Biblical Archaeology Review is the flagship publication of the Biblical Archaeology Society. For more than 40 years it has been making the world of archaeology in the lands of the Bible come alive for the interested layperson. Full of vivid images and articles written by leading scholars, this is a must read for anyone interested in the archaeology of the ancient Near East.
Is Teshub oppressed [literally, “bound”], that he requires release?
Should Teshub be pressed for money,
we shall each give him a shekel of silver,
half a shekel of gold, a shekel of silver we shall give;
should Teshub be hungry,
we shall each fill a measure of barley,
half a measure of emmer we shall fill, a measure of barley;
should Teshub be naked, we shall each clothe the god with a garment;
But release in well-being the people of Igingallish!
Release also Purra, the captive,
who has served [literally, “fed”] nine kings!
For Igingallish he served three kings;
for Ebla he served six kings.
Now before you, Megi, the tenth, he enters.
If you [plural] decree release,
for Ebla the fate is (this):
if you decree release,
I shall empower your weaponry …
PLACES AND LANGUAGES
Ebla: city in Syria, under excavation since the 1970s. Ebla flourished in the mid-third millennium B.C.E., until its destruction in the 24th century B.C.E.; it was thereafter rebuilt and flourished again until it was destroyed by the command of Teshub, c. 1600 B.C.E.
Hatti: kingdom in central Anatolia, which acquired an empire starting c. 1400 B.C.E.
