Part 24 (1/2)

171 B.-”A message and information from the servant of the King my Lord my G.o.d.... And behold what the chief of _Simyra_ has done to my brethren of the city of _Tubakhi_;(159) and he marches to waste the fortresses of the King my Lord my G.o.d my Sun ... the land of the _Amorites_. He has wearied out our chiefs. The fortresses of the King my Lord my G.o.d ... are for men of blood. And now strong is the G.o.d of the King my Lord my G.o.d my Sun; and the city of _Tubakhi_ goes forth to war, and I have stirred up my brethren, and I guard the city of _Tubakhi_ for the King my Lord my G.o.d my Sun. And behold this city of _Tubakhi_ is the city of the plains of my fathers.”

132 B.-”To the King my Lord by letter thus (says) _Artabania_, chief of the city _Ziribasani_(160) thy servant. At the feet of the King my Lord seven times, on my face, seven times I bow. Behold a message to me to speed to meet the Egyptian (_bitati_) soldiers. And who am I but a dog only, and shall I not march? Behold me, with my soldiers and my chariots meeting the Egyptian soldiers at the place of which the King my Lord speaks.”

78 B. M.-”To the King my Lord thus the chief of the city _Gubbu_(161) thy servant. At the feet of the King my Lord my Sun (permit?) that seven times, on my face, seven times I bow. Thou hast sent as to going to meet the Egyptian soldiers, and now I with my soldiers and my chariots meet the soldiers of the King my Lord, at the place you march to.”

64 B. M.-”To _Yankhamu_(162) my Lord by letter thus _Muu-taddu_ thy servant. I bow at my Lord's feet as this says, announcing that the enemy is hastening speedily as-my Lord-was announced to the King of the city _Bikhisi_(163) from friends(164) of his Lord. Let the King my Lord speed: let the King my Lord fly: for the foe is wasting in the city _Bikhisi_ this two months, there is none ... On account of (_Bibelu_?) having told me this one has asked then ... until by the arrival of _Anamarut_ (Amenophis IV)(165) the city of _Ashtoreth_ is occupied.(166) Behold they have destroyed all the fortresses of neighboring lands: the city _Udumu_,(167) the city _Aduri_,(168) the city _Araru_,(169) the city _Meis_(_pa?_),(170) the city _Macdalim_,(171) the city _Khini_.(172) I announced that they had taken the city _Zaar_.(173) They are fighting this city, the city _Yabisi_.(174) Moreover, fearing the force against me, I am watching it till you arrive. One has come from your way to the city _Bikhisi_,(175) and he has made us hear the news.”

134 B.-”To the King my Lord by letter thus _Abdmelec_ the chief of this city _Saskhi_(176) thy servant. At the feet of the King my Lord ... on my face seven times I bow. Thou hast sent as to going to meet the Egyptian soldiers, accordingly I with my soldiers and my chariots (am) meeting the soldiers of the King my Lord, at the place to which you will march.”

143 B.-”To the King our Lord thus (says) _Addubaya_ and thus also _Betili_. At the feet of our Lord we bow. Peace indeed to the face of our Lord. And (as is fit?) from the lands of our Lord, much they salute. O our Lord, will not you settle everything in your heart? Will not you harden your heart as to this combat O our Lord? But their intention is clear-to make war on the stations, as in our country they do not follow after thee.

_Lupackhallu_(177) has removed the soldiers of the _Hitt.i.tes_; they will go against the cities of the land of Ham (_Am_) and from _Atadumi_ they will (take?) them. And let our Lord know, since we hear that _Zitana_(178) the Phnician (_Kharu_) has deserted, who will march. And nine chiefs of the soldiers of the government are with us, who march, and the message is unfavorable: a gathering in the land they have made; and they will arrive from the land of _Marha.s.se_ (_Mer'ash_). But I cause _Betili_ to send against this (foe). Thus we wage war against them. And my trusty messenger I cause to be sent to your presence, as said; for you to return an order whether we shall do so or whether not. To _Raban_ and _Abdbaal_, to _Rabana_ and _Rabziddu_ thus: behold to all of you be peace indeed, and will not you harden your hearts, and will not you settle all in your hearts, and do what is fitting from your places? Much peace; and to (the people?) peace be increased.”

91 B.-”To the King my Lord thus (says) the city _Gebal_(179) (and) thus _Rabikhar_ ('the Lord of Phnicia') thy servant. At the feet of my Lord the Sun seven times I bow. Do not be angry, O King my Lord, with the city of _Gebal_ (_Gubla_) thy handmaid-a city of the King from of old, obeying what the King commands as to _Aziru_, and it did as he wished. Behold _Aziru_ slew _Adunu_, Lord of the land of _Ammia_,(180) and the King of the land of _Ardata_,(181) and has slain the great men, and has taken their cities for himself. The city _Simyra_ is his. Of the cities of the King only the city _Gebal_ escapes for the King. Behold the city _Simyra_ is subjected. He has smitten the city _Ullaza_.(182) The captains of both have gone into exile. Behold this sin _Aziru_ wrought. Sinful are his strivings against her ... he has smitten all the lands of _Ham_ (_Am_), lands of the King; and now he has despatched his men to destroy all the lands of _Ham_; and the King of the land of the _Hitt.i.tes_, and the king of the land of _Nereb_ (_Nariba_)(183) (have made?) the land conquered land.”

From these letters we learn clearly that the Mongol kings near the Euphrates (and, as appears later, in Armenia) were leagued with the Hitt.i.tes of Mer'ash in the extreme north of Syria, and of Kadesh on the Orontes, and were supported by the Amorites of the northern Lebanon and by some of the Phnicians; that the enemy marched south, a distance of 300 miles, taking all the towns in the Baalbek Valley, reaching Damascus by the gorge of the Barada River, and advancing into the land of Ham-in Bashan-where all the chief towns fell. This serves to make clear the treachery of Aziru's letters which follow. The Amorite advance on the Phnician coast was contemporary, and extended to Tyre. It appears, however, that the Amorites were a Semitic people, while the names of the Hitt.i.tes are Mongolic.

The Amorite Treachery

No. 35 B.-”To the King my Lord my G.o.d my Sun _Aziru_ thy servant; and seven times at the feet of my Lord my G.o.d my Sun I bow.” The letter is much broken, but promises he will never rebel, and says he is sincere. He desires land of the King (at Simyra), and says the men of the government are friendly, but that the city of Simyra is to be made promptly to fulfil its engagements.

35 B. M.-”To the Great King my Lord my G.o.d my Sun thus (says) this thy servant _Aziru_. Seven times and seven times at the feet of my Lord my G.o.d my Sun I bow. My Lord I am thy servant, and (from my youth?) in the presence of the King my Lord, and I fulfil all my orders to the sight of my Lord. And what they who are my (agents?) shall say to my Lord as to the chiefs who are faithful, in the sight of the King my Lord, will not you hear me speak, I who am thy servant sincere as long as I live? But when the King my Lord sent _Khani_,(184) I was resting in the city of _Tunip_ (_Tennib_) and there was no knowledge behold of his arriving. Whereupon he gave notice, and coming after him also, have I not reached him? And let _Khani_ speak to testify with what humility, and let the King my Lord ask him how my brethren have prepared to tend (him), and _Betilu_ will send to his presence oxen and beasts and fowls: his food and his drink will be provided. I shall give horses and beasts for his journey; and may the King my Lord hear my messages, with my a.s.surances in the presence of the King my Lord. _Khani_ will march much cared for in my sight, he accompanies me as my comrade, like my father; and lo! my Lord says, 'You turn away from the appearance of Khani.' Thus thy G.o.ds and the Sun-G.o.d truly had known if I did not stay in the city of _Tunip_. Moreover because of the intention to set in order the city of Simyra, the King my Lord has sent word (and) the Kings of the land of _Marsha.s.se_ (_Mer'ash_) have been foes to me.

They have marched on my cities: they have observed the desire of _Khatib_,(185) and has not he promised them? lo! hastily he has promised them. And truly my Lord has known that half of the possessions that the King my Lord has given _Khatib_ takes: the tribute, and the gold and the silver that the King my Lord has given me; and _Khatib_ takes all the tribute; and truly my Lord has known. Moreover as against my Lord the King's having said, 'Why dost thou yield service to the messenger of the King of the land of the _Hitt.i.tes_, and dost not yield service to my messenger?' this region is the land of my Lord, he establishes me in it, with men of government. Let a messenger of my Lord come, and all that I speak of in the sight of my Lord let me give. Tin and s.h.i.+ps, men(186) and weapons, and trees let me give.”

40 B.-”To _Dudu_(187) my Lord my father thus (says) _Aziru_ your son your servant: at the feet of my father I bow. Lo! let _Dudu_ send the wishes of my Lord ... and I ... Moreover behold thou shalt not reject (me) my father, and whatever are the wishes of _Dudu_ my father, send, and will not I ... Behold thou art my father and my Lord: I am thy son: the land of the Amorites is your land; and my house is your house.(188) Say what you wish and I will truly perform your wishes.” The latter part is broken, but states that he will not rebel against the wishes of the King or those of Dudu.

38 B.-”To _Dudu_ my Lord my father thus _Aziru_ thy servant. At my lord's feet I bow. _Khatib_ will march, and has carefully followed the messages (or orders) of the King my Lord before (he goes); and what is good increases; and I have been gladdened very much; and my brethren, men serving the King my Lord, and men who are servants of _Dudu_ my Lord. They had feared exceedingly. Behold he will march, to command for the King my Lord with me. From the orders of my Lord my G.o.d and my Sun, and from the orders of _Dudu_ my Lord, I will never depart. My Lord now _Khatib_ goes forth with me, and also he will march to strengthen me. My Lord, the King of the land of the _Hitt.i.tes_ will march from the land of _Marha.s.se_ (_Mer'ash_), and has he not boasted to meet me? and the King of the _Hitt.i.tes_ will rebel, and behold I and _Khatib_ will march. Let the King my Lord hear my messages. I have feared without the countenance of the King my Lord, and without the countenance of _Dudu_; and now (my G.o.ds and my messenger(189)). And truly these are my brethren-_Dudu_ and the great men of the King my Lord; and truly I will march; and since O _Dudu_ both the King my Lord and the chiefs thus are ready, everything against _Aziru_ is forgiven which has been unfavorable for my G.o.d,(190) and for us. And now I and _Khatib_ have appeared servants of the King. Truly thou knowest _Dudu_, behold I go forth mightily.”

31 B.-”To _Khai_(191) my brother thus (says) this thy brother _Aziru_.

With thee (be) peace indeed, and from the Egyptian soldiers of the King my Lord there is much safety. Whoever (is) against it the promise remains, in sight of the King my Lord; being formerly promised it remains. I and my sons and my brethren are all servants of the King: it is good for me. Now I and _Khatib_ will both march, behold, with speed. O _Khai_, as among you truly it is known, lo! I have been troubled. From the orders of my Lord there is no rebellion, nor from your orders. I am a servant of my Lord.

The King of the land of the _Hitt.i.tes_ dwells in the land of _Marha.s.se_ (_Mer'ash_) and I have feared his appearance. They who are in the West lands(192) have armed. He gathers; and while the city of _Tunip_ is unoccupied, he dwells two swift marches from the city. And I have been afraid of his appearance; and contrary to messages of promise he goes forth to his rebellions. But now we shall both march, I and _Khatib_, with speed.”

32 B. repeats the preceding-perhaps to another correspondent: it mentions _Dudu_, and says: ”I have been afraid of this rebel son of a dog, and I have been troubled. Now he has sent a message from the Western land-the land of my Lord: they will both march together, and I have been afraid for my Lord's land.”

33 B., much broken at the top, refers to the existing promise or treaty, and continues: ”I cause the land of my Lord to be guarded, and my countenance is toward the men who are servants of the King my Lord in peace. My Lord now I and _Khatib_ are made friends,(193) and let my Lord know behold I have ... in haste. The King of the land of the _Hitt.i.tes_ dwells ... and I have been afraid ... have armed ... of the land ... my Lord I remain quietly ... in the West land ... King my Lord to defend his land ... and now behold in the land of _Marha.s.se_ he dwells-two swift marches from the city of _Tunip_; and I fear his wastings. Let the city of _Tunip_ be defended: my Lord is a s.h.i.+eld to men who serve him; mayst thou hear what is said and my sons will ... forever.”

39 B., broken at the top. ”I have strengthened this ... I have strengthened this wall in front of the mouth of the great pa.s.s,(194) and my Lord's fortress. And let my Lord hear as to the servants of his servant-thy servant _Aziru_: they will keep watch: strife surrounds us: I trust there will be an expedition; and let us watch the lands of the King our Lord. Moreover to _Dudu_ my Lord. Hear the message of the King of the land of _Marha.s.se_ to me. They said: 'Your father(195) what gold has this King of Egypt given him, and what has his Lord promised him out of the Land of Egypt; and all the lands, and all the soldier slaves they have fought against?' (thus) they said ... to _Aziru_ ... out of the Land of Egypt, and behold the slaves come round from the Land of ... _Ni_(196): they have rebelled; and I repeat that thirty chiefs push on against me ...

land of Egypt he remains ... my Lord to _Aziru_ ... soldiers ...

_Marha.s.se_.”

34 B.-”To the King my Lord my G.o.d my Sun thus (says) this _Aziru_ thy servant: seven times and seven times at the feet of my Lord I bow. Now what you wish is desirable. Sun G.o.d my Lord I am thy servant forever; and my sons serve thee.... Now two men ... I have commanded as envoys ... what he says ... and let him rule ... in the land of the Amorites.”

34a B.-The salutation of the usual type is here injured. The letter continues: ”My Lord my G.o.d my Sun, I am thy servant and my sons and my brethren, to serve the King my Lord forever. Now all my Lord's wishes, and what he causes to be despatched, duly ... the King my Lord having despatched. Now eight chiefs who are great, and many (decrees?) we ... all of which ... from ... the King my Lord ... And the Kings of the Land of _Marha.s.se_ will follow with ... and are these not promised (or leagued) to the city _Simyra_ these thirty years? I turn me to the city _Simyra_. My Lord I am thy servant forever, and a King of men who are friends; will not my (agents?) ... my Lord (wilt not thou hear?). And the King is my Lord my G.o.d and my Sun: let him send his messenger with my messenger, and let them go up who serve the King ...”

36 B.-”To the King ... thus _Aziru_: seven times and seven times at ... of my G.o.d and Sun. Behold truly thou hast known this, O King my Lord; behold I am thy servant forever; from my Lord's commands I never rebel: my Lord from of old (it has been) thus. I am kind to the men who are servants of my King; but the chiefs of the city _Simyra_ have not kept faith righteously with us; and behold neither one nor all are with us: my Lord the King did not you cause to be asked? The King my Lord has known that the chiefs are sinful; and why ask, 'What does he contend for?' I say nay ...”

From these letters by Aziru, we must conclude either that he was a great liar or that he was induced to change sides later. The other correspondents seem to have believed that he had long deceived the King of Egypt; but, in the end, his invasion of Phnicia-perhaps cloaked by pretences of hostility to the Hitt.i.te league-caused him, as we shall see, to be proclaimed a rebel. The quarrel with Simyra may have been due to his being pushed south, out of his dominions, but is here said to be due to a Phnician league with his foes. It does not appear who Khatib was. Perhaps the name was. .h.i.tt.i.te,(197) and he may have been the Prince of Hamath or of Emesa. The following letter from Aziru's father, Abdasherah, belongs to a later period of the war, when Ullaza and all the cities north of Gebal had been conquered by the Amorites. It is couched in the same insidious language; and the letters of Ribadda, which follow, show that Amenophis was not open to conviction for a long time, though warned by his true friends. The proclamation is still later, after the attack on Sidon, and may fitly conclude the Amorite correspondence.