Jerusalem and the cities of the Shephelah in the Amarna Letters

JERUSALEM AND THE CITIES OF THE SHEPHELAH IN THE AMARNA LETTERS, c. 1350 TO 1334 BCE

The southern hill country was dominated by Jerusalem, whose ruler, `Abdi-Kheba, was supported by a garrison of Nubian mercenaries. The Amarna letters tell of conflict between `Abdi-Kheba and his neighbors on the coastal plain. The bone of contention was control of the approach routes from the Shephelah to the central hill country. `Abdi-Kheba had bribed the leaders of Keilah to abandon their allegiance to Shuwardata, apparently the ruler of Gath. He wanted control over the Vale of Elah and the road leading from Keilah to Beth-zur and Bethlehem. Shuwardata complained and got permission from Pharaoh to reclaim his lost town by force. Then Shuwardata and Milkilu of Gezer, supported by Tagu of Gath-carmel, occupied Rubbute (the biblical Rabbah) and another town, Beth-NINIB, probably Beth-horon, both of which controlled other routes to the hill country. `Abdi-Kheba and his enemies refer to each other as `apîru, “outlaws.” Zimredda, ruler of Lachish, resisted the blandishments of his own brother, Shipti-Baalu, to be disloyal to pharaoh and was slain by “servants who have become renegades,” in the words of `Abdi-Kheba. Nevertheless, Shipti-Baalu did become ruler of Lachish. The ongoing conflict in the Shephelah involved other towns such as Aijalon and Zorah.

Article abstract from The Sacred Bridge