Damned if You Don’t

Sidebar to: Solomon’s Temple in Context

One of the cuneiform tablets discovered in Tayinat temple 2 was a broken but complete copy of Esarhaddon’s Vassal Treaty (or covenant). A portion of the text graphically describes the many misfortunes that will befall the vassal, or subordinate party, if he should violate the terms of the treaty/covenant. Similarly, in Deuteronomy 28 Moses enumerates (in the first 14 verses) the blessings that Israel will receive for obeying God’s commandments, followed (for more than 50 verses; 28:15–68) by the curses that will plague them if they fail to do so (a portion of these is reprinted below).

Vassal Treaty of Esarhaddon	Deuteronomy 28:25–32
May Ninurta, leader of the gods, fell you with his fierce arrow, and fill the plain with your corpses, give your flesh to eagles and vultures to feed upon. Just as this ewe is cut open and the flesh of its young placed in its mouth, so may he (Shamash?) make you eat in your hunger the flesh of your brothers, your sons, and your daughters. Just as (these) yearlings and spring lambs, male and female, are cut open and their entrails are rolled around their feet, so may the entrails of your sons and daughters be rolled around your feet. Just as a snake and a mongoose do not enter the same hole and do not live there, but plot of cutting each other’s throat, so may you and your women not enter the same house, (not lie down in the same bed) but plot of cutting each other’s throat. Just as a honeycomb is pierced through and through with holes, so may holes be pierced through and through in your flesh, the flesh of your women, your brothers, your sons and daughters while you are alive. Just as this bedbug stinks, so may your breath stink before god, king, and men.

Vassal Treaty of Esarhaddon

Deuteronomy 28:25–32

May Ninurta, leader of the gods, fell you with his fierce arrow, and fill the plain with your corpses, give your flesh to eagles and vultures to feed upon.

Just as this ewe is cut open and the flesh of its young placed in its mouth, so may he (Shamash?) make you eat in your hunger the flesh of your brothers, your sons, and your daughters.

Just as (these) yearlings and spring lambs, male and female, are cut open and their entrails are rolled around their feet, so may the entrails of your sons and daughters be rolled around your feet.

Just as a snake and a mongoose do not enter the same hole and do not live there, but plot of cutting each other’s throat, so may you and your women not enter the same house, (not lie down in the same bed) but plot of cutting each other’s throat.

Just as a honeycomb is pierced through and through with holes, so may holes be pierced through and through in your flesh, the flesh of your women, your brothers, your sons and daughters while you are alive.

Just as this bedbug stinks, so may your breath stink before god, king, and men.

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