Selections from the Tell El-Amarna letters

LaAsy

_L-^_

jns from the
-1-Amarna Lei

TEXTS FOR STUDENTS. No. 16.

SELECTIONS FROM THii

TELL EL-AMARNA
LETTERS

BY

PERCY HANDGOGK. M.A

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TEXTS FOR STUDENTS. No. 16

GENERAL EDITORS: CAROLINE A. J. SKEEL, D.LlT. ;
H. J. WHITE, D.D. ; J. P. WHITNEY, D.D., D.C.L.

SELECTIONS FROM

THE TELL EL-AMARNA
LETTERS

BY
PERCY HANDCOCK, MA.

BARRISTER- AT-I.AW

FORMERLY ASSISTANT TO THJE KKBPBK OF BGVPTIAN AND ASSYKIAN
ANTIQUITIES, BRITISH MUS'.UM

LONDON

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING

CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE

NEW YORKi THE MACMILLAN COMPANY

1920

SELECTIONS FROM THE
TELL EL-AMARNA LETTERS

INTRODUCTION

IN 1887, some fellahin, digging at a spot called Tell El-
Amarna, about 170 miles south of Cairo, the site of
Ajjetaton (Horizon of Aton), the new capital built by
Amenhetep IV. of the Eighteenth Dynasty, in honour of
the sun-god, came upon a chamber containing several
hundred clay tablets inscribed with cuneiform characters
Unhappily, the value of this discovery was not at the time
realised, and a number were carried in sacks to Luxor to be
hawked about among the dealers, and were largely broken
or damaged on the way. The remainder, some 290, found
their way into museums or private collections, and on
examination were found to form part of the official
archives of Amenhetep III. (c. 1411 B.C.) and his successor,
Amenhetep IV. (c. 1375 B.C.), and to consist, for the most
part, of letters addressed to these kings by local rulers,
and by the independent rulers of the Kingdoms of Western
Asia.

The latter, numbering about forty, are mainly from
the Kings of Karduniash (i.e., Babylonia), Assyria, the
Hittites, the Mitanni, and Alashia (i.e., Cyprus), and are
essentially diplomatic in character, the writers' principal
object in each case being to preserve friendly relations
with the King of Egypt.

3

SELECTIONS FROM THE

The letters from the local rulers in Canaan are of im-
mense value for the history of Syria during the latter part
of the fifteenth and the early part of the fourteenth
centuries B.C., and reflect the causes and circumstances
which led up to the disintegration of the Egyptian Empire
in Western Asia. They reveal a country seething with
intrigue and faction, which the Egyptian Government was
either unable to suppress, or the serious consequences of
which it utterly failed to realise.

The trouble partly arose from the activity of the
Hittites, an Anatolian people of whom comparatively little
is at present known, who were pressing their way into
Northern Syria ; another contributing oause being the pre-
datory operations of the Habiru in the south, to whom
Abdi-b,iba of Jerusalem refers so frequently, and for pro
tection against whom he implores the King of Egypt so
earnestly (see pp. 6, 8 f.).

So far as can be gathered, Abdi b,iba, the Governor of
Jerusalem, maintained his loyalty to Egypt, but in this
respect he appears to have been almost unique. His letters
indicate the danger as both widespread and imminent.
He entreats the King of Egypt to send troops, and adds
that if no troops arrive " this year," all the countiies of
the king will be utterly destroyed.

The identification of the name HabirQ, with Hebrews has
been largely canvassed of late years, and the theory has
gained a good deal of support among scholars. Whether
this theory will ultimately be substantiated beyond all
reasonable doubt or not remains to be seen, but the identi-
fication of the Habiru with the Hebrews, who sojourned
in Egypt and made good their escape at the Exodus, is
very precarious, even assuming the identification of the
names, and involves the repudiation of the Biblical tradi
tion which in the main there is no reason to suspect — but
every reason, archaeological and otherwise, to accept.

TELL EL-AMARNA LETTERS

Assuming the identification of the names, then the
Habiru, or Hebrews, mentioned in these letters must refer
to tribes which had either stayed behind at the time of ^he
Israelite immigration into Egypt, or else had made their
way from Egypt some two hundred years or so before.

One of the tablets, of which a translation is given
below (p. 12), is of exceptional interest, as it was found ,it
Lachish, and obviously belongs to the Tell El-Amarna
series. Mention is made therein of Zimrida, Governor of
Lachish, who in one of the Tell El-Amarna letters professes
loyalty to the Egyptian king, and is also referred to in one
of Abdi-hiba's letters (see p. 9).

One of the most interesting features about these letters
is that they are all written in the cuneiform script, and it
is not merely that a Babylonian king himself uses the
Babylonian script and language1 in corresponding with
the King of Egypt, but kings of the Mitanni and Cyprus,
and the local Egyptian Governors in Palestine, do likewise,
which shows clearly that Babylonian was the lingua franca
of the Near East at that time — a striking testimony to the
enduring influence of Babylonian culture in Canaan and
the neighbouring countries.

But although written in the Babylonian language, there
are sporadic occurrences of Canaanite words, sometimes by
themselves, and sometimes added by way of explanation of
the Babylonian equivalent, and these Canaanite words arc
almost identical with Hebrew.

The translations given below in the main follow those of
J. A, Knudtzon (Die El-Amarna Tafeln), which takes the
place of Hugo Winckler's edition (Kcilinschriftliche Billio-
(h/k, v., 1896) as the standard edition.

P. H.

1 A Semitic language allied to Hebrew but not identical with it.

SELECTIONS FKOM THE

From Abdi-hiba of Jerusalem to the King (Bolin, VA.
Th. 1644).1

To the king, my lord, hath spoken Abdi-hjba, thy servant:
Ab the feet of my lord seven times and seven times do
I fall. I h&ve heard all the words which the king, my
lord, has sent. . . . [Behold] the deed, which . . . has
»,*JI\G . . . what shall I ... news . . . brought to the
city Kilti. Let the king know that all lands have leagued
in hostility against me j let the king therefore care for
his land. Behold, the territory of Gazri, the territory of
Ashkelon, and the city of La[chish], have given them oil,
food, and all their necessaries. Let the king therefore
care for the troops ! Let him send troops against the
people who have committed a crime against the king, my
lord ! If in this year there are troops here, then will the
land and the local ruler[s] remain to the king, my lord ;
but if there are no troops here, then there will remain no
lands and no local rulers to the king.

Behold this land of Jerusalem — neither my father nor
my mother gave it to me ; the mighty hand of the king
gave it to me. Behold, this deed is the deed of Milkilu,
and the deed of the sons of Labaya, who have given the
land of the king to the Habirii. Behold, 0 king, my lord,
I am innocent as regards the Kashi. Let the king ask the
officers if the house is very mighty (f). Indeed, they have
aspired to perpetrate a very wicked crime; they have
taken their implements and . . . sent to the land . . .
servant ; let the king take heed to them, that they support
the lands with their hand. Let the king demand for them
much food, much oil, and many garments, until Pauru, the
king's officer, goes up to Jerusalem.

1 Published by Abel and Winclder, Der Thontafelfund von El-
Amarna, No. 103. Translated by Winckler, Keilinschriftliche niblio-
thek, V., No. 180 ; and by Knudtzon, Die El-Amarna Tafeln, No. 287.

TELL EL-AMARNA LETTERS

Adaja is in revolt together with the garrison, the
officer . . . the king. Let the king know that Adaja
said to me : " Behold, let me depart, but do thou not
leave it (the city)." In this year send me a garrison, send
the officer of the king. ... I sent to the king, my lord,
5,000 asiru . . . 318 (?) bearers for the caravans of the
king; they were taken in the fields of Ajalon. Let the
king, my lord, know that I am unable to send caravans to
the king, my lord — this for thy information. Behold, the
king has set his name in the land of Jerusalem for ever,
therefore he cannot leave the land of Jerusalem in the
lurch.

To the scribe of the king, my lord, hath spoken Abdi-
h^ba, thy servant : At thy feet I fall. I am thy servant.
Bring clearly before the king, my lord, these words. An
officer of the king am I. I am. . . . And an evil deed
has been done against me by the people of Kash. I was
all but slain by the people of Kash in my house. Let the
king ask . . . seven times and seven times . . . the king,
my lord, to me.

From Abdi-hiba of Jerusalem to the King (Berlin, VA.
Th. 1642).1

To the king, my lord, hath spoken Abdi-bjba, thy servant :
At the feet of my lord, the king, seven times and seven
times do I fall. What have I done to the king, my lord ?
They have slandered me before the king, my lord [saying] :
" Abdi-Jiiba has revolted from the king, his lord." Behold^
as for me, neither my father nor my mother appointed me
in this place. The mighty hand of the king introduced me

1 Published by Abel and Winckler, Der Thontafelfund von El-
Amarna, No. 102. Translated by Knudtzon, Die El-Amarna Tafeln,
No. 286 ; and by A. Uugnad inGrcssmann, Altorientalische Texte und
Bilder zum Allen Testament, pp. 132-3.

SELECTIONS FROM THE

into my father's house. Why should I commit an offence
against the king, my lord ? So long as the king, my lord,
lives will I say to the officer of the king, my lord : " Why
do you like the IJabini and hate the local rulers 1" For
this reason they slander me before the king, my lord.
Because I say : " The territory of the king, my lord, will
be ruined," therefore am I slandered before the king, my
lord. Let the king, my lord, know that the king, my
lord, had established a garrison, but . . . Eenhamu has
taken it. ... Egypt . . . king, my lord . . . there is
no garrison there. May the king care for his land ! May
the king care for his land ! The lands of the king, my
lord, have all fallen away. Ilimilku is destroying the entire
land of the king. May the lord care for his land ! I
say : " I will go before the king, my lord, and see the eyes
of the king, my lord." But the enemies are powerful
against me, and I am unable to go before the king, my
lord. So may it seem right to the king to send garrison-
troops, and I will go and see the eyes of the king, my
lord ! So long as the king, my lord, lives, when an officer
goes forth, I shall say : " The lands of the king, my lord,
are going to ruin." But you do not listen to me. All the
local governors are lost ; there remains not one local
governor to the king, my lord.

Let the king turn his face to the troops, and let the king,
my lord, send troops ! No territory remains to the king,
my lord. The Habirii are devastating all the lands of the
king. If there be troops in this year, then the lands will
remain the king's, my lord's ; but if no troops arrive, the
lands of the king, my lord, are lost. To the scribe of the
king, my lord : Abdi-hiba, thy servant. Bring clearly
before the king, my lord, [these] words : All the hinds of
the king, my lord, are going to ruin.

TELL EL-AMARNA LETTERS 9

From Abdi-hiba of Jerusalem to the King (Berlin, VA.
Th. 1643).1

To the king, my lord, my sun, hath spoken thus Abdi-
Ijiba, thy servant. At the feet of the king, my lord, seven
times arid seven times do I fall. Behold, the king, my
lord, hath set his name upon the East and upon the West.
It is a wickedness which they have wrought against me.
Behold, I am not a local ruler, I am an officer3 of the king,
my lord. Behold, I am a shepherd of the king, and one
who brings tribute to the king. Neither my father, nor
my mother, [but] the mighty hand of the king, hath
established me in my father's house . . . came to me. . . .
I gave him ten slaves into his hand. When Shuta, the
officer of the king, came to me, I gave him twenty-one
maidservants and eighty (?) asiru . . . gave I into the
hand of Shuta, as a present for the king, my lord. Let
the king care for his land ! The whole land of the king
will be lost. They have assumed hostilities against me (?)
As far as the territory of Sheri, as far as Ginti-kirmil, it
goes well with all the local rulers (?), and hostility prevails
against me. If one could see ! 3 But I do not see the eyes
of the king, my lord, because hostility is established
against me. When there was a ship on the sea, and the
mighty hand of the king held Nahrima and Kapasi. But
now the PJabirii hold the cities of the king. There is no
local ruler left to the king, my lord ; all are lost. Behold, •
Turbazu has been slain in the gate of Zilft ; yet the king
does nothing. Behold, Zimrida of Lachish, his servants
have slaughtered him . . . the Habiru, Iaptih,-Adda, has

1 Published by Abel and Winckler, Der Thonlafelfund von El-
Amarna, No. 104. Translated by Knudtzon, Die El-Amama Tafeln,
No. 288 ; and by Ungnad in Gressmann, Altorientalische Texte und

;/<I,T, ]>. 133.

2 An Egyptian word.

3 The meaning of this line is very dubious.

10 SELECTIONS FliOM THE

been slain in the gate of Zilu ; yet the king does nothing.
. . .* Let the king take care for his land, and let the king
give his attention in regard to troops for the land of
tribute (?) ! For if no troops come in this year, all the
lands of the king, my lord, will be destroyed and in ruins.
They must not say before the king, my lord, that the land
of the king, my lord, is destroyed, and all the local rulers
are destroyed. If no troops arrive in this year, then let
the king send an officer to take me to thee with my
brothers, and we will die with the king, my lord.

To the scribe of the king, my lord, thus Abdi-hiba, thy
servant : At thy feet I fall down. Bring these words
clearly before the king, my lord. . . . Thy son and thy
servant am I.

From Abdi-hiba of Jerusalem to the King (Berlin, VA.
Th. 1645).2

To the king, my lord, hath spoken thus, Abdi-hiba, thy
servant. At the feet of the king, my lord, seven times and
seven times I fall. . . . Behold, hath not Milki-lim re-
volted to Labaya's sons and to Arzaya's, so as to claim the
land of the king for them 1 A prince who has done this
deed — why does not the king call him to account ? Behold
Milki-lim and Tagi, the deed which they have done is this :
After having taken the city Rubuda, they are now seeking
to take Jerusalem. If this land belongs to the king, why
(delay till) the IJazati are at the king's disposal 1 Behold
the land of Grinti-kirmil belongs to Tagi, and the people of
Ginti form a garrison in Betsani ; and the same will befall
us now that Labaya and the land of Shakmi have given
everything to the yabiru. Milki-lim has written to Tagi
and his sons : " As two are . . .3, give to the people of

1 The meaning of this line is very dubious.

2 Published by Abel and Winckler, Der Thontafdfund von El-
Amama, Nos. 105 and 199. Translated by Knudtzon, Die El-
Amarna Tafeln, No. 289. 8 mimulat.

TELL EL-AMARNA LETTERS 11

Kilti all their hearts' desire." Shall we, then, let Jerusalem
go ? The garrison-troops which thou has sent by the hand
of ^aya, the son of Miare, hath Addaya taken and placed
in his house in ^azati, and twenty men hath he sent
to Egypt.

Let the king take heed that there is no garrison of the
king with me ! Such is the case as the king liveth. Puuru
his ... He has departed from me and is in Hazati.
Let the king keep this before him, and let the king send
fifty garrison-men to protect his land ! The whole land of
the king is in revolt. Send Ji'enhamu, and let him take
heed for the land of the king.

To the scribe of the king, my lord, thus speaketh Abdi-
hiba, thy servant. Bring these words clearly before the
king. I am in highest degree ... to thee, thy servant
am I.

From Abdi-hiba of Jerusalem to the King (Berlin, VA.
Th. 1646).1

To the king, my lord, hath spoken thus Abdi-hiba, thy
servant : At the feet of the king, seven times and seven
times I fall. Behold the deed which Milldlu and Shuardatu
have done against the land of the king, my lord. They
have . . . the soldiers (or people) of Gazri, the soldiers
of Gimti, and the soldiers of Kilti, and have taken the
territory of Rubute. The land of the king is lost to the
Habiru. And now indeed a city of the territory of
Jerusalem, called Bet-Ninib, has been lost to the people of
Kilti. Let the king listen to Abdi-hiba, thy servant, and
send troops, that I may restore the king's land to the
king ! But if there are no troops, the land of the king will

1 Published by Abel and Winckler, Der Thoitiqfelfund von El-
Amarna, No. 106. Translated by Knudtzon, Die El-Amama Tafeln,
No. 290 ; and by Ungnad in Gressmann, Altorientaliscfie Ttxie uiul
llilder, p. 134.

12 SELECTIONS FROM THE

be lost to the Habiru. This is the deed of ... Milkilu
. . . Shuardatu . . . and let the king take care for his land !

From Abdi-hila of Jerusalem to the King (Berlin, VA.
Th. 1601).1

To the king [my lord, thus hath spoken] Abdi-|iiba, thy
servant. [At] the feet [of the king, my lord], seven times
and seven times I fall. Behold, I am not a [local ruler] ;
an officer am I to the [king, my lord]. Why has the king
. . . not sent a messenger ... 1 Under such circum-
stances Eenhatnu has sent. . . . Let the king [hearken] to
Abdi-fciba, his servant! [Behold], there are no troops.
Let the king, my lord, send an officer, and let him take the
local rulers with him ! The lands of the king . . . and
people . . . who are . . . and Addaya, the officer of the
king, [has] their house. . . .

Let the king take heed for them, and let him send a
messenger quickly When ... I die. . . .

Letter from Lachish (Constantinople, W, 219).2

[To the] great, thus hath spoken Pabi, at thy feet I fall.
Thou must know that Shipti-Ba'al and Zimrida are con-
spiring, and that Shipti-Ba'al hath spoken to Zimrida :
" My father of the city, Yarami (1) has written to me — Give
me [six] bows, and three doggers, and three swords ! If I
go forth against the land of the king, and thou dost join
me, I shall surely conquer. He who makes (?) this plan is

1 Published by Abel and Winckler, Der Thontafelfund von El-
Amarna, No. 174. Translated by Winckler, Die T/iontafeln von
Tell El-Amarna (Keilinschriftliche EibliotJiel; V.), No. 184 ; and by
Knudtzon, Die El-Amarna Tafeln, No. 285.

2 Published by Hilprecht, Expedition of the University of Pennsyl-
vania, vol. i., Old Babylonian Iiiscripti&ns, Part 2, Plate 64, No. 1 17.
Translated by Winckler, Keilinschriftliche Libliolhck, V., No. 219;
by Ungnad in Gressmann, Altorientalische Texte und BUder, I., pp
127-8 ; and by Knudtzon, Die El-Amarna Tafeln, No. 338.

TELL EL-AMARNA LETTERS 13

Pabu. Send him before me." Now I have sent Rapi-el.
He will bring to the great man information about this
affair (?)

Letter of Burraburiash to Amcnfyetep IV. (Berlin, VA.
Th. 152J.1

To NaphuVuria, King of Egypt, my brother, thus hath
spoken Burraburiash, King of Karduniash, thy brother :
With me it is well ; with thee, with thy land, thy house,
thy wives, thy children, thy nobles, thy horses, thy
chariots, may it be exceeding well ! I and my brother
have spoken friendly with one another, and thus have we
spoken : " As our fathers were, so will wo also be good
friends." But now my traders, who came up with
Ahutabu, remained behind in Kinahhi2 for business
reasons. After Ahutabu had gone off to my brother, in
the city of Hinnatuni of Kinahhi, Shumadda, son of
Balumme, and Shutatna, son of Sharatum, of Acco, sent
their men and slew my traders, and carried off their money!
Azzu (?) . . . I have sent to thee, so ask him and let him
tell thee. Kinahhi is thy land and its kings are thy
servants. In thy land violence has been done me. Chastise
them, and the money which they have taken away, restore !
And the men who have slain my servants, slay them, and
avenge their blood ! But if thou dost not slay these
people, they will on another occasion slay my caravans or
thy messengers, and then messengers will cease to pass
between us. And if they deny it, [know this,] that
Shumadda cut the feet off one of rny people, and kept him
prisoner; and that Shutatna of Acco set another on his
head, and he stands before his face. Cause these men to
be brought before thee, and take heed to my welfare ! As

1 Published by Abel and Winckler, Der Thontafclfund von El-
Amarna., No. 8. Translated by Ungnad in Cressmann, A Itorientalische
Texte uiul Bilder, I., p. 129 /. ; and by Knudtzon. Die El-Amarna
T,tf,'l)i, p. 85 f. 2 x.e.t Canaan.

14 SELECTIONS FliOM THE

present I have sent thce one mina of lapis-lazuli. Send
my messenger back speedily. May I learn of the welfare of
my brother ! Do not keep my messenger back ! Let him
come quickly 1

Letter of Tushralta of Mitanni to Amenhetep III. (British
Museum, BV. 88-10-13, 78).1

To Nimtnuria, King of Egypt, my brother, my son-in-law
whom I love, and who loves me, thus hath spoken
Tushratta, King of Mitanni, who loves thee, thy father-in-
law : With me it is well. With thee may it be well !
With thy house ; with Tatuh,epa, my daughter, thy wife
whom thou lovest, may it be well ! With thy wives, thy
children, thy nobles, thy chariots, thy horses, thy warriors,
thy lands, and with everything that is thine, may it be
very, very, very well !

Thus saith Ishtar of Nineveh, the Lady of countries,
all of them : " To Egypt, the land which I love, will I go,
and I will wander (?) ! Behold, now I have sent [her], and
she is gone. . . . Behold, in the time of my father did
the Lady go to the land, and as, when she formerly dwelt
there, men honoured her, so may my brother now honour
her ten times more than in the former days ! May my
brother honour her, and send her away in joy that she may
return !

Ishtar, the Lady of Heaven, may she protect my brother
and me ! One hundred thousand years and much joy
may this Lady give us both ! And as is good, so will we
do. Ishtar is for me, my god ; but for my brother, she is
not his god.2

1 Published by Bezold and Budge, The Tell El-Amarna Tablets in
Hie British Museum (1892), No. 10. Translated by Ungnad in Gress-
mann, Altorirntalische Texte und JBilder, I., p. 130-1 ; and by
Knudtzon, Die El-Amarna Tafeln, No. 23.

3 The reverse side of this tablet is inscribed with a note of three
Hues of Egyptian hieroglyphics, written in black ink, and reading :

TELL EL- AM A KN A LETTERS 15

Letter of Rib-Adda of Byblus (Berlin, VA. Th. 1239).1

ADDA hath spoken to his lord, the king of the lands,
the great king: May Ba'alat of Gubla2 give might to the
king, my lord ! At the feet of my lord, my sun, seven
times and seven times I fall. Let the king, my lord, know
that Gubla, the true handmaid of the king, is safe, but
very strong is the hostility of the Sa Gaz-warriors against
me, and may the king, my lord, not hold back from
Sumur, lest it entirely joins the Sa Gaz-warriors ! By the
officer of the king, who was in Sumur, Gubla has been
saved. Behold, Pahamnata, the officer of the king, who is
in Sumur, knows the need which oppresses Gubla. From
Yarimutta have we procured the means of existence. Very
powerful has been the hostility against us. Therefore,
may the king not hold back from his cities !

Letter of Rib-Adda of Byblus (British Museum, Bu.
88-10-13, 58). 3

RIB ADDA spoke to his lord, the king of the lands, the
great king : May Ba'alat of Gubla give might to the king,
my lord ! At the feet of my lord, my sun, seven times and
seven times I fall. Why hast thou sent me no reply, so
that I might know the deed which they have done? I

" Year 36, 4th mouth of the winter, when we were in the southern
castle Pr — H'wt . . . Copy . . , brought by the messenger."

1 Published by Abel and Winckler, Der Thontafelfund von El-
Amarna (1889-90), No. 80. Translated by Winckler, Keilinschrift-
liche Bibliothek, V., No. 88; by Knudtzon, Die El- Amarna Tafeln,
No. 68 ; and by Ungnad in Gressmann, Altoruntalische Texte und
Wilder, I., p. 131.

2 " Gubla" is the Babylonian for " Byblus."

8 Published by Bezold and Budge, The Tell El-Amarna Tablets in
the British Museum (1892), No. 14. Translated by Winckler, Keilin-
schriftliche Bibliothek, V., No. 61; by Knudt/.on, Die El-Amarna
Tafeln, No. 83 ; and by Ungnad in Gressmann, Altorieiilalische Texte
und Bildcr, pp. 131-2.

16 TELL EL-AM ARNA LETTERS

sent my man before my lord, and his two horses were
taken, while in regard to another man, the man himself (1)
was taken and the king's tablet was not given into the
hand of my man.

Listen to me ! Why hast thou so held back that thy
land should be taken 1 Let it not be said : " In the days
of the overseers the Gaz people have taken all lands," Let
it not be said in (those) days : " And thou art not able to
take them again." Further, I have written for garrison-
troops, and for horses, but they were not granted. Send a
reply to me ! Otherwise I shall make alliance with Abdi-
Ashirta, like Yapa-Adda and Zimrida, and I shall be
saved. Further, if Sumura and Bet-Arha are lost, thou
must give to me by the hand of Yanhamu.1 Let him give
provisions of food for me ! I will protect the city of the
king for him, and let the king speak the word and send
my man ! His relations are embittered against me day
and night, saying : " Thou hast given our son to the king,
and he should send him back." Two men of Inamta are in
the house of Yanhamu. Further, say to Yanhamu : " Kib-
Addi is in thy hands, and everything that is done to him
rests upon thee." Let not men of destruction (?) fall
upon me ! And I have written to him : "If thou dost not
say so, then I will abandon the city and depart. Further,
if thou sendest me no answer, then I will abandon the city
and depart with the men who love me. And know, indeed,
Ummahnu, and Ishkuru her husband, the servant of
Ba'alat of Gubla, and power ... to Ba'alat."

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