chish, after the taking of Ajalon by
the Hebrews, but they say nothing of Makkedah. From the book of
Joshua we learn that after the battle of Ajalon the Hebrews pursued
to Azekah, perhaps the ruin of Zak, east of Gaza, and to Makkedah
(x. 11), and then returned to Gilgal (15). An interval of unstated
duration occurred, while the five kings, Adonizedek, Japhia, Hoham,
Piram, and Debir (ver. 3), fled to Makkedah, where they were found
hid in a cave. It was during this interval, apparently, that these
Jerusalem letters were written.

324 The sign is unusual. The words are "icalu, ca-ar (Irhu) zabbatu," or
perhaps "icalu-ca ar(unu) zabbatu." The latter would mean "They
prevail over thee; they have been swift to seize."

325 "I have no father and no army." It either means this or "Have I no
father and no friend?" It might refer to his father's death, or to
the King of Egypt not being his father and friend. Dr. Sayce renders
"neither father nor mother" ("SAL um" for "rag um"); but it is very
unusual for orientals to refer to their female relations or wives,
though in the case of the King of Accho (95 B.) the writer speaks of
his wife; but this is for a special reason (see also 104 B.).

326 "'Abiri." This is read by others "Habiri" ("allies"); but the
political circumstances do not agree with this explanation, and the
sign is used throughout the letters for the guttural "'Ain" (as, for
instance, in the name of Azzah or Gaza). There is no mention in the
southern letters of Aziru, Abdasherah, Aitugama, or any of the
northern allies; and the sign for "allies" or "helpers" in the
northern letters is quite different. On the other hand, the 'Abiri
are never mentioned, except in the south, near Jerusalem. They are
called people of the "blood" or "tribe" of the 'Abiri (B. 106), and
of the "land" of the 'Abiri (B. 199), showing that the term is
derived from the 'Abarim, or mountains east of Jordan. The Abiru
chiefs are mentioned in the singular (B. 102, 104), and none of
these facts can be reconciled with the view that they were "allies."
They are distinctly said to have come from Seir (Edom) in one letter
(B. 104), and to have left their pastures (B. 103), and are probably
the "desert people" of the Gezer letter (51 B. M.). Their actions