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, 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 ; 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, complete the letter's obverse.
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Cuneiform and Akkadian text, EA 288

''Obverse''

Akkadian (with wikilinks)

''Obverse''

(Akkadian Text), Akkadischer Text

Obverse, :
1. a ^mšarri^ri bêli-ia ^dšaií
2. um-ma ^mabdi-ḫi-ba ardu-ka-ma
3. a-na 2 šêpē šarri bêl-ia 7-ta-a-an
4. ù 7-ta-a-an am-qut-mi
5. a-mur šarri^ri bêli-ia ša-ka-an
6. šùm-šu a-na mu-ṣi ^dšamši^ši
7. ù ir-bi ^dšamši^ši ḫa-an-pa
8. ša iḫ-nu-pu a-na mu-ḫi-ia
9. a-mur a-na-ku la-a ^lúḫa-zi-a-nu
10. ^lúú-e-ú a-na šarri^ri bêli-ia
11. a-mur a-na-ku ^lúruì šarri^ri
12. ù ú-bi-il bilat šarri^ri a-na-ku
13. ia-a-nu-mi ^lúad-da-a-ni ia-a-nu-mi
14. ^munusum-mi-ia zu-ru-uḫ šarri^ri dannu
15. a-ak-n i-na bît ^lúad-da-
16.
17. a-ša-ad a-na mu-ḫi-ia qa-a
18. na-ad-na-ti 1 ^lúardūtia-i-
19. ^mšu-ú-ta ^lúrabiṣ šarri^ri ka-š
20. -na mu-ḫi-ia 2 1 ^munusmârāti
21. 1 2 ^lú.meša-ší-ri na-ad-na-ti
22. -na qa-ti ^mšu-ú-ta qîšat šarri bêli-ia
23. li-im-li-ik-mi šarri^ri a-na mâti-šu
24. ḫal-qà-at mât šarri^ri gáb-ba-ša
25. ṣa-ba-ta-ni nu-kúr-tú a-na ia-a-ši
26. a-di mâtāti še-e-ri^ki a-di alu gín-ti-ki-ir-mi-il
27. šal-mu a-na gáb-bi ^lú.mešḫa-zi-a-nu-ti
28. ù nu-kur-tú a-na ia-a-ši
29. ip-ša-ti e-nu-ma ^lúḫa-pí-ri
30. ù la-a a-mar 2 înā šarri
31. bêli-ia ki-i nu-kúr-tú
Reverse, :
32. a-na muḫḫi^ḫi-ia ša-ak-na-ti
33. e-nu-ma ^gešelippa i-na lìb-bi tâmti
34. qât zu-ru-uḫ šarri dannatu
35. ti-li-iq-qí ^kurna-aḫ-ri-ma^ki
36. ù ^kurka-^ki x ka-a-si^ki ù i-na-an-na
37. alāni šarri^ri
38. ti-le-qé-ú ^lú.mešḫa-pí-ru
39. ia-a-nu-mi 1^-en ^lúḫa-zi-a-nu
40. a-na šarri^ri bêli-ia ḫal-qu gáb-bu
41. a-mur ^mtu-ur-ba-zu gaz da
42. i-na abul alu sí-lu-ú^ki qa-al šarru^ru
43. a-mur ^mzi-im-ri-da alu la-ki-si^ki
44. ig-gi-ú-šu ardūtu ip-šu a-na ^lú.mešḫa-pí-ri
45. ^mia-ap-ti-iḫ-^dadda gaz te-k
46. a abul alu zi-lu-ú ka-al
47. -nim a-a i-ša-al-šu
48. -is-kín šarru^{49. i-din šarru^ru pa-ni-šu ù i
50.
51. šum-ma ia-a-nu-mi ṣâbē pi-ṭa-tu₄
52. i-na šatti an-ni-ti ḫal-qa-at a-ba-da-at
53. gáb-bi mâtat šarri^ri bêli-ia
54. la-a i-qa-bi-ú a-na pa-ni šarri bêli-ia
55. e-nu-ma ḫal-qa-at mât šarri bêli-ia
56. ù ḫal-qu gáb-bi ^lú.mešḫa-zi-a-nu-ti
57. šum-ma ia-a-nu-mi ṣâbē pi-ṭa-tu₄
58. i-na šatti an-ni-ti lu-ma-še-er
59. šarru^ru ^lúrabiṣa ù li-il-qé-a-ni
60. a-na ia-a-ši a-di aḫē ù Ba.Bad
61. ni-mu-tu₄ it-ti šarru^ru bêli-nu
62. ^lútúp-šar šarri^ri bêli-ia
63. ^mabdi-ḫi-ba ardu-ma a-na 2 šêp
64. ut-mi še-ri-ib a-wa-ta₅^meš
65. a-na-ti a-na šarri^r
66.}ardu-úmâru-ka a-na-ku

Cuneiform score, Akkadian, English

Cuneiform score, and Akkadian, and English.
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Paragraph-
',
23. li-im-li-ik-mi lugal-ri a-na kur-šu
___ malāku Šarru-ri a na mātu-šu-!
___ Give-concern King^ri for Land-His-!
24. hal-qà-at kur lugal-ri gáb-ba-ša
___ halāqu mātu Šarru^ri, gab bu-ša,
___ Over-Taken land- King^ri, All-His,
24.8.--------gáb-ba-ša
___------------gab bu-ša -
___------------All-His -
25. ṣa-ba-ta-ni nu-KÚR-tú a-na ia-a-ši
___ ṣa bā t u nu kurtu a na I ā ši-!
___ "captured-in" warfare, from Me-!
26. a-di kur-^hi.a Še-e-ri^ki a-di Gín-ti-Ki-ir-mi-il
___ a di mātu-- Šeri^ki, a di Gínti-k-ir-m-il-!
___ also lands Šeri, plus GintiKirmil-!
',
27. šal-mu a-na gáb-bi, ^lú.meš ha-zi-a-nu-ti
___ šalāmu a na gab bu, lú^meš Ha z a nnu-!,
___ Peace for all, Men^pl. Hazannu--!,
28. ù nu-kur-tú a-na ia-a-ši
___ U nukurtu a na I ā ši-!
___ But warfare for Me- -!
',
29. ip-ša-ti e-nu-ma ^lúha-pí-ri
___ Epē šu enū ma ^lúHa pi ru-!
___ -made now )-^MANHabiru-!
30. ù la-a a-mar 2 înā šarri
___u l ā amāru 2 īnu^pl. Šarru--
___ and not ) see ^pl. King-
31. bêli-ia, ki-i nu-kúr-tú-!
___-bēlu-ia —
___-Lord-mine —
',
31.5--------ki-i nu-kúr-tu
___------------ — k ī nu kur tu-! —
___------------ — "Because-of" warfare-! —

Reverse, :

',
Sub-Paragraph—Exclamation-
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31.5--------ki-i nu-kúr-tu
___------------ — k ī nu kur tu-! —
___------------ — "Because-of" warfare-! —
;)
32. a-na muḫḫi^ḫi-ia ša-ak-na-ti
___ a na muhhu- šakānu
___ for upon-ME, emplaced,
33. e-nū-ma ^gešelippa i-na lìb-bi tâmti
___ Enū ma ^gišMÁ i na libbu tâmtu--!
___ Now ⁾SHIP in the HEART- STORM-!
End of Sub-Sections
End of segue-, to Reverse
Paragraph,
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34. qât zu-ru-uḫ šarri dannatu-Hand strong, King-mighty
35. ti-li-iq-qí ^kurna-aḫ-ri-ma^ki
___halāqu KUR naḫri ma^ki-!
___Over-Took land) Nahrima--!
36. ù ^kurka-<pa-si>^ki x ka-a-si^ki ù i-na-an-na
___u kur ka-)-si>^ki x ka-a-si^ki, u e ni n na
___and land Kasi ), and now
36.6--------ù i-na-an-na
___------------U e ni n na
___------------And now
37. alāni šarri^ri
___alāni Šarru^ri
___Cities^ḫi.a King
38. ti-le-qé-ú ^lú.mešḫa-pí-ru
___halāqu lú-meš ḫa pí ru-!
___Over-Taken men^pl. Hapiru-!
39. ia-a-nu-mi 1^-en ^lúha^#-zi-a-nu
___ia-a-nu-mi 1^-EN, — ^lúHazannu
___"there-is-NOT" One Lord, — ^ManHazannu,..
40. a-na šarri^ri bêli-ia, — hal-qu gáb-bu-!
___a na Šarru-ri EN-ia —,
___for King-Lord-mine —,
40.6 ------------- ḫal-qu gáb-bu
40.6--------------- halāqu gabbu-!
40.6--------------- -Taken All-!
Paragraph-
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41. a-mur ^1=dištu-ur-ba-zu gaz da-
___amāru-! — ^1=dišTurbazu gaz da-
___Look -! — Turbazu "killed"-!
42. i-na abul alu sí-lu-ú^ki qa-al šarru^ru
___i na abullu ālu Silu^ki ga-al šarru^ru
___in city-gate city Silu^ki, "tragedy"?, King^ru
43. a-mur ^1=m=dišzi-im-ri-da alu la^#-ki^#-si^ki
___amāru-! — ^1=m=dišZimredda ālu Lachish^ki
___Look -! — ^mZimredda city Lachish
44. ig-gi-ú-šu ardūtu ip-šu a-na ^{lú^#.meš}ḫa^#-pí^#-ri^#
___ig-gi-ú-šu ardu-meš, epē šu a na lú^#.meš-ha pi ru
___"killed-by" servants-, "committed" to men-pl.-
45. ^mia-ap-ti-iḫ-^dadda gaz te-ka |k
___^m=1=dišYaptih-Hadda gaz te-ka |k
___^m=1=dišYaptih-Hadda slain
46. a abul alu zi-lu-ú ka-al
___i na abullu ālu Silu^ki ka-al
___in city-gate city Silu^ki ?killed,
47. -nim a-a i-ša-al-šu
Paragraph-
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47. -nim a-a i-ša-al-šu
48. -is-kín šarru^{49. i-din šarru^ru pa-ni-šu ù i
50. šum}#'-ma ia-a-nu-mi ṣâbē pi-ṭa-tu₄
___u šum ma ia-a-nu-mi ṣābu-meš pi-ṭa-tu₄
___and if "there is not" army--pítati --
52. i-na šatti an-ni-ti ḫal-qa-at a-ba-da-at
___i na šattu an n û, — ḫalā q u a-ba-da-at
___in year this, — Over-Taken,
53. : gáb-bi _mâtat_ _šarri_-ia
___ : gabbu mātu^HI.A, - SÀR-ru, bēlu-ia, —!
___all lands^pl., - King, Lord-mine, —!
Paragraph-
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54. la-a i-qa-bi-ú a-na pa-ni šarri bêli-ia
___l ā q a b û pā nu, — King Bēlu-mine
___
55. e-nu-ma ḫal-qa-at mât _šarri bêli-ia
___enū ma ḫalā q u mātu, - Šarri bēlu-ia-! —
___Now Over-Taken land, - King-Lord-mine-! —
56. ù hal-qu gáb-bi ^lú.mešha-zi-a-nu-ti
___u ḫalāqu gab bu, - lú-meš-Ha z a nnu-!,
___and over-taken all, - men--Hazannu-!
57. šum-ma ia-a-nu-mi ṣâbē pi-ṭa-tu₄
___šum ma ia-a-nu-mi ṣābu-meš pi-ṭa-tu₄,
___If "there is not" army--pítati, --
58. i-na šatti an-ni-ti lu-ma-še-er
___i na šattu an n û, — lu-ma-še-er
___in year this, — lu-ma-še-er
59. šarru^ru ^lúrabiṣa ù li-il-qé-a-ni
60. a-na ia-a-ši a-di aḫē ù Ba.Bad
61. ni-mu-tu₄ it-ti šarru^ru bêli-nu
Paragraph, lines 62-66
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62. _^lú#dup-sar_ _lugal-ri_ _EN_-ia
___A na ^lú#țupšarru-, ) Šarru-ri bēlu-ia
___To man-"scribe-", ) "King-Lord-mine"
63. ^mabdi-ḫi-ba ardu-ma a-na 2 šêp
___um ma 1-ÁRAD-hi-ba, ardu a na 2 _šepu^pl._^#
___ 1-Abdi-Heba, servant at the 2-feet^pl.
64. ut^#-mi, še-ri-ib, a-wa-ta₅^{meš^#}
___ma qātu, șēru, )-"Story",
___I bow,, )-story
65. a#-na-ti a-na šarri_^r_
___ba |anû A, & banû B a na Šarru-
___)-"created, and'' 'to-be-good' ", for King-
66. ardu_- _^lúmâru_-ka a-na-ku
___ardu- -^lú]dūmu-ka anāku)-!
___Fervently, servant-yours-!, and son--yours = "I am", -!

Ext links

Line drawing of EA 288, CDLI

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