Chapter 19

The back of this long letter is unfortunately quite destroyed. The final sentences are on the edge, the tablet being of considerable thickness:“I have desired peace (like?) a faithful servant of the King. The men of Egypt, expelled from this city of our neighbor, are with me; and there is no ... for them to eat.Yapaadduhas not granted my servants this ... this poor country; but we have been swift to help the citySimyra...[pg 229]they have gone up to fight the ships (of the city) ofArāda(Arvad) ... (it was grievous?) ...Riib...”55 B.—A much-broken letter appears to refer to a message from the King being seized, and that 300 men poured out and burned a city. It speaks of aPakaand of Egyptian soldiers, and of the cityBeruti(Beirût) and ofAbdasherah'sforces.16 B. M.—“To the King my Lord thus saysRibaddathy servant, the dust of thy feet. I bow seven times and seven times at the feet of my Lord. And will not my Lord hear the message of thy servant? Men of the city ofGebal, and my family; and a wife whom I loved, they have taken away after the son ofAbdasherah; and we have made a gathering; we have searched; and I cannot hear a word spoken about them. I am sending to the King my Lord, and once more, despatch thou men of garrison, men of war, for thy servant; and will you not defend the city of the King my Lord? But news has not arrived from the King my Lord for his servant. But he will be generous; he will remember me; and the advice (I speak) comes from my heart. The region near (us)Ammunira266has traversed throughout, and I went to him, for he gave assistance. And I myself searched for my family, but it has been made to vanish from my sight; and the King my Lord shall counsel his servant. Lo! the ally is zealous; and he has decreed a gathering of the Egyptian soldiers (bitati) of the King my Lord; and the King my Lord will counsel his servant. If there is no wish to be kind on the part of the King my Lord, I myself am helpless; and the King has no servants. Moreover, my son and my wife have been subjected to a man who sins against the King.”26715 B. M.—“ToAmanabbamy father, thusRibaddathy son. I bow at my father's feet. Baalath of the cityGebalstrengthens your favor in the sight of the King your Lord. Why has it been asked, and no complaint (is made) to the King? and you hesitate about the Egyptian soldiers (bitati), and you are brought low before the land of theAmorites. If you had heard of us (that) the Egyptian soldiers (are) strong, and that they have deserted their towns, and gone away, you know[pg 230]not the land of theAmorites. Behold they have taken these places from us, and I am ill at ease. Behold now do not they supportAbdasherah? behold they have deceived us about them, and you promise us, day and night to send the Egyptian soldiers, and we are made sad about it, and all the chiefs of the Government. Thou shalt promise us to do this thing toAbdasherah: lo! he sends to the chiefs of the city ofAmmiya(Amyûn) to slay him who was established as Lord, and they submitted to the men of blood. So now thou shalt say for us—the Chiefs of the Government; so now they are doing to us, and thou shalt announce to him (that) all the lands are for men of blood, and speak thou this message in the presence of the King my Lord. Lo! a father and a lord this thou art to me; and as for thee my face I bend, you know, to my master: behold what is done in the city ofSimyra, lo! I am ... with thee. But complain to the King thy Lord, and you will send ... to me as I trust.”20 B. M.—“Ribaddasends to his Lord the Great King, the King of many lands to the prosperous King. Baalath of Gebal has confirmed the power of the King my Lord. At the feet of my Lord the Sun seven times seven times he bows him. A petition has been made long ago, made for the city ofGebal, to despatchBikuru(to the) chiefs of the Land ofEgada268... served me, which ... I ... three of the chiefs ... they strove ... the Land of Egypt ... and ... then the King my Lord ... a sin against....“If the King my Lord supports his faithful servant; and despatch thou ... this her chief (speedily?); and we two watch the city for the King. The King shall send the choicest of thy great men, from among those who guard him. The three chiefs whomBikhurustrove to despatch, but who have fled, (are)Abdirama,Iddinaddu,Abdmelec, these are sons ofAbdasherah;269and they have taken the King's land for themselves. He shall send thebitati...”[pg 231]21 B. M.—“ToAmanabba... (by letter) thus (says) thisRibaddathy servant. I bow (at my Lord's feet). The godAmen... of thy Lord, builds up thy favor (with) the King thy Lord. Hear ... (they have fought) mightily, and over the Egyptian soldiers are victorious, and ... to the Land of theAmorites.”The letter becomes too broken to read consecutively, but refers to the Land ofMitana, and apparently to a defeat ofYankhamu. He asks for corn, and speaks of having nothing to eat, in connection with the city ofGebal; and refers to three years of (dearth?), and to the corn failing.19 B. M.—After the usual salutation to the King, this letter reads:“The King my Lord will say that the choicest of thy great men, and the choicest of thy city that thou hast are among those who guard us. My great men and (those of?) the city, were formerly men of garrison with me; and the King asked of us corn for them to eat, from my poor country. But now beholdAziruis destroying me, and I repeat there (are) no oxen, nor ... for me;Aziruhas taken all. And there is no corn for my eating. And the chiefs—thePakas—also have been nourished by the cities, exhausting the corn for their eating. Again: (being faithful), the King shall establish for me, as men of government, the men of government of their own cities, the men who at first were with their subjects. But as for me my cities are Aziru's, and they long for me, to whom destruction is made by him, who is a dog of the sons ofAbdasherah, and either you shall do for us as they wish, or you shall give orders for us to the King's cities in these matters.”48 B.—This begins with the usual salutation, and then continues:“If perchance I send a message to the King my Lord, do not thou refuse the request of my memorial. Lo! thrice has come upon me a year of storms (or tumults), and again a year of storms begins. My wheat is naught; the wheat for us to eat: that which was for sowing for my freemen is finished; their beasts, their herbs, the trees of their gardens, are wretched, in my unhappy land. Our corn has failed. Once more the King will hear the message of his faithful servant, and will order wheat in ships, and his servant shall live; and be thou moved and send us com. The chiefs (will send?) horses, as commanded, toZu... And thou shalt defend[pg 232]the city (by so doing?) ... beholdYankhamusays (or asks) ... that wheat be given toRibadda... to him ... corn (the bread of men?) ... and now withYapaaddu... their money henceforth ... ask him, he will tell all in your presence. Mayest thou know when it is spoken in the presence of the King my Lord. And this year of storms makes the wheat scarce (in) my unhappy land ... there was scarcity before in the citySimyra, and now behold in the cityGebal.”The text is here too broken to be read. It seems, perhaps, to refer to the enemy having possession of the sea, and to the entreaties ofYankhamu, and to certain waters, and the general wretchedness. A paragraph then begins:270“The King of the LandTaratzi271has coveted the city ofSimyra; and they desired to march to the city ofGebal; and none now has urged him, and he has stayed in his land. Now as he is strong he will send to the great ... by my wish ... they have returned to us.”The letter is again much broken; it refers to a ruler, saying:“His heart is with my heart; butAbdasherahhas conquered beyond the land of theAmorites, also since the time of your father the city ofSidonhas submitted to the occupation by his allies: the lands are for the men of blood, so now there is none who is a friend (or kin) to me. Let the King regard the message of his servant. Let him give men to guard his city. Is not she insulted by all the men of blood?”The latter part, referring to allies, is much broken.54 B.—This is broken at the top, and considerably injured. It demands soldiers, and the restoration of the rulers.“The city of (Sidon?), and the city ofBeirût, the sons ofAbdasherahhave silenced: they fought for the King, but the city ofSidonand the city ofBeirûtare not the King's. We sent aPaka: he did not desert his duty to you, but she has rebelled to your face: for it was permitted by the freemen. The men of blood have seized the city.272Behold as for me this is my repetition ... cityAtsar... restraint ...”[pg 233]49 B.—This letter is much damaged; it begins with the usual salutation, and continues:“Lo! he makes the chiefs of (Ukri?) to dwell in fear of making an end. Lo! the King asked from his rulers as to my brethren. O King, is it not right to approach them, when the King shall ask? and we have set our faces fast toward thy servants. I desire this to strengthen my neighbor ... the city of (Ukri?).273Their ruler will go out then from my presence. They have interfered with my sister (town), and the waters of my brother's growing corn. I am despatching to the cityUkri... from the presence of Abdasherah ... The King ... all the lands ... if as to my brethren ... the King will ask ... a neighbor ... I shall send to the King this ... Blame us not for his weakness (or affliction), and in time past we have ruled over him, and if you will ask as to my brethren, and shall be grieved, this city (has) no (government that the King should ask after it?). Do not we know this day (what) he did to all? and trust me, if the King will not ask of the rulers. Lo! if he ceases oppression as an enemy I am well pleased. Behold the land of the city ofUkri: there are no lands (or towns) of rulers ... his ... spoiled the land for us.”The next passage about servants, governors, and thePakais too broken to read. The letter concludes by asking support, and asks excuse on account of the enemy's success.75 B.—The usual salutation is here damaged, and the middle of the text.“Behold since the arrival ofAmanappain my presence all the men of blood have set their faces to me; they have fulfilled the wishes ofAbdasherah; and my Lord shall hear the messages of his servant; and ... men of garrison, for the defence of the royal city. Send the Egyptian soldiers (bitati) ... as there are no Egyptian soldiers it befalls thee, that the lands ... to the men of blood; since the seizing of the cityMaar...274at the command ofAbdasherah; and so our limits are the city ofGebaland the city ofBatruna;275but so not all the lands are to the men of[pg 234]blood—two chief cities which are (still) to be wrecked for (us). And they have turned back276to take from us ... She has remained peaceful to the King, and my Lord shall order men of garrison for his two cities, till the Egyptian soldiers march forth. But everything fails me, of the food of the land (our teeth have gnawed nothing at all?). As the heart of a bird fails, seeing the snare, this city has remained. She is helpless before them ... lamenting. Once more ... they have shut up my ... it has come to pass ... the lands ...Abdasherah, the slave dog ... the lands of the King to himself.”84 B. is much broken; all the cities are taken exceptGebalandBatruna, which remain like birds in the snare. But he still“trusts.”12 B. M.—“Ribaddaspeaks to the King of Lands, of many lands, the great King the prosperous King. The Lady (Ballath) of Gebal gives power to the King my Lord. I bow at my Lord's feet—the Sun-God—seven times seven times. Let the King know! behold! the cityGebalhis handmaid, faithful to the King, has gathered because of the allies who are his foes. And I am ill at ease: behold the King lets slip from his hand the chief city that is faithful to him. Let the King smite the lands of those who rob him. Lo! is not he a faithful servant, her chief who abides in the city ofGebal? Do not you say so to your servant, when there is a mighty fighting against him of men of blood, and the Gods of the land are (evilly disposed?), and our sons have been worn out, and our daughters have fled, and there is weakness in my unhappy land. For our living, my fields gave sustenance, which no ... secured. For as many as I possess, all my cities which are in flames, also the foe has overthrown: they submitted to the bloody soldiers. The city ofGebalwith two cities, remains to me; and I am ill at ease becauseAbdasherahis marching. The city ofSigata(is) his; and he is saying to the chiefs of the city ofAmmia(Amyun),‘They have slain your chief and you have done like us, and you have rebelled, and you obeyed his order, and they will punish you as men of[pg 235]blood.’And I am ill at ease. Lo! nowAbdasherahsends for soldiers. I have remained alone—they will be rejoiced at it, and there is ruin before the city ofGebal, if there is no great man to gain me safety from his hands. And the chiefs of the government are expelled from the midst of the lands; and you relinquish all the lands to the men of blood, squandering the wealth of all the lands; and they have torn away sons and daughters nobly born; and (this) while the King is pondering about it, and all the lands have fought for him. And from what they have done to us, behold now thou wilt become naked to their destructions. And so now I am exceedingly afraid. Behold now there is no great man who wins me salvation from their hands. As birds that are in the midst of the snares this place has remained. I myself am in the city ofGebal. Why is there this overthrow of thy land? Now I send (complaint?) to the palace (or great city) and you will not hear us. Now this (is) my message.Amanabbais with thee, ask him: he has fled,277and he will show the evils that are against me. Let the King hear his servant's message; and he shall establish his servant's life, and his servant shall live, and shall defend the ... with him.”The remainder of the letter is broken. It asks for advice and information, and for consideration of the memorial. Ribadda's letters increase in pathetic eloquence as the great catastrophe approaches.56 B., a much-broken letter. They are advancing to takeGebal. Money has been given to a certain chief who has turned againstRibadda.62 B., a mere fragment. The enemy are advancing onGebalwith the intention of taking it.63 B.—This also is much broken. It refers toYapaaddu, to the King'sPakareceiving orders, and to the rulers, and contains the statement,“They have cut off two of my ships, with my sons (or men) and all that was mine.”80 B. begins with the usual salutation, and continues:“Does the King my Lord know? Behold the city ofGebalhas gathered, she has gathered those faithful to the King, and very mighty was the battle of the men of blood against me,[pg 236]and there is no rest through the city ofSimyra. (Defeat has not befallen?) the men of blood, through the King'sPaka(chief), whom they cast out from the city ofSimyra. The chief city is troubled. NowPakha(mnata), the King'sPaka, who (was) in the city ofSimyra, has sent a message—he has failed. Sixty minas (mana)278it is that they are asking the city ofGebal, from my unhappy land. The battle was waged very mightily against us, and the King is not defended by his fortress.”81 B.—“ToRabzabi279... thusRibaddathy son.”The letter is much broken. He refers to money, and asks him to complain to the King. He says he is afraid that the freemen are not (faithful?) to the King's governor, if the broken portion may be so understood.82 B.—“ToRibaddamy son thus by letter (says) KingRabzabithy father. May our Gods prosper thee, prosper thy fortress. Let him ask to know. The sons of our Lord have spoken accordingly. They have spoken of the strife of the chiefs of the city ofSimyra. (He has vanquished my fears?) of being made to perish by the city ofSimyra, of our perishing by these chiefs; and lo! they have allotted decrees, they are creating a memorial. Have I not been bent upon the decrees? and decrees of the King have followed. And unless they have destroyed everything, the King makes sure to show them their master. For the King is imposing decrees. The decrees of the King are saying:‘Why do ye make a waste land to those who are servants of the King? I shall despatch men. I shall send a garrison for the chief city.’I am sending the King's ... to you ... soldiers ... in ... A gathering they are making of all.”In spite of his father's zealous assistance in Egypt, this favorable intention came too late.76 B.—“FromRiibiddias a letter to the King my Lord: beneath the feet of my Lord seven times and seven times I[pg 237]bow. Behold my Lord's message from this (remnant?): from the lands of the despised, and from the chief city of fugitives, they have wandered. To go for us, accordingly I have ordered my ships to go out from shore (or wall). Lo!Aziruhas fought with me. And all the chiefs of the government gathered, hardening their hearts. I have gathered to us their ships; and as they go to us in haste their abodes are deserted, which are subject (to) thisAmoriterace; and they have been suddenly destroyed. I am chosen chief of the chiefs of the government. To me accordingly they have subjected everything; and they have removed—on account of the success of the chiefs of my enemies—the silver from the palaces, and all else, on account of his destructions. But the King shall order soldiers for them, and now I shall send to my Lord for soldiers; and soldiers of garrison do not thou ...”The letter is much broken here. It refers to the son ofAbdasherah, and to the chief city of theGiblites, to his messenger, and to there being no news of soldiers coming.“You will not (even) glance at us ... and despatch him. The lean soldiers are growling.‘When (is) the King to feed this city? and he thinks evil of her.’Speed your chief to ... her. Why is he not ordered from the palace, being said that soldiers (are to be) sent? They have destroyed us, and they ravage the lands ... I cause to be sent repeatedly; a message is not returned us for me. They have seized all the lands of the King my Lord; and my Lord has said that they are to repent. But now behold the soldiers of the land of theHittiteshave trampled down our papyrus.280The chief city ofGebal(has) no food. But counsel the city ... and accordingly I will listen. O King! for theMisi(Delta) men—all of them, you ordered of me presents of the royal gold, because of the sons ofAbdasherah; and when you ordered me they were subjecting the sons ofAbdasherahto the King; and so now it is lawful.”85 B.—This is a list of various articles, with a broken name, apparently (Rib)adda's, at the top, including perhaps either presents or his own property sent to Egypt. The tablet is much injured. It appears to mention precious stones and articles[pg 238]of gold, and includes male and female slaves.Yazimi,“the servant of God,”withAbdaddu, is mentioned near the end.71 B.—“Ribadda... to the King my Lord ... at the feet ... seven times and seven times281... I send and I repeat (the message), and you listen not thereto ... The King my Lord shall hear the message, and it explains to thePaur(magnate) ... to the Lords of the Palace, because in vain the soldiers of garrison have hasted to him. And you will remember my ... Lo! it is not granted to my sons to take root for me, as the prophets have perceived of old; and the race of the foes (will) remain. I being asked am going to those who are free, toKhamumy son, and to my younger brother, who have both left the city ofGebal. There was good-fortune for the sons ofAbdasherah, as to the subjugation of the capital city; behold my brother has commanded, he went out as my envoy. It is no use: the soldiers of the garrison failed with him; and they have defeated me; and so the evil is done; and they make me flee from the city: it is not defended from the power of the enemy. Now I say do not prevent a descent to the Lands of Egypt, and a settlement. And you will help me very much. My great men consent; and the King my Lord will consider. Lo! the Gods ofGebal(be with him) and you will help me very much; and‘It is well’they have said: good are my wishes to the Gods. So now I shall not come down to the presence of the King my Lord. But now my son, a servant of the King my Lord, I am sending to the presence of the King my Lord, and the King shall hear the desire of his faithful servant, and appoint us Egyptian soldiers (bitati). And request (has been made) to the King ofBabeli(Babylon,282an ally of Egypt); but he ... no soldiers of his host ... in her midst.... Egyptian soldiers of the King my Lord ... to come to her. Behold the entanglement of the chiefs friendly to my (throne?) in the midst of the city. A son of one of the chiefs is a friend in her midst. The Egyptian soldiers are strong; and they have heard of those who are reaching her; and the city has remained to the King my Lord; and the King my Lord[pg 239]knows that it is against him that they have (cried war?). Now I am going to a town (that) I defend for my Lord, determined in heart, before the King my Lord, that the chief city shall not be given to the sons of Abdasherah. So my brother has fought him: the city is stubborn against the sons ofAbdasherah. He is not able to leave the town,283when there is plenty of silver and gold in her midst in the Temple of Gods, plenty of everything if they take her. O King my Lord what is done to his servant by them is done. But appoint the town ofBuruzizi284for my dwelling. Lo!Khamumy son (sets forth?) the request in the presence. Behold! this dwelling of the chief city—the town ofBuruzizi—the sons ofAbdasherahhave been afraid to smite. Lo!Khamumy son is going to the presence: for the sons ofAbdasherahhave pricked against me, and none remains to mourn, O King, for me. And I mourn to the King my Lord. Behold the city ofGebalis a city truly like our eye: there is plenty of all that is royal in her midst: the servants of the chief city were at peace, the chiefs were our well-wishers before time when the King's voice was for all. It is the chief city of the land they have wasted for me—and is none of his. Will not this desire prevail with the King? Behold thy servant, my son, I am despatching to the presence of the King my Lord; and there shall be ordered him protection of the King by soldiers ... you will come marching to us. For the King my Lord will protect me. And restore thou me to the chief city, and to my house as of old. O King my Lord ... of the King my Lord in her midst; and ... the city from (shame?) ... as ...Khamu... till ... shall hear ... their servant ... to her midst ... the soldiers (bitati) of the King my Lord; and you will strengthen the soldiers of this place speedily ... the chief city, as I trust; and you will march to the city ... Lo! what he is saying in the presence of the King cannot it be done? O King my Lord ... the chief city of a neighbor (Gur); and which has been laid low to the demands of those that hate the same ... it is not just to see what is done to the lands ...[pg 240]the soldiers of the King my Lord; and she trusts the King my Lord.”This seems to be the last of Ribadda's fifty letters. There is no mention of any return to Gebal, or of victory over the Amorites. We do not know that he got safe to Buruzizi, but can only hope he did. It was too late when his father obtained promise of aid. So energetic a writer would probably have written again if he had been alive to do so. The Amorite letters had blinded the eyes of Amenophis so long that their position was secured. As we shall see also, there were other appeals from every part of the country.Subandi's LettersIf Subandi be the Zabandi of Ribadda's letter (51 B.), the following also belong to the Phœnician-Amorite war:38 B. M.—“To the King my Lord my God my Sun, the Sun from heaven, thus saysSubandithy servant, the captain of thy horse: at the feet of the King my Lord, the Sun from heaven, seven times and seven times is made to bow both the heart and also the body. I hear all the messages of the King my Lord, the Sun from heaven, and now I shall guard the land of the King that is with me, and ... I hear ... exceeding much.”39 B. M. is an almost identical letter from the same writer.40 B. M.—The salutation bySubandiis the same. The letter is broken. He speaks of a message from the King, and of fighting. He speaks of assisting the King's servant and the fortresses, and mentions the arrival of the King as expected, and theKau Mas. These latter words are evidently Egyptian,Kaumeaning“men”andMasa“infantry.”116 B.—The same salutation. It is a short letter acknowledging the receipt of a letter, and ends by speaking of men of blood, and that the“King knows about his cities.”117 B.—The same salutation:“The King my Lord, the Sun from heaven, has sentKhannito me.”It is injured, but seems to refer to“an hundred oxen and thirty women. For the King my Lord, the Sun from heaven, has instructed.”118 B.—A similar salutation. He will defend the King's land.“(Ask?) the great man if we have not listened to the King'sPaka: now he has been listened to exceeding much—the[pg 241]Pakaof the King my Lord, Son of the Sun from heaven.”120 B., a short letter fromSubandi, merely saying that he has received the King's message.285

The back of this long letter is unfortunately quite destroyed. The final sentences are on the edge, the tablet being of considerable thickness:

“I have desired peace (like?) a faithful servant of the King. The men of Egypt, expelled from this city of our neighbor, are with me; and there is no ... for them to eat.Yapaadduhas not granted my servants this ... this poor country; but we have been swift to help the citySimyra...[pg 229]they have gone up to fight the ships (of the city) ofArāda(Arvad) ... (it was grievous?) ...Riib...”

55 B.—A much-broken letter appears to refer to a message from the King being seized, and that 300 men poured out and burned a city. It speaks of aPakaand of Egyptian soldiers, and of the cityBeruti(Beirût) and ofAbdasherah'sforces.

16 B. M.—“To the King my Lord thus saysRibaddathy servant, the dust of thy feet. I bow seven times and seven times at the feet of my Lord. And will not my Lord hear the message of thy servant? Men of the city ofGebal, and my family; and a wife whom I loved, they have taken away after the son ofAbdasherah; and we have made a gathering; we have searched; and I cannot hear a word spoken about them. I am sending to the King my Lord, and once more, despatch thou men of garrison, men of war, for thy servant; and will you not defend the city of the King my Lord? But news has not arrived from the King my Lord for his servant. But he will be generous; he will remember me; and the advice (I speak) comes from my heart. The region near (us)Ammunira266has traversed throughout, and I went to him, for he gave assistance. And I myself searched for my family, but it has been made to vanish from my sight; and the King my Lord shall counsel his servant. Lo! the ally is zealous; and he has decreed a gathering of the Egyptian soldiers (bitati) of the King my Lord; and the King my Lord will counsel his servant. If there is no wish to be kind on the part of the King my Lord, I myself am helpless; and the King has no servants. Moreover, my son and my wife have been subjected to a man who sins against the King.”267

15 B. M.—“ToAmanabbamy father, thusRibaddathy son. I bow at my father's feet. Baalath of the cityGebalstrengthens your favor in the sight of the King your Lord. Why has it been asked, and no complaint (is made) to the King? and you hesitate about the Egyptian soldiers (bitati), and you are brought low before the land of theAmorites. If you had heard of us (that) the Egyptian soldiers (are) strong, and that they have deserted their towns, and gone away, you know[pg 230]not the land of theAmorites. Behold they have taken these places from us, and I am ill at ease. Behold now do not they supportAbdasherah? behold they have deceived us about them, and you promise us, day and night to send the Egyptian soldiers, and we are made sad about it, and all the chiefs of the Government. Thou shalt promise us to do this thing toAbdasherah: lo! he sends to the chiefs of the city ofAmmiya(Amyûn) to slay him who was established as Lord, and they submitted to the men of blood. So now thou shalt say for us—the Chiefs of the Government; so now they are doing to us, and thou shalt announce to him (that) all the lands are for men of blood, and speak thou this message in the presence of the King my Lord. Lo! a father and a lord this thou art to me; and as for thee my face I bend, you know, to my master: behold what is done in the city ofSimyra, lo! I am ... with thee. But complain to the King thy Lord, and you will send ... to me as I trust.”

20 B. M.—“Ribaddasends to his Lord the Great King, the King of many lands to the prosperous King. Baalath of Gebal has confirmed the power of the King my Lord. At the feet of my Lord the Sun seven times seven times he bows him. A petition has been made long ago, made for the city ofGebal, to despatchBikuru(to the) chiefs of the Land ofEgada268... served me, which ... I ... three of the chiefs ... they strove ... the Land of Egypt ... and ... then the King my Lord ... a sin against....

“If the King my Lord supports his faithful servant; and despatch thou ... this her chief (speedily?); and we two watch the city for the King. The King shall send the choicest of thy great men, from among those who guard him. The three chiefs whomBikhurustrove to despatch, but who have fled, (are)Abdirama,Iddinaddu,Abdmelec, these are sons ofAbdasherah;269and they have taken the King's land for themselves. He shall send thebitati...”

21 B. M.—“ToAmanabba... (by letter) thus (says) thisRibaddathy servant. I bow (at my Lord's feet). The godAmen... of thy Lord, builds up thy favor (with) the King thy Lord. Hear ... (they have fought) mightily, and over the Egyptian soldiers are victorious, and ... to the Land of theAmorites.”The letter becomes too broken to read consecutively, but refers to the Land ofMitana, and apparently to a defeat ofYankhamu. He asks for corn, and speaks of having nothing to eat, in connection with the city ofGebal; and refers to three years of (dearth?), and to the corn failing.

19 B. M.—After the usual salutation to the King, this letter reads:“The King my Lord will say that the choicest of thy great men, and the choicest of thy city that thou hast are among those who guard us. My great men and (those of?) the city, were formerly men of garrison with me; and the King asked of us corn for them to eat, from my poor country. But now beholdAziruis destroying me, and I repeat there (are) no oxen, nor ... for me;Aziruhas taken all. And there is no corn for my eating. And the chiefs—thePakas—also have been nourished by the cities, exhausting the corn for their eating. Again: (being faithful), the King shall establish for me, as men of government, the men of government of their own cities, the men who at first were with their subjects. But as for me my cities are Aziru's, and they long for me, to whom destruction is made by him, who is a dog of the sons ofAbdasherah, and either you shall do for us as they wish, or you shall give orders for us to the King's cities in these matters.”

48 B.—This begins with the usual salutation, and then continues:“If perchance I send a message to the King my Lord, do not thou refuse the request of my memorial. Lo! thrice has come upon me a year of storms (or tumults), and again a year of storms begins. My wheat is naught; the wheat for us to eat: that which was for sowing for my freemen is finished; their beasts, their herbs, the trees of their gardens, are wretched, in my unhappy land. Our corn has failed. Once more the King will hear the message of his faithful servant, and will order wheat in ships, and his servant shall live; and be thou moved and send us com. The chiefs (will send?) horses, as commanded, toZu... And thou shalt defend[pg 232]the city (by so doing?) ... beholdYankhamusays (or asks) ... that wheat be given toRibadda... to him ... corn (the bread of men?) ... and now withYapaaddu... their money henceforth ... ask him, he will tell all in your presence. Mayest thou know when it is spoken in the presence of the King my Lord. And this year of storms makes the wheat scarce (in) my unhappy land ... there was scarcity before in the citySimyra, and now behold in the cityGebal.”

The text is here too broken to be read. It seems, perhaps, to refer to the enemy having possession of the sea, and to the entreaties ofYankhamu, and to certain waters, and the general wretchedness. A paragraph then begins:270

“The King of the LandTaratzi271has coveted the city ofSimyra; and they desired to march to the city ofGebal; and none now has urged him, and he has stayed in his land. Now as he is strong he will send to the great ... by my wish ... they have returned to us.”The letter is again much broken; it refers to a ruler, saying:“His heart is with my heart; butAbdasherahhas conquered beyond the land of theAmorites, also since the time of your father the city ofSidonhas submitted to the occupation by his allies: the lands are for the men of blood, so now there is none who is a friend (or kin) to me. Let the King regard the message of his servant. Let him give men to guard his city. Is not she insulted by all the men of blood?”

The latter part, referring to allies, is much broken.

54 B.—This is broken at the top, and considerably injured. It demands soldiers, and the restoration of the rulers.“The city of (Sidon?), and the city ofBeirût, the sons ofAbdasherahhave silenced: they fought for the King, but the city ofSidonand the city ofBeirûtare not the King's. We sent aPaka: he did not desert his duty to you, but she has rebelled to your face: for it was permitted by the freemen. The men of blood have seized the city.272Behold as for me this is my repetition ... cityAtsar... restraint ...”

49 B.—This letter is much damaged; it begins with the usual salutation, and continues:“Lo! he makes the chiefs of (Ukri?) to dwell in fear of making an end. Lo! the King asked from his rulers as to my brethren. O King, is it not right to approach them, when the King shall ask? and we have set our faces fast toward thy servants. I desire this to strengthen my neighbor ... the city of (Ukri?).273Their ruler will go out then from my presence. They have interfered with my sister (town), and the waters of my brother's growing corn. I am despatching to the cityUkri... from the presence of Abdasherah ... The King ... all the lands ... if as to my brethren ... the King will ask ... a neighbor ... I shall send to the King this ... Blame us not for his weakness (or affliction), and in time past we have ruled over him, and if you will ask as to my brethren, and shall be grieved, this city (has) no (government that the King should ask after it?). Do not we know this day (what) he did to all? and trust me, if the King will not ask of the rulers. Lo! if he ceases oppression as an enemy I am well pleased. Behold the land of the city ofUkri: there are no lands (or towns) of rulers ... his ... spoiled the land for us.”The next passage about servants, governors, and thePakais too broken to read. The letter concludes by asking support, and asks excuse on account of the enemy's success.

75 B.—The usual salutation is here damaged, and the middle of the text.“Behold since the arrival ofAmanappain my presence all the men of blood have set their faces to me; they have fulfilled the wishes ofAbdasherah; and my Lord shall hear the messages of his servant; and ... men of garrison, for the defence of the royal city. Send the Egyptian soldiers (bitati) ... as there are no Egyptian soldiers it befalls thee, that the lands ... to the men of blood; since the seizing of the cityMaar...274at the command ofAbdasherah; and so our limits are the city ofGebaland the city ofBatruna;275but so not all the lands are to the men of[pg 234]blood—two chief cities which are (still) to be wrecked for (us). And they have turned back276to take from us ... She has remained peaceful to the King, and my Lord shall order men of garrison for his two cities, till the Egyptian soldiers march forth. But everything fails me, of the food of the land (our teeth have gnawed nothing at all?). As the heart of a bird fails, seeing the snare, this city has remained. She is helpless before them ... lamenting. Once more ... they have shut up my ... it has come to pass ... the lands ...Abdasherah, the slave dog ... the lands of the King to himself.”

84 B. is much broken; all the cities are taken exceptGebalandBatruna, which remain like birds in the snare. But he still“trusts.”

12 B. M.—“Ribaddaspeaks to the King of Lands, of many lands, the great King the prosperous King. The Lady (Ballath) of Gebal gives power to the King my Lord. I bow at my Lord's feet—the Sun-God—seven times seven times. Let the King know! behold! the cityGebalhis handmaid, faithful to the King, has gathered because of the allies who are his foes. And I am ill at ease: behold the King lets slip from his hand the chief city that is faithful to him. Let the King smite the lands of those who rob him. Lo! is not he a faithful servant, her chief who abides in the city ofGebal? Do not you say so to your servant, when there is a mighty fighting against him of men of blood, and the Gods of the land are (evilly disposed?), and our sons have been worn out, and our daughters have fled, and there is weakness in my unhappy land. For our living, my fields gave sustenance, which no ... secured. For as many as I possess, all my cities which are in flames, also the foe has overthrown: they submitted to the bloody soldiers. The city ofGebalwith two cities, remains to me; and I am ill at ease becauseAbdasherahis marching. The city ofSigata(is) his; and he is saying to the chiefs of the city ofAmmia(Amyun),‘They have slain your chief and you have done like us, and you have rebelled, and you obeyed his order, and they will punish you as men of[pg 235]blood.’And I am ill at ease. Lo! nowAbdasherahsends for soldiers. I have remained alone—they will be rejoiced at it, and there is ruin before the city ofGebal, if there is no great man to gain me safety from his hands. And the chiefs of the government are expelled from the midst of the lands; and you relinquish all the lands to the men of blood, squandering the wealth of all the lands; and they have torn away sons and daughters nobly born; and (this) while the King is pondering about it, and all the lands have fought for him. And from what they have done to us, behold now thou wilt become naked to their destructions. And so now I am exceedingly afraid. Behold now there is no great man who wins me salvation from their hands. As birds that are in the midst of the snares this place has remained. I myself am in the city ofGebal. Why is there this overthrow of thy land? Now I send (complaint?) to the palace (or great city) and you will not hear us. Now this (is) my message.Amanabbais with thee, ask him: he has fled,277and he will show the evils that are against me. Let the King hear his servant's message; and he shall establish his servant's life, and his servant shall live, and shall defend the ... with him.”

The remainder of the letter is broken. It asks for advice and information, and for consideration of the memorial. Ribadda's letters increase in pathetic eloquence as the great catastrophe approaches.

56 B., a much-broken letter. They are advancing to takeGebal. Money has been given to a certain chief who has turned againstRibadda.

62 B., a mere fragment. The enemy are advancing onGebalwith the intention of taking it.

63 B.—This also is much broken. It refers toYapaaddu, to the King'sPakareceiving orders, and to the rulers, and contains the statement,“They have cut off two of my ships, with my sons (or men) and all that was mine.”

80 B. begins with the usual salutation, and continues:“Does the King my Lord know? Behold the city ofGebalhas gathered, she has gathered those faithful to the King, and very mighty was the battle of the men of blood against me,[pg 236]and there is no rest through the city ofSimyra. (Defeat has not befallen?) the men of blood, through the King'sPaka(chief), whom they cast out from the city ofSimyra. The chief city is troubled. NowPakha(mnata), the King'sPaka, who (was) in the city ofSimyra, has sent a message—he has failed. Sixty minas (mana)278it is that they are asking the city ofGebal, from my unhappy land. The battle was waged very mightily against us, and the King is not defended by his fortress.”

81 B.—“ToRabzabi279... thusRibaddathy son.”The letter is much broken. He refers to money, and asks him to complain to the King. He says he is afraid that the freemen are not (faithful?) to the King's governor, if the broken portion may be so understood.

82 B.—“ToRibaddamy son thus by letter (says) KingRabzabithy father. May our Gods prosper thee, prosper thy fortress. Let him ask to know. The sons of our Lord have spoken accordingly. They have spoken of the strife of the chiefs of the city ofSimyra. (He has vanquished my fears?) of being made to perish by the city ofSimyra, of our perishing by these chiefs; and lo! they have allotted decrees, they are creating a memorial. Have I not been bent upon the decrees? and decrees of the King have followed. And unless they have destroyed everything, the King makes sure to show them their master. For the King is imposing decrees. The decrees of the King are saying:‘Why do ye make a waste land to those who are servants of the King? I shall despatch men. I shall send a garrison for the chief city.’I am sending the King's ... to you ... soldiers ... in ... A gathering they are making of all.”

In spite of his father's zealous assistance in Egypt, this favorable intention came too late.

76 B.—“FromRiibiddias a letter to the King my Lord: beneath the feet of my Lord seven times and seven times I[pg 237]bow. Behold my Lord's message from this (remnant?): from the lands of the despised, and from the chief city of fugitives, they have wandered. To go for us, accordingly I have ordered my ships to go out from shore (or wall). Lo!Aziruhas fought with me. And all the chiefs of the government gathered, hardening their hearts. I have gathered to us their ships; and as they go to us in haste their abodes are deserted, which are subject (to) thisAmoriterace; and they have been suddenly destroyed. I am chosen chief of the chiefs of the government. To me accordingly they have subjected everything; and they have removed—on account of the success of the chiefs of my enemies—the silver from the palaces, and all else, on account of his destructions. But the King shall order soldiers for them, and now I shall send to my Lord for soldiers; and soldiers of garrison do not thou ...”

The letter is much broken here. It refers to the son ofAbdasherah, and to the chief city of theGiblites, to his messenger, and to there being no news of soldiers coming.“You will not (even) glance at us ... and despatch him. The lean soldiers are growling.‘When (is) the King to feed this city? and he thinks evil of her.’Speed your chief to ... her. Why is he not ordered from the palace, being said that soldiers (are to be) sent? They have destroyed us, and they ravage the lands ... I cause to be sent repeatedly; a message is not returned us for me. They have seized all the lands of the King my Lord; and my Lord has said that they are to repent. But now behold the soldiers of the land of theHittiteshave trampled down our papyrus.280The chief city ofGebal(has) no food. But counsel the city ... and accordingly I will listen. O King! for theMisi(Delta) men—all of them, you ordered of me presents of the royal gold, because of the sons ofAbdasherah; and when you ordered me they were subjecting the sons ofAbdasherahto the King; and so now it is lawful.”

85 B.—This is a list of various articles, with a broken name, apparently (Rib)adda's, at the top, including perhaps either presents or his own property sent to Egypt. The tablet is much injured. It appears to mention precious stones and articles[pg 238]of gold, and includes male and female slaves.Yazimi,“the servant of God,”withAbdaddu, is mentioned near the end.

71 B.—“Ribadda... to the King my Lord ... at the feet ... seven times and seven times281... I send and I repeat (the message), and you listen not thereto ... The King my Lord shall hear the message, and it explains to thePaur(magnate) ... to the Lords of the Palace, because in vain the soldiers of garrison have hasted to him. And you will remember my ... Lo! it is not granted to my sons to take root for me, as the prophets have perceived of old; and the race of the foes (will) remain. I being asked am going to those who are free, toKhamumy son, and to my younger brother, who have both left the city ofGebal. There was good-fortune for the sons ofAbdasherah, as to the subjugation of the capital city; behold my brother has commanded, he went out as my envoy. It is no use: the soldiers of the garrison failed with him; and they have defeated me; and so the evil is done; and they make me flee from the city: it is not defended from the power of the enemy. Now I say do not prevent a descent to the Lands of Egypt, and a settlement. And you will help me very much. My great men consent; and the King my Lord will consider. Lo! the Gods ofGebal(be with him) and you will help me very much; and‘It is well’they have said: good are my wishes to the Gods. So now I shall not come down to the presence of the King my Lord. But now my son, a servant of the King my Lord, I am sending to the presence of the King my Lord, and the King shall hear the desire of his faithful servant, and appoint us Egyptian soldiers (bitati). And request (has been made) to the King ofBabeli(Babylon,282an ally of Egypt); but he ... no soldiers of his host ... in her midst.... Egyptian soldiers of the King my Lord ... to come to her. Behold the entanglement of the chiefs friendly to my (throne?) in the midst of the city. A son of one of the chiefs is a friend in her midst. The Egyptian soldiers are strong; and they have heard of those who are reaching her; and the city has remained to the King my Lord; and the King my Lord[pg 239]knows that it is against him that they have (cried war?). Now I am going to a town (that) I defend for my Lord, determined in heart, before the King my Lord, that the chief city shall not be given to the sons of Abdasherah. So my brother has fought him: the city is stubborn against the sons ofAbdasherah. He is not able to leave the town,283when there is plenty of silver and gold in her midst in the Temple of Gods, plenty of everything if they take her. O King my Lord what is done to his servant by them is done. But appoint the town ofBuruzizi284for my dwelling. Lo!Khamumy son (sets forth?) the request in the presence. Behold! this dwelling of the chief city—the town ofBuruzizi—the sons ofAbdasherahhave been afraid to smite. Lo!Khamumy son is going to the presence: for the sons ofAbdasherahhave pricked against me, and none remains to mourn, O King, for me. And I mourn to the King my Lord. Behold the city ofGebalis a city truly like our eye: there is plenty of all that is royal in her midst: the servants of the chief city were at peace, the chiefs were our well-wishers before time when the King's voice was for all. It is the chief city of the land they have wasted for me—and is none of his. Will not this desire prevail with the King? Behold thy servant, my son, I am despatching to the presence of the King my Lord; and there shall be ordered him protection of the King by soldiers ... you will come marching to us. For the King my Lord will protect me. And restore thou me to the chief city, and to my house as of old. O King my Lord ... of the King my Lord in her midst; and ... the city from (shame?) ... as ...Khamu... till ... shall hear ... their servant ... to her midst ... the soldiers (bitati) of the King my Lord; and you will strengthen the soldiers of this place speedily ... the chief city, as I trust; and you will march to the city ... Lo! what he is saying in the presence of the King cannot it be done? O King my Lord ... the chief city of a neighbor (Gur); and which has been laid low to the demands of those that hate the same ... it is not just to see what is done to the lands ...[pg 240]the soldiers of the King my Lord; and she trusts the King my Lord.”

This seems to be the last of Ribadda's fifty letters. There is no mention of any return to Gebal, or of victory over the Amorites. We do not know that he got safe to Buruzizi, but can only hope he did. It was too late when his father obtained promise of aid. So energetic a writer would probably have written again if he had been alive to do so. The Amorite letters had blinded the eyes of Amenophis so long that their position was secured. As we shall see also, there were other appeals from every part of the country.

Subandi's Letters

If Subandi be the Zabandi of Ribadda's letter (51 B.), the following also belong to the Phœnician-Amorite war:

38 B. M.—“To the King my Lord my God my Sun, the Sun from heaven, thus saysSubandithy servant, the captain of thy horse: at the feet of the King my Lord, the Sun from heaven, seven times and seven times is made to bow both the heart and also the body. I hear all the messages of the King my Lord, the Sun from heaven, and now I shall guard the land of the King that is with me, and ... I hear ... exceeding much.”

39 B. M. is an almost identical letter from the same writer.

40 B. M.—The salutation bySubandiis the same. The letter is broken. He speaks of a message from the King, and of fighting. He speaks of assisting the King's servant and the fortresses, and mentions the arrival of the King as expected, and theKau Mas. These latter words are evidently Egyptian,Kaumeaning“men”andMasa“infantry.”

116 B.—The same salutation. It is a short letter acknowledging the receipt of a letter, and ends by speaking of men of blood, and that the“King knows about his cities.”

117 B.—The same salutation:“The King my Lord, the Sun from heaven, has sentKhannito me.”It is injured, but seems to refer to“an hundred oxen and thirty women. For the King my Lord, the Sun from heaven, has instructed.”

118 B.—A similar salutation. He will defend the King's land.“(Ask?) the great man if we have not listened to the King'sPaka: now he has been listened to exceeding much—the[pg 241]Pakaof the King my Lord, Son of the Sun from heaven.”

120 B., a short letter fromSubandi, merely saying that he has received the King's message.285

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