The most prolific author in this volume is Nabû-šumu-lišir, author of eight letters to Assurbanipal. Repeated references to Birati indicate that this city was Nabû-šumu-lišir's base and the letters' source.[[67]] Its precise location is uncertain but the city was an important ally of Assurbanipal in northern Babylonia, both before and during the revolt. The letters attest to hostilities with Arab tribes, namely the Qedarites, the Nabayateans, and the Massaʾeans.[[68]] In northern Babylonia Sippar, Šapazzu, Cutha, Babylon, and the marshy plain of Babylon are mentioned.[[69]] Birati's connections with Arabs and northern Babylonia are also attested in a letter from Nergal-ibni mentioning Tema, Sippar, Dur-Šarrukku, and Birati (no. 153).
Nabû-šumu-lišir reports the Qedarites' defeat, as befits those who break a treaty with the Assyrian king (no. 143). This probably refers to Yautaʾ of Qedar breaking his treaty with Assurbanipal; if so, the letter predates the Šamaš-šumu-ukin revolt, since Yautaʾ was succeeded by Abi-Yateʾ shortly before the revolt began.[[70]] Two other letters probably refer to conflict with the Qedarites (nos. 144 and 145). Two letters clearly date from the revolt. Nabû-šumu-lišir sends soldiers to the marshy plain of Babylon where they defeat an attack by the king of Babylon's forces ino. 146).[[71]] He contrasts the sack of Birati, presumably by supporters of Šamaš-šumu-ukin, with his alliance with Assyria but is anxious about his status. In the second letter the king of Babylon entrusts prisoners from Birati and Assyrian prisoners from Cutha to Nabayatean chieftains as a gift for their leader Natnu (no. 147). One of the prisoners from Birati escapes from Babylon and Nabû-šumu-lišir launches an attack, presumably on the route to Nabayatea, and sends booty and the chieftains to the Assyrian authorities in Sippar. Assurbanipal's messenger from Birati has reached Bit-Amukani. This letter post dates 9-VI/2-651, when Cutha fell to the Assyrians, and predates 11-IV-650, the start of the siege of Babylon. Sippar was under Assyrian control when it was written. Nabû-šumu-lišir attacks Arabs and frees from them the Assyrian businessmen from Halulê and the people from Birati captured in a raid on Birati (no. 148). He sends prisoners, friends of a priest of Šamaš, to the king for questioning. Responding to Assurbanipal's request for intelligence on the Arabs, Nabû-šumu-lišir reports a Massaʾean raid on a caravan from Nabayatea and sends a survivor to report to the king (no. 149). Nabû-šumu-lišir sends a messenger connected with Šapazzu on to the king (no. 150).
An author in Dur-Šarrukku reports to the Assyrian king that precious metal stolen from the cultic treasury of Humhum has been sent to the king of Babylon along with a statue of the god himself, and that supporters have gone to join him (no. 152).[[64]] Nergal-ibni informs the Assyrian king of the arrest in Sippar's city gate of a merchant from Tema going "from here" to the king of Babylon. The author describes himself as the king's loyal "treaty partner" (no. 153). An author from Cutha mentions Kudurru of Bit-Ibâ (literally, a 'son' of Ibâ), and the loyalty of a past commandant's son to the Assyrian king (no. 156). Reference to a 'son' of Ibâ may suggest an Assurbanipal date, although Esarhaddon is possible.[[65]] A crime attributable to Šamaš-šumu-ukin and bloodshed, people of Cutha being the probable victims, are reported to the Assyrian king (no. 157).[[66]]
64 On Humhum and Dur-Šarrukku, see LAS II 300. Mar-Issar accuses a governor of Dur-Šarrukku of robbing Šimaluʾa and Humhum (SAA 10 369).
65 On Ibâ and Bit-Ibâ, see PNA 2/I 498 s.v. Ibâ. On Bel-eṭir, the best known 'son' of Ibâ, see no. 57.
66 In view of references to offerings for Nergal and Nergal's cella, Cutha is probably the letter's source.
67 For writings of the name Birati, see no. 146:6.
68 Qedarites: nos. 143:8, 144 r.6, 145:7; Nabayateans: nos. 147:7 and 149 r. 1; Massaʾeans: no. 149 r.4; Arabs: nos. 148:10 and 149: 10.
69 Sippar: no. 147 r.8; Šapazzu: no. 150:9; Cutha: no. 147:9; Babylon and vicinity: nos. 146:8f and 147:14. A priest of Šamaš, Sippar's city god, is mentioned (no. 148 r. 11). Further afield, reference is made to Bit-Amukani and Halulê (nos. 147 r.12, r.14 and 148:12).
70 See SAA 2 10, pp. XXIIf, XXXIII; Ephʿal Arabs 54-59.
71 If Šamaš-šumu-ukin's troops came out of Babylon, the letter predates 11-IV-650, when the siege of Babylon began.
Frances Reynolds
Frances Reynolds, 'Letters from Birati, Dur-Šarrukku, and Cutha', The Babylonian Correspondence of Esarhaddon and Letters to Assurbanipal and Sin-šarru-iškun from Northern and Central Babylonia, SAA 18. Original publication: Helsinki, Helsinki University Press, 2003; online contents: SAAo/SAA18 Project, a sub-project of MOCCI, 2020 [http://oracc.org/saao/saa18/assurbanipalletters/frombiratietc/]