Labaya
Encyclopedia
Labaya was a Habiru
, possibly Canaanite
, warlord who lived contemporaneously with Pharaoh Akhenaten (14th century BCE). Labaya is mentioned in several of the Amarna Letters
(abbreviated "EA", for 'el Amarna
'), which is practically all scholars know about him. He is the author of letters EA 252-54.
Labaya was a local ruler who had control over the city of Shachmu (Shechem
). He and his sons exerted influence over a wide region in Samaria
, and threatened many powerful Canaanite towns, including Jerusalem, Gezer
, (called 'Gazru'), and Megiddo
.
The Amarna letters give an incomplete look at Labaya's career. In the first of Labaya's letters thus far discovered (EA 252), he defends himself to the Pharaoh
against complaints of other city rulers about him (for example, the complaint that he has hired mercenaries from among the Habiru
). Labaya further admitted to having invaded Gezer and insulting its king Milkilu
. He denied any knowledge of his son's alleged collaboration with the Habiru:
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 Egypt
ian protection. Biridiya
, the king of Megiddo, accused him of besieging his city:
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).
Labaya's name is referenced in fourteen el Amarna letters and his name used thirty-two times. He was the author of letters EA 252-254.
ben Gideon, from Judges 9
, were identical.
Still others, such as David Rohl
, have advocated a totally revised chronology of ancient Israelite and Egyptian history, and instead identify Labaya with Saul
, and Mutbaal with Saul's son Ishbaal or Ish-bosheth
. The names Ish-baal and Mutbaal have indubitably the same meaning, "Man of Baal". By either name, he moved his capital to Transjordan
after the death of his father, whose center of power had been west of the Jordan river. These scholars further identify Dadua, Ayab
and Yishaya, three figures mentioned by Mutbaal in a later Amarna Letter, as King David, his general Joab
, and his father Jesse
/Yishai. The Rohl chronology is not, however, widely accepted. Rohl's suggestions are dismissed by other Egyptologists, such as Kenneth Kitchen
, who claim that there are discrepancies between the Labaya of the Amarna texts and King Saul as he is described in the Books of Samuel
.
Habiru
Habiru or Apiru or ˁpr.w was the name given by various Sumerian, Egyptian, Akkadian, Hittite, Mitanni, and Ugaritic sources to a group of people living as nomadic invaders in areas of the Fertile Crescent from Northeastern Mesopotamia and Iran to the borders of Egypt in Canaan...
, possibly Canaanite
Canaan
Canaan is a historical region roughly corresponding to modern-day Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, and the western parts of Jordan...
, warlord who lived contemporaneously with Pharaoh Akhenaten (14th century BCE). Labaya is mentioned in several of the Amarna Letters
Amarna letters
The Amarna letters are an archive of correspondence on clay tablets, mostly diplomatic, between the Egyptian administration and its representatives in Canaan and Amurru during the New Kingdom...
(abbreviated "EA", for 'el Amarna
Amarna
Amarna is an extensive Egyptian archaeological site that represents the remains of the capital city newly–established and built by the Pharaoh Akhenaten of the late Eighteenth Dynasty , and abandoned shortly afterwards...
'), which is practically all scholars know about him. He is the author of letters EA 252-54.
Career
Shechem
Shechem was a Canaanite city mentioned in the Amarna letters, and is mentioned in the Hebrew Bible as an Israelite city of the tribe of Manasseh and the first capital of the Kingdom of Israel...
). He and his sons exerted influence over a wide region in Samaria
Samaria
Samaria, or the Shomron is a term used for a mountainous region roughly corresponding to the northern part of the West Bank.- Etymology :...
, and threatened many powerful Canaanite towns, including Jerusalem, Gezer
Gezer
Gezer was a Canaanite city-state and biblical town in ancient Israel. Tel Gezer , an archaeological site midway between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, is now an Israeli national park....
, (called 'Gazru'), and Megiddo
Megiddo (place)
Megiddo is a tell in modern Israel near Megiddo Kibbutz, known for its historical, geographical, and theological importance especially under its Greek name Armageddon. In ancient times Megiddo was an important city-state. Excavations have unearthed 26 layers of ruins, indicated a long period of...
.
The Amarna letters give an incomplete look at Labaya's career. In the first of Labaya's letters thus far discovered (EA 252), he defends himself to the Pharaoh
Pharaoh
Pharaoh is a title used in many modern discussions of the ancient Egyptian rulers of all periods. The title originates in the term "pr-aa" which means "great house" and describes the royal palace...
against complaints of other city rulers about him (for example, the complaint that he has hired mercenaries from among the Habiru
Habiru
Habiru or Apiru or ˁpr.w was the name given by various Sumerian, Egyptian, Akkadian, Hittite, Mitanni, and Ugaritic sources to a group of people living as nomadic invaders in areas of the Fertile Crescent from Northeastern Mesopotamia and Iran to the borders of Egypt in Canaan...
). Labaya further admitted to having invaded Gezer and insulting its king Milkilu
Milkilu
Milkilu, and more properly Milk-ilu, or Milku-ilu, with an alternate version of Ili-Milku-, was the mayor/ruler of Gazru- of the 1350-1335 BC Amarna letters correspondence...
. He denied any knowledge of his son's alleged collaboration with the Habiru:
Other Canaanite rulers, such as Abdi-Heba
Abdi-Heba
Abdi-Heba was a local chieftain of Jerusalem during the Amarna period . Abdi-Heba's name can be translated as "servant of Hebat", a Hurrian goddess. Some scholars believe the correct reading is Ebed-Nob...
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 Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
ian protection. Biridiya
Biridiya
Biridiya was the ruler of Megiddo in the 14th century BC. Biridiya authored five of the Amarna letters correspondence. He is also mentioned in the corpus from the city of 'Kumidu', the Kamid al lawz.-See also:...
, the king of Megiddo, accused him of besieging his city:
After receiving numerous complaints about Labaya's behavior, the pharaoh (probably Amenhotep III
Amenhotep III
Amenhotep III also known as Amenhotep the Magnificent was the ninth pharaoh of the Eighteenth dynasty. According to different authors, he ruled Egypt from June 1386 to 1349 BC or June 1388 BC to December 1351 BC/1350 BC after his father Thutmose IV died...
) 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
Gina (Canaan)
Gina, mentioned in the Amarna Letters, was a town in ancient Canaan. The citizens of Gina were responsible for the death of Labaya. The town was later known as Beth-Hagan and was probably located roughly on the spot of the modern town of Jenin....
(Beth-Hagan, possibly modern-day Jenin
Jenin
Jenin is the largest town in the Northern West Bank, and the third largest city overall. It serves as the administrative center of the Jenin Governorate and is a major agricultural center for the surrounding towns. In 2007, the city had a population of 120,004 not including the adjacent refugee...
). 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
Mutbaal
Mutbaal was a Canaanite king of the Amarna Period. He is identified in the Amarna letters as a son of Labaya, the ruler of the hill country north of Jerusalem, including the territory in the vicinity of the city of Shachmu .Mutbaal may be the son whose association with the Habiru raiders Labaya...
, ruled Pella
Pella, Jordan
Pella is a village and the site of ancient ruins in northwestern Jordan. It is half an hour by car from Irbid, in the north of the country....
in the Trans-Jordanian part of Canaan. Biryawaza
Biryawaza
Biryawaza was king of Damascus in the middle fourteenth century BC. In the Amarna letters, he was ordered by his Egyptian overlords to take armed action against Labaya's sons ....
, king of Damascus
Damascus
Damascus , commonly known in Syria as Al Sham , and as the City of Jasmine , is the capital and the second largest city of Syria after Aleppo, both are part of the country's 14 governorates. In addition to being one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Damascus is a major...
, was eventually asked to take armed action against Labaya's sons (EA 250).
List of Labaya's three letters to Pharaoh
-
- EA 252—title: "Sparing one's enemies"
- EA 253—title: "Neither rebel nor delinquent (1)"
- EA 254—title: "Neither rebel nor delinquent (2)"
Identifications with Biblical figures
Some researchers, such as Richard Abbott, note the possibility that Labaya and the biblical figure of AbimelechAbimelech (Judges)
In the Book of Judges in the Hebrew Bible, Abimelech was a son of the great judge Gideon ; thus his name אֲבִימֶלֶךְ / אֲבִימָלֶךְ can best be interpreted "my father, the king". "Abimelech", a name claiming the inherited right to rule, was also a common name of the Philistine kings...
ben Gideon, from Judges 9
Book of Judges
The Book of Judges is the seventh book of the Hebrew bible and the Christian Old Testament. Its title describes its contents: it contains the history of Biblical judges, divinely inspired prophets whose direct knowledge of Yahweh allows them to act as decision-makers for the Israelites, as...
, were identical.
Still others, such as David Rohl
David Rohl
New Chronology is the term used to describe an alternative Chronology of the ancient Near East developed by English Egyptologist David Rohl and other researchers beginning with A Test of Time: The Bible - from Myth to History in 1995...
, have advocated a totally revised chronology of ancient Israelite and Egyptian history, and instead identify Labaya with Saul
Saul the King
According to the Bible, Saul was the first king of the united Kingdom of Israel. He was anointed by the prophet Samuel and reigned from Gibeah. He commited suicide to avoid arrest in the battle against the Philistines at Mount Gilboa, during which three of his sons were also killed...
, and Mutbaal with Saul's son Ishbaal or Ish-bosheth
Ish-bosheth
According to the Hebrew Bible, Ish-bosheth also called Eshbaal , Ashbaal or Ishbaal, was one of the four sons of King Saul, born c. 1047 BC...
. The names Ish-baal and Mutbaal have indubitably the same meaning, "Man of Baal". By either name, he moved his capital to Transjordan
Transjordan
The Emirate of Transjordan was a former Ottoman territory in the Southern Levant that was part of the British Mandate of Palestine...
after the death of his father, whose center of power had been west of the Jordan river. These scholars further identify Dadua, Ayab
Ayyab
Ayyab was a king of Aštartu, named Tell 'Aštara, during the Amarna letters correspondence of 1350-1335 BC, . His city is located south of Damascus-, and is involved with the takeover of cities by the Habiru of the Amarna letters intrigues...
and Yishaya, three figures mentioned by Mutbaal in a later Amarna Letter, as King David, his general Joab
Joab
Joab the son of Zeruiah, was the nephew of King David and the commander of his army, according to the Hebrew Bible.- Name :...
, and his father Jesse
Jesse
Jesse, Eshai or Yishai, is the father of the David, who became the king of the Israelites. His son David is sometimes called simply "Son of Jesse" ....
/Yishai. The Rohl chronology is not, however, widely accepted. Rohl's suggestions are dismissed by other Egyptologists, such as Kenneth Kitchen
Kenneth Kitchen
Kenneth Anderson Kitchen is Personal and Brunner Professor Emeritus of Egyptology and Honorary Research Fellow at the School of Archaeology, Classics and Egyptology, University of Liverpool, England...
, who claim that there are discrepancies between the Labaya of the Amarna texts and King Saul as he is described in the Books of Samuel
Books of Samuel
The Books of Samuel in the Jewish bible are part of the Former Prophets, , a theological history of the Israelites affirming and explaining the Torah under the guidance of the prophets.Samuel begins by telling how the prophet Samuel is chosen by...
.