The Old Testament in the Light of the Historical Records and Legends of Assyria and BabyloniaPinches, Theophilus G. (Theophilus Goldridge)
Religion
The Old Testament in the Light of the Historical Records and Legends of Assyria and Babylonia
Pinches, Theophilus G. (Theophilus Goldridge)
Bible. Old Testament -- Criticism, interpretation, etc.
None of these documents are in a state of completeness, though one of
them, a kind of poem, contains no less than 76 lines, more or less well
preserved. The other two are of the nature, apparently, of historical
legends, though they may be true historical documents, and, though
imperfect, are of great importance. Concerning the names which are
contained in these texts there is but little or no doubt, though there may
be doubt as to the way in which they ought to be read in consequence of
the fanciful way in which they are written.
The first document is Sp. III. 2, and contains all three names—or, rather,
the names Tudḫula (Tidal), Êri-Eaku’s son Durmaḫ-îlāni, and Kudur-laḫmal.
The first portion of this text refers to the gods: “Šamaš, illuminator (of
the earth),” “the lord of lords, Merodach, in the faithfulness of his
heart,” aided (probably) his servant to subdue (?) some region, “all of
it.” Then there is a reference to (soldiers) whom some ruler “caused to be
slain,” and as the name of Durmaḫ-îlāni son of Êri-(E)aku follows, there
is every probability that it was he who is referred to in the preceding
lines. The carrying off of goods (?) is next spoken of, and waters which
to all appearance came over Babylon and the great temple-tower called
Ê-saggil (more usually written in earlier times Ê-sagila). The next line
has an interesting reference to “the son (?)” of some one, who
“slaughtered him like (?) a lamb with the weapon of his hands.” After
this, we are told that “the elder and the child (were killed) with the
sword.” To all appearance, another division of the subject begins with the
next line, though the text goes on recording things of the same
nature—“the child he cut off.” This is immediately followed by the words
“Tudḫula the son of Gazza- ..,” or “Tidal son of Gazzā(ni?),” who, like
Durmaḫ-îlāni (if we may form any opinion from the fact that the wording of
the line following the mention of Tidal is the same as that following the
name of the son of Êri-Eaku), carried off goods (?), and waters (he caused
to flow?) over Babylon and Ê-saggil, the great temple of the city. The
parallel between these two passages is still further emphasized by the
words in the line immediately following, which says that “his son fell
upon him with the weapon of his hand.” The next line is the last of the
obverse, and speaks of (“the proclamation,” perhaps) of “his dominion
before the temple of Annunit,” where we have the interesting archaism,
_An-nu-nit_ for D.P. (_i.e._ the determinative prefix indicating that the
name of a deity follows) _A-nu-nit_.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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