Part 28 (1/2)
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.