title: Amarna letter EA 288
text: # Amarna letter EA 288
  
  Amarna letter EA 288, titled Benign Neglect, is a tall, finely-inscribed clay tablet letter, approximately 7.5 in tall x 4.5 in wide, broken into two pieces, from Abdi-Heba the mayor/ruler of Jerusalem, of the mid 14th century BC Amarna letters. The scribe of his six letters to Egypt were penned by the "Jerusalem scribe"; EA 288 is a moderately long, and involved letter.
  
  The Amarna letters, about 300, numbered up to EA 382, are a mid 14th century BC, about 1350 BC and 20–25 years later, correspondence. The initial corpus of letters were found at Akhenaten's city Akhetaten, in the floor of the Bureau of Correspondence of Pharaoh; others were later found, adding to the body of letters.
  
  Letter EA 288 (also see here-(Obverse): ), is numbered VAT 1643, from the Vorderasiatisches Museum Berlin.
  
  A summary of letter structure: EA 288 begins with a short address to the Pharaoh. Immediately, 3 segue paragraphs begin the letter, as "dramatic statements" by the Jerusalem scribe (and Abdi-Heba); a fourth segued statement follows. Then the purpose of the letter begins, covering the second half of the letter's obverse and the reverse.
  
  Paragraphs I-VIII (IX), complete the letter's obverse (as seen in photo).
  
  ## Cuneiform and Akkadian text, EA 288
  
  Obverse (See here: )
  
      (Line 1)—[ A ]-na 1.lugal-ri-EN-ia $^{{d}}$Utu-ia qi2-[ bi-ma ]–(To King-Lord-mine Sun-god, my .. Speaking )
      (2)—um-ma 1.ARAD2-Hi-Ba ARAD2-ka-ma–.–.–.–(message Abdi-Heba Servant-yours)
      (3)—a-na 2. giri3-meš lugal-EN-ia 7. ta-a-an–.–(at 2.(Both) Feet(s) King-Lord-mine --///-- 7. (times) )
      (4)—ù 7. ta-a-an am-qut-mi–.–(..and 7. (times) --///-- I bow ! (?I address you?) )
      Paragraph II
      (5)—A-mur !.. lugal-ri-EN-ia ša-ka-an–.–( ! Look (here) ! .. King-Lord-mine --///-- (You) Emplaced )
      (6)—szum3-szu a-na mu-s,i $^{{d}}$Utu XX1–.–.–.–.–( Name-his At (the) "Setting" $^{god}$ Sun XX1 )
      (7)—ù ir-bi $^{{d}}$Utu XX2 ha-an-pa–.–( and (the) Rising(entering) $^{god}Sun$ XX2 --///-- growing abundantly ! )
      (8)—ša ih-nu-pu a-na mu-hi-ia–.–(.. which "grows abundantly" For Me ! (?Me & Us? )
      Paragraph III
      (9)—A-mur !.. a-na-ku --///-- la-a Lú-Ha-zi-a-nu–.–( ! Look (here) ! --//-- {"-I- --///-- Not"} (a) Mayor (Hazzanu) ! )
      (10)—Lú-ú-a-ú --////--a-na lugal-ri-EN-ia–.–( (a) Soldier --////-- For King-Lord-mine ! )
  
  ### Akkadian (with wikilinks)
  
  Obverse (See here: )
  
      (Line 1)—Ana Šar-Ri-Beli-ia $^dUtu$ qabû
      (2)—umma Abdi-HeBa ardu-su
      (3)—Ana 2. giri3-meš Sarri-Beli-ia 7. (times)
      (4)—u3 7. (ta-a-an)(times) maqātu !
      Paragraph II
      (5)—( ! Amāru ! .. Šar-Ri- Belu-ia --///-- (You) šakānu ..)
      (6)—šumu-šu ana mušu $^{{d}}$Utu XX1
      (7)—ù erēbu $^{{d}}$Utu XX2 --//-- hanābu !
      (8)—ša hanābu muhhu-ia
      Paragraph III
      (9)—( ! Amāru ! .. anāku --///-- lā --///-- (a)Mayor (Hazzanu)
      (10)—Lú-ú-a-ú --////-- ana Šar-Ri- Beli-ia !
  
  ## (Akkadian Text), Akkadischer Text
  
  Obverse, (Vorderseite): 1. [a-n]a $^mšarri(LUGAL)^{ri}$ bêli(EN)-ia $^dša[mš]i(UTU)[-ia$ q]í[-bi-ma] 2. um-ma $^mabdi(ÁRAD)-ḫi-ba$ ardu(ÁRAD)-ka-ma 3. a-na $2^{(m)}$ $šêpē(GÌRI^{meš})$ šarri(LUGAL) bêl(EN)-ia $7^{(m)}-ta-a-an$ 4. ù $7^{(m)}-ta-a-an$ am-qut-mi 5. a-mur $šarri(LUGAL)^{ri}$ bêli(EN)-ia ša-ka-an 6. šùm-šu a-na mu-ṣi $^dšamši(UTU)^{ši}$ 7. ù ir-bi $^dšamši(UTU)^{ši}$ ḫa-an-pa 8. ša iḫ-nu-pu a-na mu-ḫi-ia 9. a-mur a-na-ku la-a $^{lú}ḫa-zi-a-nu$ 10. $^{lú}ú-e-ú$ <a-na-ku> a-na $šarri(LUGAL)^{ri}$ bêli(EN)-ia 11. a-mur a-na-ku $^{lú}ruì$ $šarri(LUGAL)^{ri}$ 12. ù ú-bi-il bilat(GUN) $šarri(LUGAL)^{ri}$ a-na-ku 13. ia-a-nu-mi $^{lú}ad-da-a-ni$ ia-a-nu-mi 14. $^{munus}um-mi-ia$ zu-ru-uḫ $šarri(LUGAL)^{ri}$ dannu(KAL.GA) 15. [š]a-ak-n[a-an-ni] i-na bît(É) $^{lú}ad-da-[a-ni]$ 16. [...] 17. [k]a-ša-ad a-na mu-ḫi-ia qa-a [...] 18. na-ad-na-ti $1^{(u)}$ $^{lú}ardūti(ÁRAD^{meš})[$ a-na q]a-[t]i-[šu] 19. $^mšu-ú-ta$ $^{lú}rabiṣ(MÁŠKIM)$ $šarri(LUGAL)^{ri}$ ka-š[a-ad] 20. [a]-na mu-ḫi-ia $2^{(u)}$ $1^{(m)}$ $^{munus}mârāti(DUMU.MUNUS^{meš})$ 21. $1^{(géš)}$ $2^{(u)}$ $^{lú.meš}a-ší-ri$ na-ad-na-ti 22. [a]-na qa-ti $^mšu-ú-ta$ qîšat(NÍG.BA) šarri(LUGAL) bêli(EN)-ia 23. li-im-li-ik-mi $šarri(LUGAL)^{ri}$ a-na mâti(KUR)-šu 24. ḫal-qà-at mât(KUR) $šarri(LUGAL)^{ri}$ gáb-ba-ša 25. ṣa-ba-ta-ni nu-kúr-tú a-na ia-a-ši 26. a-di $mâtāti(KUR^{ḫi.a})$ $še-e-ri^{ki}$ a-di alu(IRI) gín-ti-ki-ir-mi-il 27. šal-mu a-na gáb-bi $^{lú.meš}ḫa-zi-a-nu-ti$ 28. ù nu-kur-tú a-na ia-a-ši 29. ip-ša-ti e-nu-ma $^{lú}ḫa-pí-ri$ 30. ù la-a a-mar $2^{(m)}$ $înā(IGI^{meš})$ šarri(LUGAL) 31. bêli(EN)-ia ki-i nu-kúr-tú  Reverse, (Rückseite):
  
  32. a-na $muḫḫi(UGU)^{ḫi}-ia$ ša-ak-na-ti 33. e-nu-ma $^{geš}elippa(MÁ)$ i-na lìb-bi tâmti(A.AB.BA) 34. qât(ŠU) zu-ru-uḫ šarri(LUGAL) dannatu(KAL.GA) 35. ti-li-iq-qí $^{kur}na-aḫ-ri-ma^{ki}$ 36. ù $^{kur}ka-<pa-si>^{ki}$ x $ka-a-si^{ki}$ ù i-na-an-na 37. $alāni(IRI.DIDLI^{ḫi.a})$ $šarri(LUGAL)^{ri}$ 38. ti-le-qé-ú $^{lú.meš}ḫa-pí-ru$ 39. ia-a-nu-mi $1^{(m)-en}$ $^{lú}ḫa-zi-a-nu$ 40. a-na $šarri(LUGAL)^{ri}$ bêli(EN)-ia ḫal-qu gáb-bu 41. a-mur $^mtu-ur-ba-zu$ gaz(GAZ) $d[e_4-k]a$ 42. i-na abul(KÁ.GAL) alu(IRI) $sí-lu-ú^{ki}$ qa-al $šarru(LUGAL)^{ru}$ 43. a-mur $^mzi-im-ri-da$ alu(IRI) $la-ki-si^{ki}$ 44. ig-gi-ú-šu $ardūtu(ÁRAD^{meš})$ ip-šu a-na $^{lú.meš}ḫa-pí-ri$ 45. $^mia-ap-ti-iḫ-^dadda(IŠKUR)$ gaz(GAZ) te-k[a] 46. [i-n]a abul(KÁ.GAL) alu(IRI) zi-lu-ú ka-al 47. [a-mi]-nim [l]a-a i-ša-al-šu[-nu $šarru(LUGAL)^{ru}]$ 48. [ù li]-is-kín $šarru(LUGAL)^{[ru}$ a-na mâti(KUR)-šu] 49. [ù l]i-din $šarru(LUGAL)^{ru}$ pa-ni-šu ù [lu-ṣi-m]i 50. $[amêlūtu(LÚ^{meš}]$ $ṣâbē(ÉRIN^{meš})$ pi-ṭa-ti a-na mâti(KUR)-š[u] 51. [ù] šum-ma ia-a-nu-mi $ṣâbē(ÉRIN^{meš})$ $pi-ṭa-tu_4$ 52. i-na šatti(MU) an-ni-ti ḫal-qa-at a-ba-da-at 53. gáb-bi $mâtat(KUR^{ḫi.a})$ $šarri(LUGAL)^{ri}$ bêli(EN)-ia 54. la-a i-qa-bi-ú a-na pa-ni šarri(LUGAL) bêli(EN)-ia 55. e-nu-ma ḫal-qa-at mât(KUR) šarri(LUGAL) bêli(EN)-ia 56. ù ḫal-qu gáb-bi $^{lú.meš}ḫa-zi-a-nu-ti$ 57. šum-ma ia-a-nu-mi $ṣâbē(ÈRIN^{meš})$ $pi-ṭa-tu_4$ 58. i-na šatti(MU) an-ni-ti lu-ma-še-er 59. $šarru(LUGAL)^{ru}$ $^{lú}rabiṣa(MÁŠKIM)$ ù li-il-qé-a-ni 60. a-na ia-a-ši a-di $aḫē(ŠEŠ^{meš})$ ù Ba.Bad(BA.ÚŠ) 61. $ni-mu-tu_4$ it-ti $šarru(LUGAL)^{ru}$ bêli(EN)-nu 62. [a-na] $^{lú}túp-šar(DUB.SAR)$ $šarri(LUGAL)^{ri}$ bêli(EN)-ia 63. [um-ma] $^mabdi(ÁRAD)-ḫi-ba$ ardu(ÁRAD)-ma a-na $2^{(m)}$ $šêp[ē](GÌRI^{meš})$ 64. [am-q]ut-mi še-ri-ib $a-wa-ta_5^{meš}$ 65. [b]a-na-ti a-na $šarri(LUGAL)^{r[i]}$ 66. [danniš(MA.GAL) $^{lú]}ardu(ÁRAD)-[ka$ ù $^{l]ú}mâru(DUMU)-ka$ a-na-ku
  
  ### Cuneiform score, Akkadian, English
  
  Cuneiform score (per CDLI, Chicago Digital Library Initiative), and Akkadian, and English.
  
  Paragraph-(lines 23-33) Note: Segue-(transition), from Obverse, + Obverse-bottom, to Reverse (lines 23-33)
  
  (Sub-Section 1 of 4), (lines 23-26) 23. li-im-li-ik-mi lugal-ri a-na kur-šu ___ malāku (Šárru)Šarru-ri ana mātu-šu–! ___ Give-concern King for Land-His–! 24. hal-qà-at kur lugal-ri gáb-ba-ša ___ halāqu mātu Šarru, gabbu-ša, ___ Over-Taken land-("region") King, All-His, 24.8.--------gáb-ba-ša ___------------gabbu-ša – ___------------All-His – 25. ṣa-ba-ta-ni nu-KÚR-tú a-na ia-a-ši ___ ṣabātu nukurtu ana Iāši–! ___ "captured-in" warfare, from Me–! 26. a-di kur- Še-e-ri a-di Gín-ti-Ki-ir-mi-il ___ adi $mātu-^{(pl.)}-(matāti)$ Šeri, adi Gínti-k-ir-m-il–! ___ also(plus) $lands^{(pl.)}$ Šeri, plus GintiKirmil–! (Sub-Section 2 of 4), (lines 27-28) 27. šal-mu a-na gáb-bi, ha-zi-a-nu-ti ___ šalāmu ana gabbu, lú(amēlu) Hazannu–!, ___ Peace for all, Men Hazannu-(Governors)–!, 28. ù nu-kur-tú a-na ia-a-ši ___ U nukurtu ana Iāši–! ___ But warfare for Me- (Governor of Jerusalem)–! (Sub-Section 3 of 4), (lines 29-31.5) 29. ip-ša-ti e-nu-ma ha-pí-ri ___ Epēšu enūma Hapiru–! ___ (I am)-made now (as a) (("rebel"))-Habiru–! 30. ù la-a a-mar $2^{(m)}$ $înā(IGI^{meš})$ šarri(LUGAL) ___u lā amāru 2 $īnu^{pl.}$ Šarru-(Phar.)- ___ and not ((able to)) see (2 $eyes)^{pl.}$ ("Face/Countenance") (of-the) King- 31. bêli(EN)-ia, ki-i nu-kúr-tú–! ___-bēlu-ia — ___-Lord-mine — (Sub-Section 4 of 4), (lines 31.5-33) 31.5--------ki-i nu-kúr-tu ___------------ — kī nukurtu–! — ___------------ — "Because–of" warfare–! —
  
  Reverse, (Rückseite):
  
  (Sub-Section 4 of 4), (lines 31.5-33) Sub-Paragraph—Exclamation-(lines 31.5-33)
  
  31.5--------ki-i nu-kúr-tu ___------------ — kī nukurtu–! — ___------------ — "Because–of" warfare–! —
  
  **((Reverse side starts here))**
  
  32. a-na $muḫḫi(UGU)^{ḫi}-ia$ ša-ak-na-ti ___ ana muhhu-(ia) šakānu ___ for upon-ME, emplaced, 33. e-nū-ma elippa(MÁ) i-na lìb-bi tâmti(A.AB.BA) ___ Enūma MÁ(eleppu) ina libbu tâmtu(A.AB.BA)-(the sea)–! ___ Now (I am) $^{((wooden))}SHIP$ in the HEART-(middle) (of a) STORM-! (middle of the sea–! ) End of Sub-Sections
  
  End of segue-(transition), to Reverse (lines 23-31.5, 31.5-33)
  
  Paragraph, (lines 34-40)
  
  34. qât(ŠU) zu-ru-uḫ šarri(LUGAL) dannatu(KAL.GA ___qātu zuruh, Šarru kal-ga ___(the)-Hand strong, King-mighty 35. ti-li-iq-qí $na-aḫ-ri-ma^{ki}$ ___halāqu KUR $naḫrima^{ki}–!$ ___Over-Took land((region)) Nahrima-(i.e. Aram-Naharaim)–! 36. ù $ka-<pa-si>^{ki}$ x $ka-a-si^{ki}$ ù i-na-an-na ___u kur $ka-((<pa))-si>^{ki}$ x $ka-a-si^{ki},$ u eninna ___and land Kasi (( x Kasi )), and now 36.6--------ù i-na-an-na ___------------U eninna ___------------And now 37. $alāni(IRI.DIDLI^{ḫi.a})$ šarri(LUGAL) ___alāni(IRI.DIDLI) Šarru ___Cities (of the) King 38. ti-le-qé-ú ḫa-pí-ru ___halāqu lú-meš ḫapíru–! ___Over-Taken (by) men Hapiru–! 39. ia-a-nu-mi $1^{(m)-en}$ $ha^#-zi-a-nu$ ___ia-a-nu-mi $1^{(m)-EN}(bēlu),$ — Hazannu ___"there-is-NOT" One (1) Lord, — Hazannu (Governor),.. 40. a-na šarri(LUGAL) bêli(EN)-ia, — hal-qu gáb-bu–! ___ana Šarru-ri EN-ia —, ___for King-Lord-mine —, 40.6 ------------- ḫal-qu gáb-bu 40.6--------------- halāqu gabbu–! 40.6--------------- (Over)-Taken All–!
  
  Paragraph-(l. 41-47)
  
  41. a-mur tu-ur-ba-zu $gaz(GAZ^#)$ $d[e_4-k]a-(dâku)$ ___amāru–! — Turbazu $gaz(GAZ^#)$ $d[e_4-k]a-(dâku)$ ___Look (here)–! — Turbazu "killed"-! 42. i-na abul(KÁ.GAL) $alu(IRI^#)$ $sí-lu-ú^{ki}$ qa-al šarru(LUGAL) ___ina abullu ālu $Silu^{ki}$ ga-al $šarru(LUGAL)^{ru}$ ___in city-gate city $Silu^{ki},$ "tragedy"?, King (Phar.) 43. a-mur zi-im-ri-da alu(IRI) $la^#-ki^#-si$ ___amāru–! — Zimredda ālu(IRI) Lachish ___Look (here)–! — $^mZimredda$ city Lachish 44. ig-gi-ú-šu ardūtu(ÁRAD) ip-šu a-na $ḫa^#-pí^#-ri^#$ ___ig-gi-ú-šu ardu-meš, epēšu ana $lú^#.meš-hapiru$ ___"killed-by" servants-(pl.), "committed" to men(amēlu)-pl.-(Hapiru("done by men-Hapiru")) 45. $ia-ap-ti-iḫ-^dadda(IŠKUR)$ gaz(GAZ) $te-k[a^#$ ] ___Yaptih-Hadda gaz(GAZ) $te-k[a^#$ ] ___Yaptih-Hadda slain 46. [ i-n]a abul(KÁ.GAL) alu(IRI) zi-lu-ú ka-al ___ina abullu ālu $Silu^{ki}$ ka-al ___in city-gate city $Silu^{ki}$ ?killed, 47. [a-mi]-nim [l]a-a i-ša-al-šu[-nu $šarru(LUGAL)^{ru}$ ]
  
  Paragraph-(l. ?47-53)
  
  47. [a-mi]-nim [l]a-a i-ša-al-šu[-nu $šarru(LUGAL)^{ru}$ ] 48. [ù li]-is-kín $šarru(LUGAL)^{[ru}$ a-na mâti(KUR)-šu] 49. [ù l]i-din $šarru(LUGAL)^{ru}$ pa-ni-šu ù [lu-ṣi-m]i 50. [amêlūtu(LÚ] $ṣâbē(ÉRIN^{meš})$ pí-ta-ti a-na mâti(KUR)-š[u ___ $_LÚ-(amēlu)^{pl.}$ pítati, — ana māti(KUR) ___men-(pl.) army-(pl.) pítati, — for land-his 51. [ù] $šum^#-ma$ ia-a-nu-mi $ṣâbē(ÈRIN^{meš})$ $pi-ṭa-tu_4$ ___u šumma ia-a-nu-mi ṣābu-meš $pi-ṭa-tu_4$ ___and if "there is not" army-(pl.)-pítati -- (lines 57 & 51 are identical) 52. i-na šatti(MU) an-ni-ti ḫal-qa-at a-ba-da-at ___ina šattu (MU) annû, — ḫalāqu a-ba-da-at(abātu-"destroyed"?) ___in year this, — Over-Taken, (destroyed?) 53. : (–gl–) gáb-bi _mâtat(KUR)_ $_šarri(SÀR-^{ri}_$ _bêli(EN)_-ia ___ : (–gl–) gabbu mātu, – SÀR-ru, bēlu-ia, —! ___all lands, – King, Lord-mine, —!
  
  Paragraph-(l. 54-61)
  
  54. la-a i-qa-bi-ú a-na pa-ni šarri(_LUGAL_) bêli(_EN_)-ia ___lā qabû pānu, — King Bēlu-mine ___(( (This-is)-"Not spoken before", — King Lord-mine)) 55. e-nu-ma ḫal-qa-at mât(_KUR_) _šarri(ŠÀRru_) bêli(_EN_)-ia ___enūma ḫalāqu mātu(KUR), – Šarri(LUGAL) bēlu(EN)-ia–! — ___Now Over-Taken land("region"), – King-Lord-mine–! — 56. ù hal-qu gáb-bi ha-zi-a-nu-ti ___u ḫalāqu gabbu, – lú(amēlu)-meš-Hazannu–!, ___and over-taken all, – men-(pl.)-Hazannu–! 57. šum-ma ia-a-nu-mi $ṣâbē(ÈRIN^{meš})$ $pi-ṭa-tu_4$ ___šumma ia-a-nu-mi ṣābu-meš $pi-ṭa-tu_4,$ ___If "there is not" army-(pl.)-pítati, -- (lines 57 & 51 are identical) 58. i-na šatti(MU) an-ni-ti lu-ma-še-er ___ina šattu (MU) annû, — lu-ma-še-er ___in year this, — lu-ma-še-er (?lūman)-"Now, alas!"?) 59. $šarru(LUGAL)^{ru}$ $^{lú}rabiṣa(MÁŠKIM)$ ù li-il-qé-a-ni 60. a-na ia-a-ši a-di $aḫē(ŠEŠ^{meš})$ ù Ba.Bad(BA.ÚŠ) 61. $ni-mu-tu_4$ it-ti $šarru(LUGAL)^{ru}$ bêli(EN)-nu
  
  Paragraph, lines 62-66 Note: Final address to the "King-Lord-mine" (Pharaoh, and Pharaoh's scribe)
  
  62. [ a-na ] _dup-sar(DUB.SAR)_ _lugal-ri_ _EN_-ia ___Ana țupšarru-(=țuppu-šarru, Tablet-King, i.e. "Scribe"), ((u)) Šarru-ri bēlu-ia ___To man-"scribe-(King)", ((and)) "King-Lord-mine" 63. [ um-ma ] $^mabdi(ÁRAD)-ḫi-ba$ ardu(ÁRAD)-ma a-na $2^{(m)}$ šêp[ē](GÌRI) ___umma 1-ÁRAD-hi-ba, ardu ana 2 $_šepu^{pl.}_^#$ ___[ message(=Report?)] 1-Abdi-Heba, servant at the $2-feet^{pl.}$ 64. [ $am-q]ut^#-mi,$ še-ri-ib, $a-wa-ta_5$ ___maqātu, șēru, ((my))-"Story", $(word^{(pl.)})$ (=amatu) ___I bow, (on-my-back) (="defenselessly"), ((my))-story (words) 65. [ b]a#-na-ti a-na $šarri_(LUGAL)^{r[i]}_$ ___[b]anû A, & banû B ana (Šárru)Šarru-[ ri ] ___((produced))-"created, and 'to-be-good' ", for King-[ ri ]
  
  Line 66, on Left side 66. [ danniš(MA.GAL) _ardu(ÁRAD)_-[ ka ù ] _mâru(DUMU)_-ka a-na-ku ___[ magal (= danniš), (anāku)-ardu-[ ka–!, u] (anāku)-dūmu-ka anāku((as verb, "I am"))–! ___Fervently(strongly), (I am) servant-yours–!, and (I am) son-(="Compatriot")-yours ( I(=anāku) = "I am", (as verb) )–!
  
  