Prophets and Prophecy in the Ancient Near East (Writings from the Ancient World)

296 Pages·2003·1.28 MB·English

by  Martti Nissinen

Writings from the Ancient World
Theodore J. Lewis, General Editor
Associate Editors
Billie Jean Collins
Jerrold S. Cooper
Edward L. Greenstein
Jo Ann Hackett
Richard Jasnow
Ronald J. Leprohon
C. L. Seow
Niek Veldhuis
Number 12
Prophets and Prophecy of the Ancient Near East
by Martti Nissinen
Edited by Peter Machinist
PROPHETS AND PROPHECY
IN THE ANCIENT NEAR EAST
by
Martti Nissinen
with contributions by
C. L. Seow
and
Robert K. Ritner
Edited by
Peter Machinist
Society of Biblical Literature
Atlanta
Prophets and Prophecy in the Ancient Near East
Copyright © 2003
Society of Biblical Literature
All rights reserved.No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by
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in writing to the Rights and Permissions Office, Society of Biblical Literature, 825 Houston Mill
Road, Atlanta, GA 30329 USA.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Nissinen, Martti.
Prophets and prophecy in the ancient Near East / by Martti Nissinen with contributions
by C. L. Seow and Robert K. Ritner ; edited by Peter Machinist.
p. cm. — (Writings from the ancient world ; no. 12)
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 1-58983-027-X (paper binding : alk. paper)
1. Prophets—Middle East—History. 2. Prophecy—History. 3. Middle East—Literatures.
I. Ritner, Robert Kriech, 1953– II. Seow, C. L. (Choon Leong) III. Machinist, Peter. IV. Title.
V.Series: Writings from the ancient world ; no. 12.
BF1762 .N58 2003b
133.3'0939'4—dc21 2003007002
11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 5 4 3 2 1
Printed in the United States of America
on acid-free paper
Contents
Series Editor’s Foreword................................................................................xi
Abbreviations................................................................................................xiii
Explanation of Signs ....................................................................................xv
Chronological Tables ..................................................................................xvi
Maps..............................................................................................................xix
Acknowledgments........................................................................................xxi
Introduction ..........................................................................................1
Ancient Near Eastern Prophecy..............................................................1
The Study of Prophecy in Transition......................................................2
The Nature of the Sources ......................................................................4
The Prophets............................................................................................5
Texts Included and Excluded..................................................................8
Conventions of Transcription and Translation ....................................10
Translations
I. Mari Letters ..............................................................................13
1. Nur-Sîn to Zimri-Lim (A. 1121+)..............................................17
2. Nur-Sîn to Zimri-Lim (A. 1968)................................................21
3. La<ûm to YasmaΔ-Addu (A. 3760) ..........................................23
4. An åpilum of ⁄ama¡ to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 194)..................24
5. Addu-Duri to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 195) ..................................26
6. ⁄ama¡-naßir to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 196) ................................26
7. Inib-¡ina to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 197)......................................28
8. NN to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 198) ..............................................29
9. Sammetar to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 199)....................................30
10. Ahum to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 200) ..........................................33
11. BaΔdi-Lim to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 201)....................................34
12. Kanisan to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 202)........................................34
13. NN to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 203) ..............................................35
14. Inib-¡ina to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 204)......................................36
15. NN to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 205) ..............................................37
16. [Yaqqim-Addu?] to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 206) ..........................38
17. ⁄ibtu to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 207)............................................39
18. ⁄ibtu to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 208)............................................42
vi Prophets and Prophecy in the Ancient Near East
19. Mukanni¡um to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 209) ..............................44
20. Kibri-Dagan to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 210) ................................45
21. ⁄ibtu to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 211)............................................45
22. ⁄ibtu to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 212)............................................46
23. ⁄ibtu to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 213)............................................47
24. ⁄ibtu to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 214)............................................48
25. Lanasûm to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 215)......................................49
26. Tebi-geri¡u to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 216)..................................50
27. Itur-Asdu to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 217) ....................................51
28. NN to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 218) ..............................................52
29. NN to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 219) ..............................................53
30. Kibri-Dagan to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 220) ................................54
31. Kibri-Dagan to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 221) ................................55
32. Kibri-Dagan to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 221bis)............................56
33. U¡are¡-hetil to Dari¡-libur (ARM 26 222)................................57
34. La<ûm (?) to YasmaΔ-Addu (?) (ARM 26 223) ........................58
35. Addu-duri to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 227)....................................59
36. Report of Ayala (ARM 26 229) ................................................60
37. Zunana to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 232)........................................61
38. Itur-Asdu to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 233) ....................................62
39. Kibri-Dagan to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 234) ................................65
40. Kibri-Dagan to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 235) ................................66
41. ⁄ibtu to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 236)............................................66
42. Addu-duri to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 237)....................................67
43. Addu-duri to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 238)....................................69
44. ⁄imatum to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 239)......................................70
45. Timlû to Addu-duri (ARM 26 240)..........................................71
46. NN to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 243) ..............................................72
47. Yarim-Addu to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 371) ................................73
48. Yasim-El to Zimri-Lim (ARM 26 414)......................................74
49. Zakira-Ôammû to Zimri-Lim (ARM 27 32)..............................76
50. Manatan to Zimri-Lim (M. 9451)..............................................77
II. Other Documents from Mari ..................................................79
51. Ritual of I¡tar, Text 2 (A. 3165) ..............................................80
52. Ritual of I¡tar, Text 3 (A. 1249+) ............................................82
53. Assignment of a Donkey (A. 3796) ........................................83
54. Outlay of Garment (ARM 9 22) ..............................................84
55. Outlay of Garment (ARM 21 333) ..........................................84
56. Outlay of Garment (ARM 22 167) ..........................................86
57. Extract from a Decree of Expenditures (A. 4676) ................86
58. Outlay of Garment (ARM 22 326) ..........................................87
59. Outlay of Garment (ARM 23 446) ..........................................87
Contents vii
60. Donation of Lances (ARM 25 15)............................................88
61. Donation of Silver Rings (ARM 25 142)..................................88
62. Outlay of Silver (M. 11436)......................................................89
63. Deed of Donation (T. 82)........................................................90
64. Epic of Zimri-Lim......................................................................90
65. Report of Criminal Acts (M. 9717)..........................................91
III. E¡nunna Oracles......................................................................93
66. Oracle of Kititum to Ibalpiel (FLP 1674)................................94
67. Oracle of Kititum to Ibalpiel (FLP 2064)................................95
IV. Nineveh Oracles ......................................................................97
68–77. First Collection of Prophecies (SAA 9 1)..................101
68. Issar-la ta¡iya† to Esarhaddon (SAA 9 1.1)............................102
69. Sinqi¡a-amur to Esarhaddon (SAA 9 1.2)..............................103
70. Remut-Allati to Esarhaddon (SAA 9 1.3) ..............................104
71. Bayâ to Esarhaddon (SAA 9 1.4) ..........................................104
72. Ilussa-amur to Esarhaddon (SAA 9 1.5)................................106
73. NN to Esarhaddon (SAA 9 1.6)..............................................106
74. Issar-bel-da<<ini to Esarhaddon (SAA 9 1.7) ........................108
75. Ahat-abi¡a to the Queen Mother (SAA 9 1.8) ......................109
76. NN to Esarhaddon (SAA 9 1.9)..............................................109
77. La-dagil-ili to Esarhaddon (SAA 9 1.10)................................110
78–83. Second Collection of Prophecies (SAA 9 2) ............111
78. [Nabû]-Δussanni to Esarhaddon (SAA 9 2.1)........................111
79. Bayâ to Esarhaddon (SAA 9 2.2) ..........................................112
80. La-dagil-ili to Esarhaddon (SAA 9 2.3)..................................113
81. Urkittu-¡arrat to Esarhaddon (SAA 9 2.4)..............................114
82. [Sinqi¡a-amur] to Esarhaddon (SAA 9 2.5)............................116
83. NN to Esarhaddon (SAA 9 2.6)..............................................117
84–88. Third Collection of Prophecies (SAA 9 3)................118
84. Introduction (SAA 9 3.1)........................................................118
85. Oracle to Esarhaddon (SAA 9 3.2)........................................119
86. Oracle to Esarhaddon (SAA 9 3.3)........................................120
87. Meal of the Covenant (SAA 9 3.4)........................................121
88. Oracle to Esarhaddon (SAA 9 3.5)........................................122
89. Fragment of a Collection of Prophecies (SAA 9 4)..............124
90. NN to the Queen Mother (SAA 9 5) ....................................125
91. Ta¡metu-ere¡ to Esarhaddon (SAA 9 6)................................126
92. Mullissu-kabtat to Assurbanipal (SAA 9 7) ..........................126
93. Report of Prophecies to Assurbanipal (SAA 9 8) ................129
94. Dunna¡a-amur to Assurbanipal (SAA 9 9)............................130
viii Prophets and Prophecy in the Ancient Near East
95. Dunna¡a-amur to Assurbanipal (?) (SAA 9 10) ....................131
96. NN to Assurbanipal (SAA 9 11) ............................................132
V. Other Neo-Assyrian Documents............................................133
97. Esarhaddon’s Rise to Power (Nin A) ....................................137
98. Esarhaddon’s Ascending the Throne (Ass A) ......................142
99. Assurbanipal’s Establishment of the Cult of
the Lady of Kidmuri (Prism T)..............................................143
100. Assurbanipal’s Mannean War (Prism A)................................144
101. Assurbanipal’s War against Teumman,
King of Elam (Prism B)..........................................................146
102. Succession Treaty of Esarhaddon (SAA 2 6)........................150
103. Marduk Ordeal (SAA 3 34/35) ..............................................151
104. List of Lodgings for Officials (SAA 7 9)................................152
105. Bel-u¡ezib to Esarhaddon (SAA 10 109) ..............................152
106. Bel-u¡ezib to Esarhaddon (SAA 10 111) ..............................155
107. Nabû-nadin-¡umi to Esarhaddon (SAA 10 284)....................158
108. Urad-Gula to Assurbanipal (SAA 10 294) ............................158
109. Mar-Issar to Esarhaddon (SAA 10 352) ................................164
110. Decree of Expenditures for Ceremonies in
E¡arra (SAA 12 69)..................................................................166
111. Adad-ahu-iddina to Esarhaddon (SAA 13 37)......................167
112. A¡¡ur-hamatu’a to Assurbanipal (SAA 13 139) ....................168
113. Nabû-re¡i-i¡¡i to Esarhaddon (?) (SAA 13 144) ....................169
114. NN to Esarhaddon (?) (SAA 13 148)......................................169
115. Nabû-reΔtu-ußur to Esarhaddon (SAA 16 59) ......................170
116. Nabû-reΔtu-ußur to Esarhaddon (SAA 16 60) ......................172
117. Nabû-reΔtu-ußur to Esarhaddon (SAA 16 61) ......................174
118. Ritual of I¡tar and Tammuz (K 2001+)..................................175
VI. Miscellaneous Cuneiform Sources........................................179
119. King of Ur to Ur-Lisi (TCS 1 369)..........................................181
120. Old Babylonian Lexical List (MSL 12 5.22) ..........................181
121. Tu¡ratta of Mitanni to Amenophis III of Egypt (EA 23)......182
122. The Righteous Sufferer from Ugarit (Ugaritica 5 162)........184
123. Middle Assyrian Food Rations List from
Kar-Tukulti-Ninurta (VS 19 1)................................................185
124. Neo-Assyrian Lexical List (MSL 12 4.212)..............................186
125. Neo-Assyrian Lexical List (MSL 12 4.222)..............................187
126. Neo-Assyrian Lexical List (MSL 12 6.2) ................................187
127. Birth Omens (⁄umma izbu xi)..............................................189
128. Commentary on the Birth Omens (K 1913) ........................189
129. City Omens (⁄umma ålu i) ..................................................189
Contents ix
130. Neo-Babylonian List of Temple Offerings
(OECT 1 20-21) ......................................................................192
131. Neo-Babylonian Decree of Redemption of an Estate
(YOS 6 18)..............................................................................193
132. Neo-Babylonian Decree of Delivery of Dates
(YOS 7 135)............................................................................194
133. Late Babylonian ak•tu-Ritual (RAcc 144-45) ........................195
134. Late Babylonian Chronographic Text
(Tishri, 133 B.C.E.) (AD 3 132 B)............................................196
135. Late Babylonian Chronographic Text
(Tishri, 133 B.C.E.) (AD 3 132 C)............................................199
VII. West Semitic Sources (C.-L. Seow)........................................201
136. Amman Citadel Inscription....................................................202
137. Zakkur Stela............................................................................203
138. Deir (Allaa Plaster Texts..........................................................207
139. Lachish Ostracon 3 ................................................................212
140. Lachish Ostracon 6 ................................................................215
141. Lachish Ostracon 16 ..............................................................217
VIII. Report of Wenamon (Robert K. Ritner) ..............................219
142. Ecstatic Episode from “The Report of Wenamon”
(col. 1/34–43)..........................................................................219
Concordances..............................................................................................221
Bibliography................................................................................................223
Glossary........................................................................................................261
Indexes ........................................................................................................269