REFERRING TO BABYLONIA AND ELAM, ETC. 71 



Free Rendering. 



" Hammurabi sends thus to Sin-idmna"'. I shall hand over 

 to thee the goddesses of Emutbalu (on account of) thy 

 heroism on the day of Chedorlaomev. When they demand 

 them back from thee, overthi-ow thon their people with the 

 people who are with thee, and let them restore the goddesses 

 to their shrines." 



In other words, this was a gift to Sin-idinna™ which he 

 would have to renounce if there were difficulties connected 

 with its retention, for the people might demand their god- 

 desses back. Should this take place, Sin-idinna"' was 

 apparently to chastise the people, and then restore the 

 images to their ancient shrines, in order that the conquered 

 might see that the conqueror, though he would not be 

 dictated to, was merciful. 



Father Scheil seems to have found the true key of the 

 situation. Sin-idinna™ was, as is well known, king of Larsa, 

 and he points out that he must have been the last ruler 

 before the two Elamites, "princes of Emutbal," Kudur- 

 Mabug and his son Rim-Agu or Eri-Aku (Arioch), dispossessed 

 him, and the latter became king of Larsa. Sin-idinna'" of 

 Larsa is very probably the same person as the Sin-idinna'" to 

 whom Hammurabi writes, and to whom Hammurabi, if he did 

 not actually replace him upon the throne of Larsa, at least 

 gave considerable authority, and helped to drive out the 

 Elamites from his territory. 



As, in Gen. xiv, Chedorlaomer is called king of Elam, it is 

 to be supposed that he had no authority in Babylonia itself. 

 In all probability he simply invaded the country to help his 

 countrymen and possibly kinsmen, Kadur-Mabug and his son 

 Rim-Agu, Eri-Eaku, or Arioch, and it is to be supposed that 

 they were all driven out together by the allied native princes 

 of Babylonia, Hammurabi or Amraphel, and Sin-idinna'", the 

 rightful king or viceroy of Larsa. 



Fortunately there exists what may be regarded as the 

 official record of the victory gained by Hammurabi. It is 

 the colophon- date of the tablet B. H4, which records the sale 

 of a plantation by Ana-Sin-emida to Muhaddu"' for 2f shekels 

 of silver. This important entry is as follows : — 



3^Y ^ It -^ ^^yil -^"^ ^^i As-a uda nis-esa-kama 



•^ fj^ i^]-^ *^ "E^T t^ ^^^^ ^i" Ha-am-mu-ra-bi lugala 



