Введение
В 14 веке до н.э. правитель или военачальник в центральной горной местности южного Ханаана. Лабая (Labayu или Lib'ayu) был правителем Сихема и военачальником в центральной горной местности южного Ханаана в период Амарны (ок. 1350 г. до н.э.). Он жил во времена фараона Ахенатона. Лабая упоминается в нескольких Амарнских письмах (сокращенно "ЭА", от 'эль-Амарна'). Он является автором писем EA 252–254. Лабая действовал на всей территории Самарии и даже за её пределами, поскольку он предоставил землю хабиру в окрестностях Шакму (Сихема), а он и его сыновья угрожали таким могущественным городам, как Иерусалим и Газру (Гезер) на юге, и Мегиддо на севере.
Labaya (Labayu or Lib'ayu) was the ruler of Shechem and warlord in the central hill country of southern Canaan during the Amarna Period (c. 1350 BC). He lived contemporaneously with Pharaoh Akhenaten. Labaya is mentioned in several of the Amarna Letters (abbreviated "EA", for 'el Amarna'). He is the author of letters EA 252–54. Labaya was active over the whole length of Samaria and slightly beyond, as he gave land to Habiru in the vicinity of Šakmu (Shechem) and he and his sons threatened such powerful towns as Jerusalem and Gazru (Gezer) to the south, and Megiddo to the north.
Карьера
Письма из Амарны дают неполное представление о карьере Лабаи. В первом из обнаруженных до сих пор писем Лабаи (EA 252) он защищает себя перед фараоном от жалоб других городских правителей на него, например, жалобы на то, что он нанял наемников из числа хабиру. Лабая также признался, что вторгся в Гезер и оскорбил его царя Милкилу. Он отрицал, что знал о предполагаемом сотрудничестве своего сына с хабиру: «Королю, моему господину и моему Солнцу: так говорит Лабаю, твой слуга и прах под ногами твоими. Падаю к ногам короля, моего господина и моего Солнца, семь раз и семь раз. Я повиновался приказам, которые мне написал король. Кто я такой, чтобы король терял свои земли из-за меня? Истинно, я верный слуга короля! Я не бунтарь и не пренебрегаю своими обязанностями. Я не задерживал выплату дани, не отказывал в исполнении просьб моего комиссара. Он клевещет на меня несправедливо, но король, мой господин, не исследует мои (якобы) бунтарские действия. Более того, в этом и состоит мое восстание: когда я вошел в Газру (Гезер), я не переставал говорить: «Всё, что принадлежит мне, пусть забирает царь, но где же то, что принадлежит Милкилу?» Я знаю о злодеяниях Милкилу против меня! Кроме того, король написал и моему сыну. Я не знал, что мой сын общается с ‘апиру. Настоящим передаю его Аддайе (комиссару). И если король повелел моей жене, как я могу удержать её? И если царь повелел мне: «Вложи бронзовый кинжал в своё сердце и умри», как я могу не исполнить приказ короля?»
To the king, my lord and my Sun: Thus Lab'ayu, your servant and the dirt on which you tread. I fall at the feet of the king, my lord and my Sun, 7 times and 7 times. I have obeyed the orders that the king wrote to me. Who am I that the king should lose his land on account of me? The fact is that I am a loyal servant of the king! I am not a rebel and I am not delinquent in duty. I have not held back my payments of tribute; I have not held back anything requested by my commissioner. He denounces me unjustly, but the king, my Lord, does not examine my (alleged) act of rebellion. Moreover, my act of rebellion is this: when I entered Gazru (Gezer), I kept on saying, "Everything of mine the king takes, but where is what belongs to Milkilu? " I know the actions of Milkilu against me! Moreover, the king wrote for my son. I did not know that my son was consorting with the 'Apiru. I hereby hand him over to Addaya (commissioner). Moreover, how, if the king wrote for my wife, how could I hold her back? How, if the king wrote to me, "Put a bronze dagger into your heart and die", how could I not execute the order of the king? | (EA 254)
Other Canaanite rulers, such as Abdi Heba of Jerusalem, complained of Labaya's depredations (e. g. EA 289) but note that in later years, Abdi Heba would himself be referred to as "another Labaya" in EA 280. Labaya was accused of capturing cities that were under Egyptian protection. Biridiya, the king of Megiddo, accused him of besieging his city:
Say to the king (pharaoh), my lord and my Sun: Message of Biridiya, the loyal servant of the king, I fall at the feet of the king, my lord and my Sun, 7 times and 7 times. May the king, my lord, know that since the return (to Egypt) of the [Egyptian] archers, Lab'ayu has waged war against me. We are thus unable to do the plucking: Ka Zi ra (harvesting), and we are unable to get out of the city gate, because of Lab'ayu. When he learned that archers were not coming out, he immediately determined to take Magidda. May the king save his city lest Lab'ayu seize it. Look, the city is consumed by pestilence, by So may the king give a garrison of 100 men to guard his city lest Lab'ayu seize it. Look, Lab'ayu has no other purpose. He seeks simply the seizure of Maggida. | (EA 244)
After receiving numerous complaints about Labaya's behavior, the pharaoh (probably Amenhotep III) finally ordered several Canaanite rulers to take Labaya prisoner and send him to Egypt. Biridiya, ruler of Megiddo, wrote to the pharaoh that Zurata, governor of Akko, had captured Labaya, but accepted a bribe from the latter and released him (EA 245). Labaya was eventually killed by the citizens of Gina (Beth Hagan, possibly modern day Jenin). His death was reported to the Pharaoh's agent, Balu Ur Sag, by Labaya's two sons. The sons of Labaya continued to campaign against other Egyptian vassals in Canaan. One of Labaya's sons, Mutbaal, ruled Pella in the Trans Jordanian part of Canaan. Biryawaza, king of Damascus, was eventually asked to take armed action against Labaya's sons (EA 250).
Другие ханаанские правители, такие как Абди-Хеба из Иерусалима, жаловались на грабежи Лабаи (например, EA 289), но следует отметить, что в более поздние годы Абди-Хеба сам был назван «другим Лабаей» в EA 280. Лабаю обвиняли в захвате городов, находившихся под египетской защитой. Бирдидия, царь Мегиддо, обвинил его в осаде своего города: «Скажи королю (фараону), моему господину и моему Солнцу: послание Бирдидии, верного слуги короля. Падаю к ногам короля, моего господина и моего Солнца, семь раз и семь раз. Да будет известно королю, моему господину, что с тех пор, как вернулись (в Египет) [египетские] лучники, Лабаю начал войну против меня. Мы не можем приступить к уборке урожая (Ка Зи ра), и не можем выйти за городские ворота из-за Лабаи. Когда он узнал, что лучники не придут, он немедленно решил захватить Мегиддо. Да сохранит король свой город, чтобы Лабаю не захватил его. Смотрите, город поражен чумой. Да ниспошлет же король гарнизон в сто человек для охраны своего города, чтобы Лабаю не захватил его. Поистине, у Лабаи нет другой цели, кроме захвата Мегиддо». (EA 244)
To the king, my lord and my Sun: Thus Lab'ayu, your servant and the dirt on which you tread. I fall at the feet of the king, my lord and my Sun, 7 times and 7 times. I have obeyed the orders that the king wrote to me. Who am I that the king should lose his land on account of me? The fact is that I am a loyal servant of the king! I am not a rebel and I am not delinquent in duty. I have not held back my payments of tribute; I have not held back anything requested by my commissioner. He denounces me unjustly, but the king, my Lord, does not examine my (alleged) act of rebellion. Moreover, my act of rebellion is this: when I entered Gazru (Gezer), I kept on saying, "Everything of mine the king takes, but where is what belongs to Milkilu? " I know the actions of Milkilu against me! Moreover, the king wrote for my son. I did not know that my son was consorting with the 'Apiru. I hereby hand him over to Addaya (commissioner). Moreover, how, if the king wrote for my wife, how could I hold her back? How, if the king wrote to me, "Put a bronze dagger into your heart and die", how could I not execute the order of the king? | (EA 254)
Other Canaanite rulers, such as Abdi Heba of Jerusalem, complained of Labaya's depredations (e. g. EA 289) but note that in later years, Abdi Heba would himself be referred to as "another Labaya" in EA 280. Labaya was accused of capturing cities that were under Egyptian protection. Biridiya, the king of Megiddo, accused him of besieging his city:
Say to the king (pharaoh), my lord and my Sun: Message of Biridiya, the loyal servant of the king, I fall at the feet of the king, my lord and my Sun, 7 times and 7 times. May the king, my lord, know that since the return (to Egypt) of the [Egyptian] archers, Lab'ayu has waged war against me. We are thus unable to do the plucking: Ka Zi ra (harvesting), and we are unable to get out of the city gate, because of Lab'ayu. When he learned that archers were not coming out, he immediately determined to take Magidda. May the king save his city lest Lab'ayu seize it. Look, the city is consumed by pestilence, by So may the king give a garrison of 100 men to guard his city lest Lab'ayu seize it. Look, Lab'ayu has no other purpose. He seeks simply the seizure of Maggida. | (EA 244)
After receiving numerous complaints about Labaya's behavior, the pharaoh (probably Amenhotep III) finally ordered several Canaanite rulers to take Labaya prisoner and send him to Egypt. Biridiya, ruler of Megiddo, wrote to the pharaoh that Zurata, governor of Akko, had captured Labaya, but accepted a bribe from the latter and released him (EA 245). Labaya was eventually killed by the citizens of Gina (Beth Hagan, possibly modern day Jenin). His death was reported to the Pharaoh's agent, Balu Ur Sag, by Labaya's two sons. The sons of Labaya continued to campaign against other Egyptian vassals in Canaan. One of Labaya's sons, Mutbaal, ruled Pella in the Trans Jordanian part of Canaan. Biryawaza, king of Damascus, was eventually asked to take armed action against Labaya's sons (EA 250).
После получения многочисленных жалоб на поведение Лабаи, фараон (вероятно, Аменхотеп III) наконец приказал нескольким ханаанским правителям взять Лабаи в плен и отправить его в Египет. Бирдидия, правитель Мегиддо, написал фараону, что Зурата, наместник Акко, захватил Лабаи, но принял взятку от него и освободил (EA 245). Лабая был в конечном итоге убит жителями Гины (Бет-Хаган, возможно, современный Дженин). Его смерть была доложена агенту фараона Балу-Ур-Сагу двумя сыновьями Лабаи. Сыновья Лабаи продолжали вести борьбу против других египетских вассалов в Ханаане. Один из сыновей Лабаи, Мутбаал, правил Пеллой в транс-иорданской части Ханаана. Бирьяваза, царь Дамаска, был в конечном итоге призван предпринять вооруженные действия против сыновей Лабаи (EA 250).
To the king, my lord and my Sun: Thus Lab'ayu, your servant and the dirt on which you tread. I fall at the feet of the king, my lord and my Sun, 7 times and 7 times. I have obeyed the orders that the king wrote to me. Who am I that the king should lose his land on account of me? The fact is that I am a loyal servant of the king! I am not a rebel and I am not delinquent in duty. I have not held back my payments of tribute; I have not held back anything requested by my commissioner. He denounces me unjustly, but the king, my Lord, does not examine my (alleged) act of rebellion. Moreover, my act of rebellion is this: when I entered Gazru (Gezer), I kept on saying, "Everything of mine the king takes, but where is what belongs to Milkilu? " I know the actions of Milkilu against me! Moreover, the king wrote for my son. I did not know that my son was consorting with the 'Apiru. I hereby hand him over to Addaya (commissioner). Moreover, how, if the king wrote for my wife, how could I hold her back? How, if the king wrote to me, "Put a bronze dagger into your heart and die", how could I not execute the order of the king? | (EA 254)
Other Canaanite rulers, such as Abdi Heba of Jerusalem, complained of Labaya's depredations (e. g. EA 289) but note that in later years, Abdi Heba would himself be referred to as "another Labaya" in EA 280. Labaya was accused of capturing cities that were under Egyptian protection. Biridiya, the king of Megiddo, accused him of besieging his city:
Say to the king (pharaoh), my lord and my Sun: Message of Biridiya, the loyal servant of the king, I fall at the feet of the king, my lord and my Sun, 7 times and 7 times. May the king, my lord, know that since the return (to Egypt) of the [Egyptian] archers, Lab'ayu has waged war against me. We are thus unable to do the plucking: Ka Zi ra (harvesting), and we are unable to get out of the city gate, because of Lab'ayu. When he learned that archers were not coming out, he immediately determined to take Magidda. May the king save his city lest Lab'ayu seize it. Look, the city is consumed by pestilence, by So may the king give a garrison of 100 men to guard his city lest Lab'ayu seize it. Look, Lab'ayu has no other purpose. He seeks simply the seizure of Maggida. | (EA 244)
After receiving numerous complaints about Labaya's behavior, the pharaoh (probably Amenhotep III) finally ordered several Canaanite rulers to take Labaya prisoner and send him to Egypt. Biridiya, ruler of Megiddo, wrote to the pharaoh that Zurata, governor of Akko, had captured Labaya, but accepted a bribe from the latter and released him (EA 245). Labaya was eventually killed by the citizens of Gina (Beth Hagan, possibly modern day Jenin). His death was reported to the Pharaoh's agent, Balu Ur Sag, by Labaya's two sons. The sons of Labaya continued to campaign against other Egyptian vassals in Canaan. One of Labaya's sons, Mutbaal, ruled Pella in the Trans Jordanian part of Canaan. Biryawaza, king of Damascus, was eventually asked to take armed action against Labaya's sons (EA 250).
Отождествления с библейскими персонажами
Некоторые исследователи, такие как Ричард Эбботт, отмечают возможность того, что Лабая и библейский персонаж Авимелех бен Гидеон, из Книги Судей 9, были одним и тем же лицом. Другие же, такие как Дэвид Рол, предлагают полностью пересмотренную хронологию древнеизраильской и египетской истории, отождествляя Лабаю с Саулом, а Мутбаала с сыном Саула Иш-Баалом. Иш-Баал и Мутбаал, чьи имена имеют одинаковое значение – "Человек Ваала", перенесли свою столицу в Трансиорданию после смерти отцов, чья власть находилась к западу от реки Иордан. Рол также отождествляет Дадуа, Аяба и Ишая, трех персонажей, упомянутых Мутбаалом в более позднем письме из Амарны, с царем Давидом, его военачальником Иоавом и отцом Давида Иессеем. Однако хронология Рола не получила широкого признания. Предложения Рола отвергаются другими египтологами, такими как Кеннет Китчен, которые указывают на несоответствия между Лабаей, упоминаемым в текстах Амарны, и царем Саулом, как он описан в Книгах Самуила.