This text is much damaged; it goes on to speak of Aidugama,[1] the Hittite King, in the country of the King of Egypt, who has taken various things—enumerated, but not intelligible—including, perhaps, ships or boats, and dwellings; and it mentions Neboyapiza. It then continues:
“My Lord: Tewiatti of the city of Lapana,[2] and Arzuia of the city Ruhizzi,[3] minister before Aidugama; but this land is the land of the dominion of my Lord. He is burning it with fire. My Lord, as said, I am on the side of the King my Lord. I am afraid also because of the King of the land of Marhasse, and the King of the land of Ni, and the King of the land of Zinzaar,[4] and the King of the land of Canaan. And all of these are kings under the dominion (or, of the rule) of my Lord—chiefs who are servants. As said let the King my Lord live and become mighty, and so O King my Lord wilt not thou go forth? and let the King my Lord despatch the bitati[5] soldiers, let them expel (them) from this land. As said, my Lord, these kings have . . . the chief of my Lord’s government, and let him say what they are to do, and let them be confirmed. Because my Lord this land ministers heartily to the King my Lord. And let him speed soldiers, and let them march; and let the messengers of the dominion of the King my Lord arrive. For my Lord Arzuia of the city Ruhizzi, and Teuwiatti of the city Lapana, dwelt in the land of Huba,[6] and Dasru dwelt in the land Amma,[7] and truly my Lord has known them. Behold the land of Hobah was at peace my Lord in the days of this government. They will be
- ↑ “Aidueama” does not appear to be a Semitic name, but, as we should expect in Hittite, it is Mongol, and compares with “Akkadian,” as meaning “the victorious lord.” He is called “Edagama” by the King of Tyre (B M. 30), who mentions his fighting with Neboyapiza, and Aziru’s also.
- ↑ Probably “Lapana” is Lybo, now Lebweh, north of Baalbek.
- ↑ Probably R’aith (or R’ais), on the east side of the Buka’ah plain, east of Zahleh, on the way from the Hittite country.
- ↑ Perhaps should read “Zinaar” for “Senaar,” the Shinar of the Bible. Merash and Ni have been noted above.
- ↑ This word “bitati” always applies (and it is used very often) to Egyptian soldiers. It seems to be an Egyptian word. Compare “pet” (“foot”) and “petet” (“to invade or march”) in Egyptian.
- ↑ Huba is identified by Dr. Bezold with the land of Hobah (Gen. xiv. 15), which was at the “entering in” north of Damascus. The “entering in” here and at Hamath means a pass between hills leading to the city. It has been objected that Hobah would be “Ubatu” in Assyrian; but this fails in view of the detailed topography, which shows that Dr. Bezold was right. The Hebrew heh is often replaced by Aleph or vau in Aramaic.
- ↑ The land Am or Amma, several times mentioned, appears to be the Old Testament land of Ham, in northern Bashan, near Damascus (Gen. xiv. 5). The Hebrew is spelled with the soft aspirate, not the hard guttural. It may perhaps be connected with the name of the “Amu” of Egyptian records.
