EA 9

TRANSCRIPTION

Obv. 01) a-na Ni-ib-ḫu-ur-re-re-ia šàr KUR M[i-iṣ-ri-i ŠEŠ-i]a

02) qí-bí-m[a]
03) um-ma Bur-ra-bu-ri-ia-aš šàr KUR Ka-ra-d[u-n]i-ia-aš
04) ŠEŠ-ka-ma a-na ia-a-ši šu-ul-mu
05) a-na ka-a-ša É-ka DAM.MEŠ-ka DUMU.MEŠ-ka KUR-ka
06) LÚ.˹GAL˺.MEŠ-ka ANŠE.KUR.RA.MEŠ-ka GIŠ.GIGIR.MEŠ-ka da-an-
[ni-i]š lu šu-ul-mu

07) ul-tu ab-bu-ú-a-a ù ab-bu-ka it-ti a-ḫa-mi[-iš]

08) ṭa-bu-ta id-bu-bu
09) šu-ul-ma-na ba-na-a a-na a-ḫa-mi-iš ul-te-bi-i-lu
10) ù me-re-el-ta ba-ni-ta a-na a-ḫa-mi-iš ul ik-l[u-]ú
11) i-na-an-na a-ḫu-ú-a-a 2 ma-na KÙ.GI a-na šu-ul-ma-ni-ia ul-te-bi-i-la
12) i-na-an-na ‹šum›-ma KÙ.GI ma-a-ad ma-la ša ab-bi-ka šu-bi-la
13) ù šum-ma mi-i-iṣ mi-ši-il 5 ša ab-bi-ka šu-bi-i-la
14) am-mi-ni 2 ma-na KÙ.GI tu-še-bé-e-la
15) i-na-an-na du-ul-li i-na É DINGIR ma-a-ad ù ma-gal
16) ṣa-ab-ta-ku-ú-ma ep-pu-uš KÙ.GI ma-a-da šu-bi-la
17) ù at-ta mi-im-ma ša ḫa-aš-ḫa-a-ta i-na KUR-ia
18) šu-up-ra-am-ma li-il 5-qu-ni-ik-ku

19) i-na Ku-ri-gal-zu a-bi-ia Ki-na-ḫa-a-a-ú ga-ab-bi-šu-nu

20) a-na mu-uḫ-ḫi-šu il 5-ta-ap-ru-ni um-ma-a a-na qa-an-ni KUR
21) k[u-uš]-da-am-ma i ni-ba-al-ki-ta-am-ma
Lo.ed. 22) [it]-˹ti˺-ka i ni-ša-ki-in a-˹bu˺-ú-a-a
23) ˹an˺-ni-ta il 5-ta-ap-ra-šu-nu-ti
24) um-ma-a
 EA 9

TRANSLATION

(1–2) To Nibḫurrereya, king of the land of E[gypt, m]y [brother,] speak:

(3–6) Thus Burraburiyaš, king of the land of Kard[un]iaš, your brother: To

me all is well. To you, your house, your wives, your sons, your land, your
senior officials, your horses, your chariots, may it be very well.

(7–10) From the time my fathers and your fathers mutually spoke in friend-
liness, they sent lovely greeting gifts to each other and they did not hold
b[ack] any lovely request.

(11–14) Now, my brother has sent two minas of gold as a greeting gift. Now
‹i›f gold is plentiful, send as much as your fathers. But if it is scarce, send half
of what your fathers (sent). Why do you send me only two minas of gold?

(15–18) Now, my work on the god’s house is extensive and I am seriously

engaged in carrying it out. Send me much gold. And as for you, whatever
you desire from my country, write to me and let them bring it to you.

(19–24) In (the time of) Kurigalzu, my father, all the Canaanites wrote to
him, saying: “C[om]e to the border of the land; let us revolt and let us be
allied [wit]h you.” My father wrote this to them, saying:
 94 the el-amarna correspondence

Rev. 25) mu-uš-še-er it-ti-ia a-na na-aš-ku-ú-ni

26) šum-ma it-ti LUGAL ša Mi-iṣ-ri-i a-ḫi-ia ta-at-˹ta˺-ak-ra-ma
27) it-ti ša-ni-im-ma ta-at-ta-aš-ka-na
28) a-na-ku ul al-la-ka-am-ma ul a-ḫa-ba-at-ku-nu-ši-i
29) ki-i it-ti-ia na-aš-ku-nu a-bu-ú-a-a
30) aš-šum a-bi-ka ul iš-mé-šu-nu-ti
31) i-na-an-na Aš-šur-ra-a-a-ú da-gi-˹il˺ pa-ni-ia
32) a-na-ku ul aš-pu-ra-ak-ku ki-i ṭe-mi-šu-nu
33) a-na KUR-ka am-mi-ni il 5-li-ku-ú-ni
34) šum-ma ta-ra-á-ma-an-ni ši-ma-a-ti mi-im-ma
35) la ip-pu-ú-šu ri-qu-ti-šu-nu ku-uš-ši-da-šu-nu-ti

Uninscribed space for about five lines

36) a-na šu-ul-ma-ni-ka 3 ma-na NA4.ZA.GÌN KUR

37) u 5 LÁ ša ANŠE.KUR.RA.MEŠ ša 5 GIŠ.GIGIR GIŠ.MEŠ
38) ul-te-bi-la-ak-ku
 ea 9 95

“Leave being allied with me! If you become estranged from the king of Egypt,
my brother, and become allied with another, will I not come and will I not
plunder you? How can there be an alliance with me?” My father, because of
your father, heeded them not.

(31–35) Now, as for the Assyrian, my vassal, it was not I who sent him to you.
Why on their own initiative have they come to your country? If you love
me, they will conduct no business whatsoever. Send them off to me empty
handed.

(36–38) As your greeting gift I have sent 3 minas of genuine lapis lazuli and
five teams of horses for five wooden chariots.
 EA 15

TRANSCRIPTION

Obv. 01) a-na LUGAL KUR M[i-iṣ-(ṣa)-ri]

02) qí-bi-[ma]
03) um-ma IdA-šur-TI.L[A LUGAL KUR dA]-šur-ma
04) a-na ka-ša É-ka a-na [KU]R-ka
05) a-na GIŠ.GIGIR.MEŠ-ka ù ERÍN.MEŠ-ka
06) lu-ú šul-mu
07) DUMU ši-ip-ri-ia al-tap-ra-ak-ku
08) a-na a-ma-ri-ka ù KUR-ka a-na a-ma-ri
09) a-di an-ni-ša ab-ba-ú-ia
10) la iš-pu-ru
11) u4-ma a-na-ku al-tap-ra-ak-ku
12) 1 GIŠ.GIRIG SIG5-ta 2 ANŠE.KUR.RA.MEŠ
13) ˹ù˺ 1 NA4ú-ḫi-na ša NA4.ZA.GÌN KUR-e
14) [a-n]a šul-ma-ni-ka
15) [ú]-še-bi-la-˹ku˺
Lo.ed. 16) [DUMU ši]-ip-ri ša aš-pu-ra-ku-ni
17) [a-]na a-ma-ri
Rev. 18) [l]a tu4-ka-˹as˺-sú
19) [l]i-mu-ur ù li-it-tal-ka
20) [ṭ]é-em-ka ù ṭé-em
21) ma-ti-ka li-mur
22) ù li-it-ta-al-ka
 EA 15

TRANSLATION

(1–6) Say to the king of the land of E[gypt]: Thus Aššur-ubal[liṭ, the king
of the land of (the god) A]ššur: For you, your house, for your land, for your
chariotry and your troops, may all be well.

(7–15) I have sent my envoy to you to see you and to see your land. Up to
now, my fathers have not written. Today, I have written to you. [I] have sent
to you an excellent chariot, two horses and one date-stone of genuine lapis
lazuli as your greeting gift.

(16–22) Do [n]ot delay the envoy whom I have sent to you for a visit. May he
see and may he depart. May he see your behavior (nature) and the behavior
(nature) of your land and may he depart.
 EA 16

TRANSCRIPTION

Obv. 01) ˹a˺-˹na˺ ˹I˺˹Na˺-˹ap˺-˹ḫu˺-˹ri˺-i-ia!(TU?) [LUGAL GAL]

02) šàr KUR Mi-iṣ-ṣa-ri ˹ŠEŠ˺-ia ˹qí˺[-bí-ma]
03) um-ma IdA-šur-TI.LA šàr KU[R] ˹d˺˹A˺-[šu]r
04) LUGAL GAL ŠEŠ-ka

05) a-na ka-a-ša a-na É-ka ù KUR-ka lu šul-mu

06) [D]UMU.MEŠ ši-i[p-r]i-ka ki-i a-mu-ru

07) ḫa-da-˹a˺-˹ku˺ da-ni-iš DUMU.MEŠ ši-ip-ri-ka
08) a-na ˹tek˺-né-e i-na maḫ-ri-ia lu aš-bu

09) GIŠ.GIGIR b[a]-ni-ta ša LUGAL-ti ša ṣ[a]-˹ma˺-di-ia

10) ù 2 ANŠE.KUR.RA.MEŠ pe-ṣú-ti š[a] ṣa-ma-di-ia-ma
11) 1 GIŠ.GIGIR la ṣa-mu-ut-ta ù 1 NA4KISIB ZA.GÌN KUR-e
12) a-na šul-ma-ni-ka ú-še-bi-la-ak-ku

13) ša LUGAL GAL-i šu-bu-ul-tu ka-an-na-a

14) KÙ.GI i-na KUR-ka e-pe-ru šu-ú
15) i-is-si-pu-uš am-mi-ni-i i-na IGI.MEŠ-ka
16) i-sa-aḫ-ḫu-ur É.GAL-la GIBIL ú-ka-al i-ip-pu-uš
17) KÙ.GI ma-la uḫ-ḫu-zi-ša
18) ù ḫi-še-eḫ-ti-ša šu-bi-la

19) un-du IdA-šur-na-din-ŠEŠ.MEŠ a-bi

20) a-na KUR Mi-iṣ-ri iš-pu-ru
21) 20 GÚ.UN KÙ.GI ul-te-bi-lu-šu

22) [u]n-du LUGAL Ḫa-ni-gal-ba-tu-ú

23) [a]-na UGU a-bi-ka a-na KUR Mi-i[ṣ-ri]
24) [iš]-˹pu˺-ru 20 GÚ.UN KÙ.[GI]
25) [u]l-te-bi-la-aš-š[u]
 EA 16

TRANSLATION

(1–4) Sp[eak] to Napḫuriya [the great king], king of the land of Egypt, my
brother. Thus (speaks) Ashur-uballit, king of the land of Assyria, the great
king, your brother:

(5) May it be well with you, with your household and your land.

(6–8) When I saw your [am]bassadors I rejoiced greatly. May your envoys
dwell in my presence in great ˹soli˺citude.

(9–12) A beautiful chariot for royalty, accoutered for me and two white
horses accoutered for me, one chariot not accoutered and one cylinder seal
of real lapis lazuli have I sent to you as your greeting gift.

(13–18) Thus is the gift of a great king? Gold in your land is dirt. They gather
it up. Why does it delay with your approval? I am engaged in building a new
palace. Send as much gold as needed for its adornment and its needs.

(19–21) When my father Ashur-nadin-aḫḫē sent to the land of Egypt, they

sent to him twenty talents of gold.

(22–25) When the Ḫanigalbatian king sent to your father, to the land of
Egypt, they sent to him twenty talents of gold
 132 the el-amarna correspondence

Rev. 26) [a-na-ku] a-na LUGAL Ḫa-˹ni˺[-gal]-˹ba˺-t[i-i]

27) [me-eḫ-re-]ku ù a-na UGU-ia
28) [x ma-na KÙ].GI tu-še-eb-bi-l[a-ni]
29) [ù š]a a-la-ki ù ta-ri-˹im˺-˹ma˺
30) a-[n]a i-di ša DUMU.MEŠ ši-ip-ri-ia
31) ul i-ma-aṣ-ṣi

32) šu[m]-[m]a ṭa-bu-ut-ta pa-nu-ka da-am-qí-iš

33) K[Ù.G]I ma-da šu-bi-la ù É-ka šu-ú
34) šu-up-ra-am-ma ša ḫa-aš-ḫa-ta li-il-qu-ú

35) ma-ta-tu4 ru-qa-tu4 ni-i-nu

36) DUMU.MEŠ ši-ip-ri-ni ka-am-ma-a li-it-tal-la-ku

37) ša DUMU.MEŠ ši-ip-ri-ka

38) ú-uḫ-ḫi-ru-ni-ik-ku LÚ.MEŠ Su-tu4-ú
39) ra-du-[š]u-nu mi-tu4 a-di áš-pu-ru-ma
40) LÚ.MEŠ Su-ti-i ra-de-e il-qu-ú-ni
41) ˹ak˺-[t]a-la-šu-nu DUMU.MEŠ ši-ip-ri-ia
42) lu la ú-uḫ-ḫa-ru-ni

43) [DU]MU.MEŠ ši-ip-ri i-na ṣe-ti

44) am-mi-ni-i ul-ta-na-za-zu-ma
45) i-na ṣe-ti i-ma-at-tu4
46) ˹šum˺-ma i-na ṣe-ti i-zu-uz-zu
47) a-na LUGAL né-me-lu i-˹ba˺-aš-ši
48) ù li-zi-iz-ma i-na ˹ṣe˺-t[i-m]a
49) li-mu-ut a-na LUGAL-ma ˹lu˺ né-me-lu
50) ù ia-a-nu-[um-m]a-a am-mi-ni-[i]
51) [i-na ṣ]e-ti [i]-ma-at-˹tu˺
52) DU[MU.M]EŠ ši-i[p-r]i ša ni-˹il˺-[ta-na-ap-pa-ru]
53) ˹ù˺ ˹2˺-šu ˹DUMU˺.MEŠ ši-ip[-r]i
54) ú-˹bal˺-[l]a-ṭù-ú [i-n]a ṣ[e-ti]
55) uš-ma-at-tu4
 ea 16 133

(26–31) [I] am [equ]al to a Ḫanigalbatian king but you send [to me] [x minas
of go]ld. It is not sufficient for the going and returning and the wages of my
envoys.

(32–34) ˹If˺ your intention is truly genuine, send much g[ol]d and as for that
house of yours, send to me so that they may bring what you need.

(35–36) We are countries far apart. May our envoys thus continue to go back
and forth.

(37–42) That your envoys delayed coming to you, the Sutû who were their
guides died. Until I could send (them) and they could take (new) Sutû
guides, I delayed them. May my envoys not delay in coming.

(43–55) As for the [am]bassadors, why are they continually standing outside
so that they will die outside? If their standing outside is profitable to the
king, then let them stand outside. Outside, let them die! Profit for the king or
no[t], why should they die [outs]ide? As for the envoys that we [continually]
se[nd,] then doubly, they should keep the envoys alive. [Ou]ts[ide] they are
killing (them).