Another major Assurbanipal dossier contains six or seven letters to the king authored or co-authored by Illil-bani the governor of Nippur who took office between 664 and 661 B.C.[[85]] Illil-bani reports that his messenger has been maltreated by Belšunu of Bit-Dakkuri and that Šuma-iddin, the Assyrian appointee to the commandantship of Marad, is in Nippur (no. 192). Illil-bani has clashed with Aššur-belu-taqqin the prefect over the latter's duties. In another letter Illil-bani reports on Tammaritu Il, king of Elam probably 652-649 B.C. and part of 647 B.C., and sends Assurbanipal an individual back from Elam after captivity in the Sealand (no. 193).[[86]] Two of Illil-banis letters are fragmentary, one concerning irrigation (nos. 194 and 195). Letter no. 196 is probably from Illil-bani to Assurbanipal in view of the references to a watch of territory near the Euphrates, the author's garrison, and trouble with Belšunu. The letter reports on a territorial dispute involving the magnates and probably on Belšunu's refusal to supply troops and move his family from Babylon and Borsippa. On Belšunu, see no. 192. Two other Nippur letters mention trouble with Belšunu, who is very probably the leader of Bit-Dakkuri: One letter is attributed to Illil-bani and the other is from a governor of Nippur, probably a predecessor of Illil-bani under Assurbanipal (nos. 196: 13 and 201:9).[[87]]
Illil-bani, Aššur-belu-taqqin, and probably the people of Nippur report that their garrison of archers lacks the horses necessary to patrol their territory properly (no. 197).[[88]] The king has asked about Nabû-qati-ṣabat and Šarragitu m Bit-Yakin, and a manhunt is probably underway. On Aššur-belu-taqqin, see no. 192: Nabû-qati-ṣabat is probably the simmagir-official of Šamaš-šumu-ukin linked wIth Nabû-bel-šumati.[[89]] The man-hunt in no. 197 r.11-16, if correctly restored, is probably for Nabû-bel-šumati, the leader of the Sealand who was revolting against Assyria by 651 B.C. and was probably captured in 645 B.C.[[90]] After his victory in Babylonia, Assurbanipal writes to Illil-bani and the people of Nippur, urging them to capture a wanted man who has been identified as Nabû-bel-šumati.[[91]] Nabû-bel-šumati and Illil-bani are probably linked in ABL 1124 r.8. Illil-bani and the people of Nippur accuse Arameans and Chaldeans of misinforming the king and making peace with the enemy, and request more troops to protect Nippur (no. 199). The king's gods are probably said to be angry with the Babylonians, suggesting a date during the revolt. Ninurta-aha-iddin reassures Assurbanipal that Nippur and Its environs are well-guarded by himself and Illil-bani with his garrison of archers and invokes the blessing of Aššur, Enlil, and Ninurta for the king's victory in battle (no. 200).
There are two letters from an unnamed governor, or governors, of Nippur to the kmg. One reports that Nippur is well-guarded, links Belšunu's family with rebellion, and mentions a dispute, or disputes, probably about tax and land (no. 201). Belšunu is probably the leader of Bit-Dakkuri (see no. 192) and the letter probably dates to the reign of Assurbanipal before Illil-bani's governorship.[[92]] In another letter a governor warns that the king of Elam is preparing to break his treaty with Assyria and annex Chaldea at his brothers' instigation, despite resisting their pressure the year before (no. 202). The governor asks the king to stop Nabû-ahu-uṣur's son exercising illegal authority over Nippur; he is abusing the governor and free citizens. The treaty m no. 202 can be identified as the treaty between Esarhaddon and Urtak king of Elam, and no. 202 was probably written to Assurbanipal before Urtak's invasion of Babylonia in 664 B.C.[[93]] A broken letter mentions Nabû-šuma-ereš, governor of Nippur, and may describe the Assyrian response to his support of Urtak's invasion in 664 B.C. (no. 203).[[94]]
An author from Nippur reports to the Assyrian king on the disputed selection of royal rites, possibly involving rivalry between Nippur and BabyIon (no. 204). The author refers to "the king of Babylon, my lord" and "the kings, my lords," so the letter predates the revolt.
85 On Illil-bani, see PNA 2/I 519 s.v. Illil-bani 2; Cole, SAAS 4 54f; Frame Babylonia 121, 276. Letters from Illil-bani: nos. 192-195, and probably no. 196. Letter from Illil-bani, Aššur-belu-taqqin, and probably the people of Nippur: no. 197. Letter from Illil-bani and the people of Nippur: no. 199. Illil-bani is mentioned by Ninurta-aha-iddin (no. 200:16) and probably in a letter from Uruk (ABL 1124 r.8). On the letter from Assurbanipal to Illil-bani ABL 292, see Frame CRRAI 30 (1986) 269f.
86 On Tammaritu II, see Waters, SAAS 12 62ff, 71 -75.
87 Cf. PNA 1/II 331f s.v. Bēlšunu 6 b, 9, 10. See Cole, SAAS 4 33. Did Belšunu succeed Nabû-ušallim as leader of Bit-Dakkuri early in the reign of Assurbanipal?
88 See PNA 1/I 173 s.v. Aššur-belu-taqqin 11.
89 See Waters, SAAS 12 60, 75, 77; Frame Babylonia 154.
90 On Nabû-bel-šumati, see Waters, SAAS 12 68f, 72-79, 117f; Frame Babylonia 175-82.
91 ABL 292, see Cole, SAAS 4 34.
92 Partial parallels to the introductory material occur in letters dating to Sargon, Esarhaddon, and Assurbanipal. The relationship with Sargon material might suggest an Esarhaddon date for no. 201.
93 See no. 7; Waters, SAAS 12 43f, 46f.
94 See Waters, SAAS 12 46; Cole, SAAS 4 54; Frame Babylonia 276.
Frances Reynolds
Frances Reynolds, 'Letters from Nippur', 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/fromnippur/]