A source-book of ancient history - The Search For Mecca

,
48 Syria
over Syria in the fifteenth century and the use of the Babylonian
language for general diplomatic purposes. The following letter was
addressed to pharaoh by Ebed-Tob, priest-king of Jerusalem long
before the Hebrew conquest of Canaan. Records of the Fast, v-. 66-8.
Letter of To the king my lord speak thus: I Ebed-tob, thy servpharaoh.
ant, at the feet of my lord the king, seven times seven
Someone has prostrate myself. What have I done against the king my
Ebed-Tob of
lord? They have slandered myself, laying wait for me in
disloyalty to |-}^g presence of the king, the lord, saying: Ebed-tob has
He has re- revolted from the king his lord. Behold, neither my
kingdom, not father nor my mother has exalted me in this place; the
prophecy of the mighty King has caused me to enter the
^n '"^but di-
rectly from house of my father. Why should I have committed a sin
protests his against the king the lord? With the king m.y lord is life,
mnocence.
j ^^^ ^^ ^^^ Commissioner of the king my lord: Why dost
sioner, an
thou love the Confederates, and the governors thou hat-
°^'^^'' ?^. est? and constantly I am sending to the presence of the
king my lord to Say that the countries of the king my lord
confederates,
people of
u J • i J
Hebron, a are bemg destroyed. . . .
Jerusalem^ ^° All the govemors are destroyed; no governor remains
Governors, to the king the lord. May the king turn his face to the
men, and may he send auxiliaries, even the troops of the
^haraolf to^^
rule the cities, king my lord. No countries remain unto the king: the
The country, ^ . , ,
• •
i n 1
r i 1
wasted by Confederates have wasted all the countries of the kmg.
^^ auxiliaries come this year, the countries of the king the
Jord will be preserved; but if no auxiliaries come the coun-
needs'^mHitary
protection.
^
.
tries of the king my lord are destroyed. . . .
VIII.
The Ten Commandments
And God spake all
these words, saying,
I am the Lord thy God, which have brought thee out
of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage.