Reading akkadian PRayeRs & Hymns An Introduction

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READING AKKADIAN PRAYERS AND HYMNS: AN INTRODUCTION
great wealth, or security from enemies. 1 His choice so pleased Yahweh that the
deity decided to grant Solomon all of the other things that he did not request
(see vv. 12–14). These additional gifts look very similar to what Nebuchadnezzar
requests in our prayer. Solomon’s choice may look somewhat distinctive upon
first glance, but it should be kept in mind that wisdom was often characterized
as a gift of the gods in descriptions of ancient Near Eastern kings.
The idea of a heavenly ledger, sometimes referred to as the tablet of destiny
and in line 8 of our prayer as “the true writing board, which establishes heaven
and netherworld,” is found throughout Mesopotamian literature and corresponds
to the Hebrew Bible’s heavenly scroll (ר ֶפס). ֵ Shalom Paul has listed a great many
relevant texts from Mesopotamian literature as well as fourteen that name or
allude to the heavenly scroll in the Hebrew Bible (Exod 32:32–33, Isa 4:3,
34:16–17, 65:6, Jer 17:13, 22:30, Mal 3:16, Ps 40:8, 56:9, 87:6, 139:16, Dan
7:10, 10:21, and 12:1). 2 Despite the common mythological notion of a heavenly
ledger, the Hebrew Bible differs, as we would expect in light of its monotheistic
editing, in that there is no separate scribal god that serves Yahweh’s court. Either
Yahweh writes in this book himself (see, e.g., Exod 32:32–33) or some other
divine being must do it, though one is never actually named (see, e.g., Mal
3:16).
1 One might compare this request and its purpose to the characterization of Hammurabi in the
prologue and epilogue of his Code. See Martha Roth, Law Collections from Mesopotamia and Asia
Minor (2d ed.; SBLWAW 6; Atlanta: Scholars Press, 1997), 76–81, 133–40.
2 Shalom Paul, “Heavenly Tablets and the Book of Life,” JANES 5 (1973), 345–53.
TRANSLATION:
1. O Nabu, true heir, exalted vizier, 2. pre-eminent one, beloved of Marduk, 4.
look upon 3. my deeds favorably (and) joyfully and 7. give to me for a gift 5.
lasting life, the fullness of extreme old age, 6. the firmness of (my) throne, the
longevity of (my) reign, the ruination of (my) foes, 7. (and) the conquest of (my)
enemy’s land. 8. On your true writing board, which establishes the boundary 9.
of heaven and netherworld, 10. pronounce the long-lasting of my days, inscribe
extreme old age (for me). 11. Before Marduk, the king of heaven and netherworld,
12. the father who engendered you, make my deeds acceptable, 13. decree
my well-being. 16. Let (the following phrase) be placed in your mouth: 14.
“Nebuchadnezzar 15. is indeed the king, the provider!”
CUNEIFORM:
1.