Hamath in the Iron Age: the Inscriptions
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2 Kings Chapter 8
2 Kings Chapter 8 Verses 1-6: The Lord brought “famine” to punish Israel’s sin. But in His mercy, He spared the Shunammite woman who had been kind to Elisha (4:8-37). Based on the details given (“went forth to cry … for her house and for her land”), she was probably now a widow. King Jehoram administered justice and kindness, unlike King Ahab in a similar situation (1 Kings 21:1-16). 2 Kings 8:1 "Then spake Elisha unto the woman, whose son he had restored to life, saying, Arise, and go thou and thine household, and sojourn wheresoever thou canst sojourn: for the LORD hath called for a famine; and it shall also come upon the land seven years." “A famine … seven years”: Seven-year famines were known in the ancient Near East (Gen. 41:29-32). Since the Shunammite woman would have been only a resident alien in a foreign land, her return within 7 years may have aided her legal claim to her property (Exodus 21:2; 23:10-11; Lev. 25:1-7; Deut. 15:1-6). This Shunammite woman had befriended Elisha on several occasions. He had prayed, and God had brought her son back to life on one occasion. He knew the 7 year famine that would come upon the land. He went to his friend, and told her to take her family out of the land before the famine begins. The famine in Egypt, at the time of Joseph, had been for 7 years as well. It seems, a severe famine lasts 7 years. -
Extracts Relating to the Hittites from the Tel El-Amarna Letters
APPENDIX EXTRACTS RELATING TO THE HITTITES FROM THE TEL EL-AMARNA LETTERS ROM a letter of Dusratta, king of Mitanni: 1 When F all the [army] of the Hittites marched to attack my country, Tessub my lord gave it into my hands and I smote it. There was none among them who returned to his own land.' From a letter of Aziru, son of Ebed-Asherah the Amorite, to the Egyptian official Dudu : 1 0 my lord, now Khatip (Hotep) is with me. I and he will march (together). 0 my lord, the king of the land of the Hittites has marched into the land of Nukhassi (Egyp!t"an Anaugas), and the cities (there) are not strong enough to defend themselves from the king of the Hittites ; but now I and Khatip will go (to their help).' From a letter of Aziru to the Egyptian official Khai : 1 The king of the land of the Hittites is in Nukhassi, and I am afraid of him; I keep guard lest he make his way up into the land of the Amorites. And if the city of Tunip falls there will be two roads (open) to the place where he is, and I am afraid of him, and on this account I have remained (here) till his departure. But now I and Khatip will march at once.' From a letter of Aziru to the Pharaoh : 1 And now the king of the Hittites is in Nukhassi: there are two roads to Tunip, and I am afraid it will fall, and that the city [will not be strong enough] to defend itself.' Appendix From a letter of Akizzi, the governor of Qatna (in Nukhassi) on the Khabur to the Pharaoh: 1 0 my lord, the Sun-god my father made thy fathers and set his name upon them ; but now the king of the Hittites has taken the Sun-god my father, and my lord knows what they have done to the god, how it stands. -