The Jewish garrison of Elephantine · a new plain-English translation from the Aramaic
Col. i| (Col. i)
1| [These are the wo]rds of one Ahikar by name, a wise and skilful scribe, who taught his son […]
2| [For] he said: 'Surely I shall have a son.' Before his wor[d]s, Ahikar was [grea]t, and coun[sellor of all Assyria he was,
3| and bear]er of the seal of Sennacherib king of Assy[ria. And he said: 'I] have n[o] sons.' [And on my counsel
4| and my words Sennacherib king of Assyria depended. Th[en Sen]nacherib, k[ing of Assyria, died, and there arose one named
5| Esarhaddon, his son, and he became king in Assyria in pla[ce of Sennacherib his f]ather. {T}[hen I said:
6| 'I am old, [and who will be] to [me] a son afte[r me … at] {his death}? [And who will be
7| a [scribe and bearer of the sea]l to Es[arhaddon the king, just as I was to Sennacherib
8| king of] Assyria?' Then I, [Ahikar, took one named Nadin,] the son [of my sister, and I raised him
9| and taught him wisdom, and {[lavished]} kindness, [and] se[t him up at the ga]te of the palace with m[e, before the king, among
10| his courtiers. I presented him to Esarhaddon king of Assyria, and he learned the [things
11| th]at he asked him. Esarhaddon king of Assyria then loved him and said: 'A[bundant] life [be to Ahikar,
12| the wise {[sc]ribe}, counsellor of all Assyria, who has set up his son — though [he has] no son, [his sis]ter's son!'
13| [When the king of Assy]ria [had said this,] I, Ahikar, bowed down and did obeisanc[e] before Esarh[addon, king of] Assyria.
14| [Some days later I, A]hikar, when I s[a]w that the face of Esarhaddon king of Assyria was favourable, spoke up
15| [and said before the kin]g: 'I [served Senna]cherib the king, your father, [wh]o was kin[g before you;
16| …] and now, look,
Col. ii| (Col. ii)
17| I am old; I cannot serve at the gate of the palace [and do your work for you.
18| Lo]ok, Nadin by name, my son, is grown, and he will succeed me as scribe [and counsellor of the whole of Assyria, and he
19| will be bear]er of the seal for you. My wisdom too and [my {coun}sel] I have taught him.' Esarhaddon answered, 'Let it b[e',
20| the kin]g of Assyria, and he said to me: 'Just so! [Your son as scribe and counsellor and seal-bearer to me
21| [shall be] in your place; your work he shall do [for me.' Then, when I, Ahikar, heard
22| the word that was gi]ven, went off to my house [and was at ease in my house. And this son of mine,
23| whom I had rais]ed and stationed at the palace gate [before Esarhaddon king of Assyria among
24| his courtier]s — I said, 'He will seek good [for me in return for what I have done for him.' But
25| the son of] my [sis]ter, whom I had raised, plotted agai[nst me evil, and he said in his heart:
26| '[Such wo]r[ds] I can s[ay: "That old man Ahikar, who {was} seal-bearer
27| to Sennach[eri]b the king, your father, [is corrupting the land against you, for counsellor and scribe
28| wise is he, and on his counsel and [his] wo[rds all Assyria depended." Then Esarhaddon
29| will be greatly agitated, hearing words [like these that I say to him, and he will kill Ahikar.' Then,
30| when my son, who was no son of mine, had invented [this lie against me …
31| to …
Col. iii| (Col. iii)
32| [Then Esar]{haddon} king of Assyria [was filled with rage], and he said:
33| '[Let Nabusumiskun come to me, on]e of my father's officers, who my father's bread
34| [ate.' The king said: 'Ahikar —] seek him out; wherever you find him,
35| [kill him.] Surely [Ah]ik[{ar}], that old man, a wise scribe
36| [and counsellor of all Assyri]a — lest he ruin the {land} against us!' Then, when
37| [the king of A]ssyria [had said this], he appointed 2 other men with him, to see how
38| [it would be done. Off went Nab]usumiskun, that officer, {riding} on a [h]orse, a swi[ft] one,
39| [and those men] with him. Then, three [d]ays later,
40| [he, with the o]ther [men] who were with him, {[saw me]} as I was walking among the vineyards.
41| [And when Nab]usumiskun, [that] officer, [saw me, {at} on]ce he tore his tunic and lamented,
42| [and said: 'Are you] the wise scribe and master of good counsel, who
43| [was a righteous man, and o]n whose counsel and words all Assyria depended? {Your …},
44| [the son whom you rais]ed, whom you set up at the gate of the palace — he has ruined you, and the requital
45| [is evil.' At o]nce I, Ahikar, was afraid; I answered and said to Nabusum[iskun,
46| that officer: 'Yes,] I am that Ahikar who once saved you from being killed though innocent,
47| [when Sennacherib,] the father of this King Esarhaddon, was enraged against you
48| [to kill you. At o]nce I brought you to my own house; there I provided for you
Col. iv| (Col. iv)
49| as a man does for his brother, and I concealed you from him. I declared, 'I have killed him,' until, at a[n]other ti[me] and after
50| many days, I brought you before Sennacherib the king and removed your offences before him, and har[m]
51| he did not do you. Indeed, King Sennacherib loved me greatly because I had let you live and had not put you to death. Now you,
52| as I did for you, so do for me: do not kill me. Lead me to your house unt[il] other days.
53| King Esarhaddon is merciful, as is known; later on he will remember me and seek my counsel. Th[en] you
54| [will bri]ng me before him, and he will let me live.' Then Nabusumiskun the officer [answered] and said to me: 'Do not be afraid;
55| [you shall l]ive, Ahikar, father of all Assyria, on whose counsel King Sennacherib and the army of Assyria,
56| [all of it, depended.'] At once Nabusumiskun the officer spoke to his companions, those two men who accompanied him:
57| '[Lis]ten, [and pay atten]t[ion] to me, and I shall tell you [my] plan; and it is a
58| [very] good plan.' Th[en those two men answered] and said to [him]: '[You] t[e]ll us, Nabusumiskun, officer,
59| what [you] th[ink, and we will heed] you.' At once [Nabusumiskun the o]fficer [answered] and said to them: 'Listen to me:
60| this [Ahi]kar is a great man [and the bearer of the se]al of [King] Esarhaddon, and on his counsel and words
61| the whole army of [Assyr]ia depended. Let us not kill him. [An innocent slave-boy,] a eunuch of mine, I will give you;
62| let him be killed {betw}[een] [the]se two mountains in place of this Ahikar. And whe[n it is reported,] the king [will se]nd other [m]en
63| for [o]thers to view the corpse of this {Ahikar}; afterward [they will see the cor]pse of [thi]s eunuch, my slave-boy,
Col. v| (Col. v)
64| until, later on, [King] Esarhaddon [remembers Ahikar and seeks his counsel and grieves
65| over him, and the heart of [King] Esarhad[don turns back to me, and he says to his officers and courtiers:
66| "Riches I will give you, as the num[ber of the sand, if only you could find Ahikar."' And this plan
67| pleased his companions, those t[{w}o men. They replied and said to Nabusumiskun the officer:
68| 'Do as you have planned. [We will not kill him; you will give us the slave-boy,
69| that eunuch, instead of [this] Ahikar; [he will be killed between these two mountains.'
70| At that time it was heard in the pro[vince of Assyria that Ahikar, the scribe of Esarhaddon
71| the king, had been killed. Then Nabus[umiskun, that officer, brought me to his house and hid me; and
72| he provided for me there li[ke a man for his brother, and he said to me: … bread and water
73| shall be carried before my lord. I[f …
74| ample provision and plen[tiful] goods [he gave me. Then Nabusumiskun, that officer,
75| went in to Esarhaddon the ki[ng and said to him: 'As you told me, so I have done:
76| I went and found [that] Ahik[ar and killed him.' And when Esarhaddon heard this,
77| the king questioned the t[wo] men [he had appointed along with Nabusumiskun, and they said: 'It was so, as
78| he says.' Th[e]n until [King] Esarha[ddon …
Col. vi| (Col. vi)
79| Wh[at] is stronger than wine roaring in the [pr]ess?
80| A son who is taught and disciplined, and has a path set at [his] feet …
81| Do not hold back your son from the rod; otherwise you will not be able to save [him from evil].
82| If I strike you, my son, you will not die; but if I leave you to your own heart, [you will not live].
83| A blow for a slave-boy, a re[buke] for a slave-girl, and for all your servants disc[ipline]. + A man who
84| buys a law[less] slave [and] a thieving slave-girl — f[ear] he [brings into his house, and …
85| his father's name, and his offspring by the name of his wantonness. + The scorpion [finds ?]
86| bread and does not [ea]t it [until it] lives; and t[o] it that is better than what it might ta[ste
87| to […] you did […] … the doe, much …
88| The lion will lie in wait for the stag in the cover of the thicket, and he […
89| and its blood he will shed and its flesh he will eat. Just so is the encounter of [me]n. + … lion […
90| An ass that leaves it and will not carry it shall bear shame from its fellow, [and shall c]arry a lo[ad] that is not [its own]
91| and be laden with the load of a camel. + The ass bend[s] down to the she-ass [out of l]ove for her, and the birds […
92| Two things are {good}, {and} a third is dear to Shamash: one who dri[nks] wine and shares it; one who masters wisdom [?]
93| and hears a word and does not disclose it. + See, this is dear [before] Shamash. And whoever {drinks} wine and does not [share it,
94| and whose wisdom is lost, [and … ] who has seen? + … … the nations [their wisdom], the gods […
Col. vii| (Col. vii)
95| To the gods also she is precious; fo[re]v[er] the kingdom is [hers]; in hea[ve]n she is set, for the lord of holy ones has exalted [her].
96| My [son], do not ch[a]tter overmuch, until you disclose [every wo]rd
97| [that] comes to your mind; for their [eyes] and their ears are everywhere. B[ut] guard your mouth, lest it become [your] prey.
98| Above all watching, watch your mouth, and [over] what you have h[eard] harden your heart; for a word is a bird, and the man who lets it go has no s[ense].
99| … the riddles of your mouth; after that bring them out to your [brot]her at his need. For an ambush of the mouth is stronger than an ambush of battle.
100| Do not quench a king's word; may it be a healing for your [brot]her. Soft is the speech of a king, yet it is sharp, and stronger than a double-[edged] knife.
101| Look: something hard is before you [in the pr]esence of the k[ing]; do not stand still; slight as a flash beside lightning are you — be on your guard.
102| Let him not di[spl]ay it over your w[o]rds, and you depart [be]fore your days.
103| [In the presen]ce of a king, if something is commanded, it is a burning fire. Do it at once. [Do n]ot put sackcloth on yourself and cover your palms; [for
104| so] too the word of a king is in the heat of the heart. + [Wh]y should wood contend with fire, flesh with a blade, a man with [a king]?
105| I have tasted even the bitter wild fruit, and the [tast]e was strong; but there is nothing more [b]itter than poverty. A k[ing]'s tongue is soft,
106| but a dragon's ribs it will break, like death, which is [n]ot seen. + Do not let your heart rejoice in many children, and in their fewness [do not be ashamed].
107| A king is like one who is merciful; even his voice is lofty. Who is it that can stand before him, but one with whom God is?
108| A king is beautiful to behold, like the sun, and his splendour is precious to those who tread the earth in quie[t].
109| A good vessel cove[rs] a thing within it, but [one that] is broken lets it out.
110| The lion went up to gr[eet the ass, saying]: 'Peace be with you.' The ass answered, saying to the lion:
Col. viii| (Col. viii)
111| I have carried sand and borne salt, but there is nothing heavier than [debt ?].
112| I have carried straw and lifted bran, but there is nothing lighter than a sojourner.
113| A sword troubles calm waters between good neighbours.
114| A small man who multiplies his words — they fly up above him; for his mouth's opening calls up
115| the gods. And if he is beloved of the gods, they will put something good in his palate to say.
116| Many are the [s]tar[s of heaven whose] names no one knows; just so, mankind no one knows.
117| In the sea [there is no] lion; that is why they call the qappa a lion.
118| The leopard came upon the goat, and she was bare. The leopard spoke up and said to the goat: 'Come here, and I will cover you with my hide.' [answered]
119| the goat and said to the leopard: 'What use is that to me, my lord? Do not take my own skin from me.' For [he] does not [as]k after
120| the welfare of the gazelle except to suck its blood. + The great one went to the la[mbs] … …
121| fell silent. The lamb[s] answered and said to him: 'Take for yourself what you will [ca]rry from us; we are [your la]mbs.'
122| For it is not in the hands of m[e]n to l[if]t their feet and to set them down apart fr[om the gods]; b[ut …
123| for it is not in your hands to l[if]t your foot [and] to set it down. + If good comes out of the mouth of m[en, good;
124| but if evil comes out [of] their mouth, the gods will do evil to them. + If the gods' eyes are on m[en,
125| a man splits wood in darkness and does not see, like a thief breaking into a house and being [caught ?].
Col. ix| (Col. ix)
126| [Do not bend] your [b]ow and do not set your arrow against a righteous man, lest God come to his aid and turn it back against you.
127| … You, O my son, reap every harvest and do every work; then you will eat and be satisfied and give to your children.
128| [If you ben]d your bow and set your arrow against a righteous man, the sin is from you; from the gods …
129| … You, O my son, borrow grain and wheat, so that you may eat and be satisfied and give to your children with you.
130| A heavy [l]oan, and from an evil man, do not borrow. A[nd if] you do borrow a loan, give yourself no rest until
131| the [l]oan [you repay. A loa]n is sweet wh[en one is in n]eed, but repaying it fills a [h]ouse.
132| [Whatever you hear, test i]t with your ears; for a man's charm is his trustworthiness, [and] his hatefulness the lying of his lips.
133| [At fir]st the throne is for the liar, [. .]{…}; but at the e[nd] his lies [will over]take him, and they will spit in his face.
134| The liar — his neck is cut, like a southern maiden who [hides ?] her face, like a man doing evil
135| that did not come from the gods. +
136| [Do not despise] what is in your lot, and do not covet a great thing that is withheld from you.
137| [Do not heap up] wealth, and do not make the heart great.
138| [One who] does not take pride in his father's name and his mother's name — may the su[n] not shine [on him], for he is an evil man.
139| [From me] my evil has gone out, and with whom shall I be in the right? + The son of my own body has spied out my house; [? and wh]at shall I say to strangers?
140| He [h]as been a lying witness against me, so who will justify me? + From my own house the wrath has gone out; with whom shall I contend and struggle?
141| Do not reveal [your sec]rets before your [fri]ends, [and] let your name not be made light before them.
Col. x| (Col. x)
142| With one who is higher than you, do not enter into a qu[arrel ?].
143| With one who is nob[ler] and stronger than you [do not go to law, for he will take
144| from your portion [and to] his own [will {add} ?].
145| Just so is a small man who [goes to law] with [a great man].
146| Do not remove wisdom from yourself, and [ …
147| Do not be overly clever, [and] let your w[isdom] not be snuffed out.
148| Do not be sweet, lest [they swal]low you; do not be bitter, [lest they spit you out].
149| If you wish, my son, to be [exalted, humble yourself before God,
150| who brings low the exalted man (?) and [raises up the lowly man].
151| What the l[ip]s of [me]n curse, [the gods do] n[ot curse].
152| It is good to subdue …
153| your soul; let it not love …
154| they let them fall, except one with whom God is …
155| they will ruin my hands, and not my mouth, and not …
156| God will twist the mouth of the twister and tear out [his] tongue.
157| Let good [ey]es not be darkened, and [good] ears [not be stopped, and let a good mouth love
158| the truth and {speak it}.
Col. xi| (Col. xi)
159| A man of [fi]ne bearing with a good heart is like a strong [bo]w that is dr[awn] by a m[an] of strength.
160| [If] a man [does not] stand with the gods, how will he be guarded by the strength within him?
161| … who … womb; and one who has God with him — who will b[e his j]udge?
162| … … men and peoples passed through them and did not leave them, and their heart [was open ?].
163| [No] one [knows] what is in his fellow's heart. And when a good man [se]es an e[vil] man, [let him beware of him];
164| [let him not] keep company with him on [the road], nor {be} a partner for hire to him — a good man [wi]th an [evi]l m[an].
165| [The bram]ble sent to the pomegranat[e], saying: 'Bramble to Pomegranate: what good are your man[y] thor[ns to one who t]ouches your [fr]uit?'
166| … The [pomegranat]e [answer]ed and said to the bramble: 'You are thorns, al[l of you], to whoever touches you.'
167| As for the righteous among men, all who strike against him become his help.
168| [The house] of the wicked will be shaken on a day of wind, and in calm its gates will sink down; for the plunder
169| [of the righteous are they.] + My eyes that I raised toward you, and my heart that I gave you in wisdom,
170| [you have despised, and have gi]ven my name over to wanton[ness].
171| If the wicked seizes the skirts of your garment, leave it in his hand. Then draw near to Shamash: he
172| will take what is his and give it to you.
Col. xii| (Col. xii)
173| Establish me, O God, as a righteous man with you, [for
174| my enemies will die, and not by my sword […]
175| I left you in the shade of the cedar, and [you went around ?]
176| You abandoned your friends and honoured [my enemies].
177| … a man who does not know what […]
178| Wise in speech, for the opening of the mouth […]
179| The she-ass […] and she […]
180| […]
181-183| …
184| … the moth [f]ell into the woof […]
185| … water […]
186| … … the bronze, the moth fell […]
187| My soul does not know its way; therefore [ …
188| Hunger makes bitterness sweet, [and] thirst […]
189| Let him be sated like a people, from bread, and let [the soul of the poor] be refreshed [with wine].
190| men … sand … …
Col. xiii| (Col. xiii)
191| One bent his bow and set his [arr]ow, and not […]
192| If your master entrusts water to you to keep […]
193| to leave gold in your hand. + Do not [ … ‖ … ? … ?
194| … and he does not {interpret} ‖ Approach me, and let him not tell you, 'Keep f[a]r from me.'
195| … and he does not … to him.
196| [A slave on whose fe]et is the road, and [who is a thi]ef, is not to be [b]ought.
197| … + ‖ … his house with him; [f]ire [has gone ou]t fr[om the pre]sence
198| [of God. +] … to [his] m[aster] … … in his judgment, when he did ev[il] to his [m]aster.
199| … {…} his master … the father was … + The birds … … upon …
200| … … an evil man who overtakes …
201| … when he [s]ends [you], why should you change colour before him?
202| … likeness … his face, because
203| … the seller … [be]fore you, tested before
204| … one to help him: '[Let me ride] on you, and [I] will provide for you.'
205| '[Yours be] your provender and your covering, and I will not see your rider.'
206| [Between fle]sh and my sandal, let no pebble get into my foot.
207| If … + Let the rich man not say, 'In my riches I am glorious.'
(c)| (fragment c)
197*| … +
198*| to …
199*| {…} his master
200*| …
(d)| (fragment d)
d1| know … you
d2| you hate
Col. xiv| (Col. xiv)
208| (A) [Do not sh]ow the Arabs the sea, nor the Sidonians the c[ountry]; (B) for their work is {distinct}.
209| … the wine — {it is he} who ought to taste it, and … ‖ he will [g]uard it.
210| … {…} {said}: 'Dead is {my enemy}', and you answered, and [does not ‖ k]now what will [c]ome after him.
211| … {he will tear out} and blood from {my skin}. + {…} … ‖ in weeping {if} … {…} … from … {your} mind
212| … {so} {it} … … ‖ … but {…} …
213| … ‖ … blind of eyes …
214| … will come … (B) … {to him} …
215| … eyes … (D) … water …
216| … a young child and one deaf of ears to … (C) … {…} … children …
217| … from {the womb} a freeborn son knows, and not {fr}[om] … {…} …
218| … {let no man acquire} a woman not {[m]arried} (C) who … … (E) {for good}
219| … is acquired, his n[eighbour] like his neighbour, and [his] wife (H) … (G) … (F) …
220| … {…} … {all} … upon …
221| … what … what … who … (H) a thief (G) … (F) …
222| … {this}: the house of his neighbour he sets {on fire}.
223| … {merciful} … from {the lord of} {…}
Cite a passage by its number: every paragraph here has its own anchor (for example https://openscriptorium.com/read/elephantine/083-the-words-of-ahikar#p1), and the bracketed reference numbers link the same way.
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