SAA 10 109. Omen of the Kingship of Esarhaddon (ABL 1216) [from astrologers]

(1) [...] now [......]

(2) [...] and dates [......]

(3) [...] but his messenger [did] not [......]

(4) [...] beyond the kingship o[f ......]

(5) [...] completed according to his word [......] with the king [...]

(6) [I told] him: "You will take over the kingship." Let the king create her [...].

(7) I am Bel-ušezib, your servant and your dog who fears you [...].

(8) Why [did the king my lord sum]mon prophets and prophetesses w[hen I disclosed] the many [th]ings I had heard in Nineveh, (while) [I, who] blocked the exorcist with my mouth and [we]nt to pay homage to the crown prince my lord, who evaded execution [by fleeing] to the Tower, whose murder along with your servants [was plotted] every day, and who told the omen of the kingship of my lord the crown prince Esarhaddon to the exorcist Dadâ and the queen mother, saying: "Esarhaddon will rebuild Babylon and restore Esaggil, and [honor] me" —

(16) why has the king up until now not summoned me?

(19) the gods of the king of lands, my lord, be my witnesses that I said to the king, my lord, that the king will rule all the countries and that the [great gods] will give many years t[o the king, my lord].

(22) All these 20 years since I gave [...] three talents of silver and [...] audience gifts, they have not given me my [...]; yet th[ere are many] audience gifts.

(24) Let me resettle the ruined lands [...] for the king, and [let ...] by the king's command.

(r 1) In the reign of your royal father, Kalbu the son of Nabû-eṭir, without the knowledge of your royal father made a pact [with] the scribes and haruspices, saying: "If an untoward sign occurs, we shall [tell] the king that an obscure sign has occurred." For a year he censored all [...s], if a sign untoward to him [occurred], and that was anything but good.

(r 6) Finally, when the alû (demon) had come, [he said: "If a sign] that is untoward to me occurs and you do not report it to me, [......]."

(r 8) The scribes and haruspices took heed of these words, and by [the gods of the king, they reported] every portent that occurred during the reign of your royal father, and your royal father did stay alive and exercise the kingship.

(r 10) Now [then portents] have occurred in the reign of the king, my lord, bearing upon him. They have set aside whatever [......]; (but) where (are they)? They are looking for a pleasant sign [..., saying]: "Keep evil [omens] to yourselves, let [......]."

(r 14) [This was the sign] of kingship: (If a planet comes close to a planet), the son of the king who lives in a city on my border [will make a rebellion against his father, but will not seize the throne; a son of nobody will come out and se]ize [the throne]; he will restore the temples [and establish sacrifices of the gods; he will provide jointly for (all) the temples.]

(r 16) [Now then a sign] has occurred [in] Iyyar (II), in the reign of the king, my lord [...]

(r 17) [......] called a kingship of far-off days [......]

(r 18) [......] the crown prince who was meant [......]

(r 19) [......] the king came [......]

(r 21) [...] flees, let me stretch out my [...]; who is the [...] that [......]?

(e. 1) [...] ... Esarhaddon [......]

(e. 2) [...] you do not guard me [......]

(e. 3) You are [...]. May the face of Šamaš guard you [......]!