The Empires of the Bible from the Confusion of Tongues to the Babylonian Captivity
No. II
“To the king my lord, my Sun-god, speak thus: I, Ebed-tob, thy servant, at the feet of the king my lord seven times seven prostrate myself. EB 113.2
“Behold: the king my lord has established his name at the rising of the sun and the setting of the sun. Slanders they have uttered against me. Behold: I am not a governor, a vassal, to the king my lord Behold: I am the ally of the king, and I have paid the tribute of the king, even I. Neither my father nor my mother, but the oracle of the mighty king, established me in the house of my father. EB 113.3
“There have come to me 13 women as a present, and 10 slaves Suta, the Commissioner of the king, has come to me: 21 women-slaves and 20 male prisoners have been given into the hands of Suta as a gift for the king my lord as the king has ordained for his country. EB 113.4
“The country of the king is being destroyed, all of it. Hostilities are carried on against me as far as the mountains of Seir, and the city of Gath-Karmel. There is peace to all the other governors, but war against myself is raised, since I see the men and I do not see the tears of the king my lord because war has been raised against me. ‘While there is a ship in the midst of the sea,’—this is the oracle of the mighty king,—‘the conquests shall continue of the country of Nakhrima 67 and the country of Babylonia.’ EB 113.5
“And now the fortresses of the king the Confederates are capturing. Not a single governor remains among them to the king my lord; all are destroyed. Behold: Tarbazu, thy soldier, in the great gate of the city of Zilu has fallen. Behold: Zimridi of Lachish, the servants who belonged to the king have slain. Yaptikh-Addu thy soldier, on the pavement of the city of Zilu 68 they have murdered. May the king my lord send help to his country. May the king turn his face to the men. May he despatch troops to his country. Behold if no troops come this year, utterly destroyed will be all the countries of the king my lord. They do not tell to the face of the king my lord that the country of the king my lord is destroyed, and all the governors are destroyed, if no troops come this year. May the king send a Commissioner, and let him come to me, even to me, with allies and we will die with the king, our lord. EB 113.6
“To the secretary of the king my lord say: I, Ebed-tob, thy servant, at thy feet prostrate myself. Let a report of my words be laid before the king my lord. The servant of thy justice am I.” EB 114.1