Nabû-bel-šumati writes to the king about an attack (no. 173). The author may be the commandant of Borsippa attested in office in 661-653 B.C.[[80]]
On the basis of the introductory material and content, three letters to Assurbanipal from Marduk are probably from one man, termed here Marduk A (nos. 174-176). One letter reporting on Šamaš-šumu-ukin probably quotes a speech by him to the people of Babylon about a divine procession of Marduk (no. 174). This may indicate a date before the Assyrians' siege of Babylon which had begun by mid-Tammuz 650 B.C. In another letter Marduk A opposes the magnates' plan to set up camp in Dilbat and suggests that they re-use last year's site outside Babylon and be equipped to enforce the siege of the city (no. 175). This letter dates from the siege of Babylon after its first year, from 649 or 648 B.C. before the city fell. In the third letter Marduk A reports that, after a fruitless search in Borsippa, he has arrested a disguised fugitive in Sippar, almost certainly the rebel leader Nabû-ušezib of the Puqudu (no. 176).[[81]] The letter may date from the collapse of the revolt in 648 B.C. Marduk A may have been based in Borsippa. Two other letters from Marduk are probably from one man on the basis of the introductory material (nos. 177 and 178). This Marduk is termed here Marduk A/B, since it is uncertain whether he is also the author of nos. 174-176. Neither no. 177 to Kurigalzu "his brother" nor no. 178 to the "chief tailor his lord," contain any indication of date but no. 177 is from Borsippa.
Three letters from Nabû-balassu-iqbi to Assurbanipal should perhaps be attributed to Borsippa on the basis of the role of Nabû in the introductory material (no. 181:4-5; cf. no. 182:3). In one letter someone is instructed to inform "the cripple" (LÚ.hum-mur) that he wIll no longer provide him wIth information but is seeking refuge in Assyria (no. 180). These instructions, possibly from the king, also concern Bel-eṭir of Bit-Ibâ (called the 'son' of Ibâ). In Babylonian letters from Assurbanipal, the word hummur is connected with the Elamite king Huban-nikaš II (probably 653-652 B.C.), possibly as a term of abuse after he broke his treaty with Assyria.[[82]] Elam (or the vicinity) and Bel-eṭir, the 'son' of Ibâ, are connected in a text of Assurbanipal date, possibly 653 B.C.[[83]] Nabû-balassu-iqbi appeals to the king to enforce a ruling by the chief judge in a property dispute with Arrabu backed by the mayor (no. 181). References to conflict and Babylonian booty suggest a date after the Šamaš-šumu-ukin revolt (no. 181:10, r.7-8). The third letter mentions testimony by Nabû-balassu-iqbi, perhaps in this property dispute (no. 182).
Aplaya from Dilbat informs the king that prisoners he arrested on their way to Babylon are pretending to be deserters but are enemies of Assyria wIth undesirable family connections (no. 183). When Šamaš-šumu-ukin launched an attack from Babylon against the king's camp at Kar-Nergal, Zababa-eriba went with him and killed and robbed a recruitment officer. The road should be blocked between Babylon and Borsippa. This letter predates the siege of Babylon. In another letter Aplaya denies responsibility for an escape to Elam (no. 184).
Nabû-ušallim asks the king to contact Kudurru of Blt-Amukani about relocating a hostile and disruptive group who fled from the marshes of Bit-Dakkuri as refugees under Šamaš-ibni and now live in Bit-Amukani (no. 185). In a fragmentary letter Nabû-ušallim mentions Šamaš-šumu-ukin, killing, and Nabû-ušezib (no. 186). The author is Nabû-ušallim of Bit-Dakkuri, not Nabû-ušallim of the Sealand, because he is concerned about refugees from his predecessor Šamaš-ibni and the subjection and co-operation of their "brothers." On Nabû-ušallim and Šamaš-ibni of Bit-Dakkuri, see no. 56. Kudurru of Bit-Amukani was probably active around the time of the Šamaš-šumu-ukin revolt.[[84]] Nabû-ušezib in no. 186 may be the rebel leader of the Puqudu (see no. 176).
80 See Frame Babylonia 272.
81 On Nabû-ušezib, the rebel leader of the Puqudu during the revolt, see Frame Babylonia 167f, 172ff. Note the name Ṣillaya in an Assurbanipal letter.
82 ABL 290 r.1; ABL 1380:22; possibly CT 54 464:4.
83 CT 54 490 + ABL 1007 r.15. See Waters, SAAS 12 56-61. On Bel-eṭir, see nos. 57 amd 58.
84 See PNA 2/I 634 s.v. Kudurru 24; Frame Babylonia 39, 169.
Frances Reynolds
Frances Reynolds, 'Letters from Borsippa, Dilbat, and Bit-Dakkuri', 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/fromborsippaetc/]