will know the hate which is desired by the son of the sinful chief who hated me-the second son of _Labaya_. His face is estranged. I foresee estrangement of the land of the King my Lord. He has plotted as plotted (against me?) the chief who was his father; and the King my Lord shall know it. Lo! he has built a fort ... against me. The second son of _Labaya_ (says) 'Why has a vain papyrus(312) taken from us the lowlands of the _Gitties?_ ... thy Lord, O city of those who besieged the chief our father.' As I am saying speaks to us the second son of _Labaya_. He has made war for me with the chiefs of the Land of _Gina_ (causing a chief our friend to be slain?). And when (there was) a battle he has not been confounded, and the fight was great, but he has made it his dwelling, bereaving me in the sight of the King my Lord: for he has made war in ...

of _Gina_ (with?) the servants of the King my Lord. And truly alone of the chiefs exceeding strong (is) _Biruyapiza_.(313) (And thou shalt hear?) what is said as to him." The text becomes broken, but still refers to the doings of the second son of _Labaya_, and continues with an important pa.s.sage on the back of the tablet:

"And as I say speaks to us the second son of _Labaya_ who is making war.

'As to our possessions from the King thy Lord, lo! this is the boundary: over against the city of _Sunasu_ and over against the city _Burku_ and over against the city _Kharabu_. And behold the boundary of the dwelling of my race. So it was defined by our Lord; and it includes the city of _Giti_ Rimuna (Gath Rimmon). And the King thy Lord is (breaking the bond of our...?).' And I answered him. It is known that he deprives me of it in sight of the King my Lord. Because of his making wars with the King my Lord-my King my Lord-I and my brethren have gone down as you heard of us by me. And did not the messenger of _Milcilu_ speak to him before the face of the second son of _Labaya?_ It was made complete. I foresee estrangement of the land of the King my Lord. They disturb a peaceful region, and in vain I repeat the letter about me. The guard of my Lord ...

to go down, and the King my Lord shall hear what the message says."

This letter settles the site of Gath Rimmon (the full name of Gath, so called as standing on a height)-now _Tell es Safi_. The land of _Gina_ was near the present _Umm Jina_-probably Engannim of Judah (Josh. xv. 34)-in the low hills about six miles to the northeast. Sunasu is _Sanasin_, a ruin in the hills east of the Valley of Elah. Burka is _Burkah_, in the plain northeast of Ashdod. Kharabu is _el Khurab_, a village east of Jaffa, and just north of the Valley of Jaffa. Gath stood over the Valley of Elah, and Burka close to the same. The province extended from the hills of Hebron to the sea, and from the Valley of Elah to the Valley of Jaffa; and just in the middle of this province was Makkedah.

111 B., a fragment of a letter from _Biridia_. He is a faithful servant, and sends the usual salutation. He has heard of (peace?), and he is marching. The son of _Labaya_ is noticed, and there is a reference to gold. Biridia has already appeared as one of the enemies of Labaya.

73 B. M.-This seems to come from the same region on account of its topography. The letter is injured at the top, and probably not addressed to the King himself. "I say the dog is marching ... from their ravages against me. Now behold from (being loosed?) ... from the wastings against ... Lo! consider thou thyself my chief cities. Mighty against me ... he has made ... to the city _Macdalim_.(314) And soldiers of the city _Cuuzbe_(315) have destroyed east of me. And now there is no commander to lead me forth from their hands. Moreover, _Abbikha_ (or _Abbinebo_) smites my western region. They have sinned against me and all the pa.s.ses he marches against ... _Abbikha_..."

LETTERS FROM GEZER

63 B. M.-"To the King my Lord my G.o.d my Sun by letter thus (says) _Milcili_ thy servant the dust of thy feet. At the feet of the King my Lord my G.o.d my Sun seven times seven times I bow. I hear what the King my Lord has sent to me, and the King my Lord despatches Egyptian soldiers (_pitati_) to his servants, and the King my Lord despatches (them) to dwell as guards. It is apportioned for my honor."

108 B., with the same salutation, is broken. It appears to refer to despatching six females, five chiefs, sons of ... and five trusty chiefs led to the King.(316)

109 B.-Begins with the same salutation as the preceding, and continues: "The message of the King my Lord my G.o.d my Sun to me being brought, now his command they have done for the King my Lord-the Sun from heaven; and truly the King my Lord my G.o.d my Sun knows, that peaceful is the land of the King my Lord which is with me."

110 B.-Begins with the same salutation, and continues: "The King my Lord shall know. Behold mighty is the war against me, and against _Suardata_;(317) but the King my Lord shall pluck his land from the hands of men of blood. Since there are none, the King my Lord shall despatch chariots to march to us ... you will restrain our slaves for us ...

_Yankhamu_ his servant..."

This may refer to the submission of Gezer to the Hebrews mentioned in a letter from Jerusalem (B. 103).

62 B. M.-Begins with the same salutation as the preceding, and continues: "Know O King my Lord the demands made to me by _Yankhamu_ since my going forth from before the King my Lord. Lo! he ... let him take from my hands.

And they say to me (give us?) thy wife and thy sons. And does the King know this? And does the King my Lord demand despatch of chariots, and that I shall go to his presence? Nay! Let it be brought to nothing by thee."

70 B. M., if not from Gezer, must come from near that town. It is written by _Takanu_, who is mentioned in connection with Milcilu (149 B.) in a letter from near Makkedah, which was the next great town to Gezer on the south.

"To the King my Lord thus (says) _Takanu_(318) thy servant: at the feet of the King my Lord seven times and seven times I bow. Lo! I am the King's servant, and the guard of the whole of my roads was in the hands of my people, but they are now without refuge: they have not come up to guard my roads for the King my Lord; and ask the chiefs thy _Tarkas_,(319) if they are not now without refuge for my people. Moreover, behold us. My eyes are toward thee when I beseech the G.o.d of heaven: for we are cast from the land, and have been needy. We have lacked at thy hand, and behold this now, the guard that guards my roads is in the hands of a chief who hates me because of the King my Lord, and the King my Lord shall instruct; behold send down a host and it shall watch."

Though the date is doubtful, within limits, this letter probably refers to the departure of the Egyptian soldiers mentioned in the Jerusalem letters.

155 B.-A much-damaged letter. The name of the writer is lost. He sends the usual salutation, and speaks of a letter: of transgression and sin; and mentions the city _Gazri_ (Gezer). He speaks of the going down of the king (or casting down), and of the _Paka_. (See note.)

50 B. M.-"To the King my Lord my G.o.d my Sun, the Sun from the heavens, thus (says) _Yapa'a_(320) the chief of the city of _Gazri_ (Gezer) thy servant, the dust of thy feet, a chief captain of thy horse. At the feet of the King my Lord-the Sun from the heavens, seven times and seven times bow indeed both this heart and this body; and whatever the King my Lord says to me I listen to exceeding much. I am the King's servant, the dust of thy feet. And the King my Lord shall learn. Behold the chief of my brethren; fellows foreign to me also strive for the city of _Mu(ra)'azi_;(321) and the delivery of the same is the demand of men of blood; and now behold what has arisen against me, and counsel as to thy land. Let the King send to the chief who is his friend against one (who is a foe?)."