Monuments to the Truth of the Scriptures. 19 tween these royal houses were occasionally waylaid. Where upon the one who suffered loss would claim damages from the other if it was in his territory, because he had not properly pro tected the road. An interesting thing in connection with one of these robberies is that it took place at “Hannathon,” one of the border towns mentioned in Josh. 19:14, but of which noth ing else was ever known until it appeared in this unexpected manner. Most of the Tel el-Amarna letters, however, consist of those which were addressed to the king of Egypt (Amenhotep IV.) by his officers who were attempting to hold the Egyptian for tresses in Syria and Palestine against various enemies who were pressing hard upon them. Among these were the Hit- tites, of whom we hear so much in later times, and who, com ing down from the far north, were gradually extending their colonies into Palestine and usurping control over the northern part of the country. About sixty of the letters are from an officer named Rib- addi, who is most profuse in his expressions of humility and loyalty, addressing the king as “his lord” and “sun,” and call ing himself the “footstool of the king’s feet,” and saying that he “prostrates himself seven times seven times at his feet.” He complains, however, that he is not properly supported in his efforts to defend the provinces of the king, and is constantly wanting more soldiers, more cavalry, more money, more pro visions, more everything. So frequent are his importunities that the king finally tells him that if he will write less and fight more he would be better pleased, and that there would be more hopes of his maintaining his power. But Rib-addi says that he is being betrayed by the “curs” that are surrounding him, who represent the other countries that pretend to be friendly to Egypt, but are not. From this correspondence, and from letters from the south of Palestine, it is made plain that the Egyptian power was fast losing its hold of the country, thus preparing the way for
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