[01] Recent archaeological excavations have concentrated on Khirbat en-Nahas, inside Jordan, as a copper producing site interpreted as an Edomite location belonging to the time of King Solomon. The dating was accomplished on the basis of the `massive fortifications, metal production facilities and more than 100 building complexes, as well as Egyptian scarabs of the 13th to 11th centuries BC'. The Egyptian scarabs, if typical for the 18th dynasty period, may actually indicate dates between 1000 to 800 BC; if the 19th and 20th dynasties (Ramses II & III) time are included it would include the late 7th - 4th century BC. [BAR, May/Jun 2005, p. 14.]
[02] An inscription of Adad-nirari reads: "I built administrative buildings throughout my land. I increased grain stores over those of former times. ... I increased the number of horses broken to the yoke. ..." H.W.F. Saggs, The Greatness that was Babylon, NY, 1962, p. 94.
[03] The reign length of Tutankhamun is usually given as 10 years which is supported by a cache of 36 amphorae/jars in his tomb with hieratic labels and with dates ranging from the 31st year of Amenhotep III to the 10th year of Tutankhamun. See Bryant G. Wood, Egyptian Amphorae in BA, June 1987, p. 75-(78)-83. - In our newest investigation we concur with the reign length since we recognized that the alter-egos of these 18th Dynasty Kings are largely alter-egos of Israelite and Judaic kings. In our new scheme we notice that Solomon/Senmut died about in the 17/18th year of Thutmose III, who is Shishak of the Bible. Hatshepsut died in about the 22nd year of Thutmose III who reigned from 949/948 to 911. The Shishak incident occurred in his 22/23 year in 925 BC.
[04] In 911 B.C., Amenhotep III began to reign until his health declined in his 38th year by about 874 by a disease of his feet. Close to this time, toward the end of his life, A. III married Queen Tiy, whose other names are Nefertiti/Jezebel who urged him to consult magicians and to mistreat his prophet. With the next kings, we must now compare Baasha, who is Ahab, with Akhnaton, their alter-ego. Baasha reigned his first 2 years at Tirzah, than as Ahab at Samaria, and as Akhnaton in Akhetaten since we concluded that Ahab = Akhnaton, who married Nefertiti/Jezebel.
[05] The next two alter-egos are of great interest, and our newest quite solid identifications. We concluded that the two son Elah/Ahazia (1 year) and Joram (11 years) of Ahab, are Smenkhare and Tut-ankh-Amun respectively. Jezebel/Nefertiti was not necessarily their mother though, we leave that still open.
[06] How after Amenhotep III the following alter-ego kings, plus those of Judah, would influence the political scene. Following the death of Rehoboam and his son Abijah, Asa reigned in Judah/Jerusalem who we at furst identified as the alter-ego of Pharaoh Amenhotep III, however, looking at the account in the EA letters, that seems now impossible. In the 5th year (907 BC), Amenhotep III fights his great Libyan war. His general Merymose, may possibly the later be King Omri of Israel. This is approximately year 41 of Thutmose III, whose son, Amenhotep II may well be `Zerah the Ethiopian' (Thut III may have had Nubian blood being the Nehesi of the Punt expedition) who led the massive army of a million men against King Asa of Jerusalem. Asa's victory was so great, that it brought to an end the long series of Egyptian campaigns into Syro-Palestine under Thutmose III and Amenhotep II. Egypt was now a spent force. The reign of Amenhotep II was largely synchronous with the last 15-17 years of Thutmose III.
With Egypt in decline, the mighty King Asa, now with tens of thousands of captured foreign troops at their disposal, began to spread out from Judah into Egypt, and probably also - with the aid of Merymose/Omri - into northern Israel. Ben-hadad/Ashurnasirpal/Yuya may have been pushed out of Israel and stationed himself at Damascus. - Apparently Asa had made an alliance with Jeroboam I; one which he would later renew with Jeroboam's son, Ben-hadad.
Asa - Amenhotep III's successors. Asa, after a long and peaceful reign blessed by God, in which he must have ruled a large portion of the world (possibly Babylon also - he is to be considered as one of Hammurabi's strong successors there), went into decline by about his 38th year in 874 BC, physically, with a disease in his feet, and spiritually, given his consultation now of medicine men and his mistreatment of a prophet. The reason? - It was likely due to having married the evil Queen Tiy, as Nefertiti, at this time. She, being a worshiper of Baal (as Queen Jezebel), would have urged him to consult magicians and to mistreat his prophet.
Baasha/Ahab and successors: It is only now that Baasha/Ahab comes on the scene - with the death of Omri - as ruler of Samaria, after having (as Baasha) reigned two years at Tirzah. He continually fights wars with Asa, whose reign right until then had been peaceful and untroubled. - Baasha, Elah and Zimri have all been misplaced, and should be recognized as, respectively, Ahab, Ahaziah (as Elah he is the Hiel the Bethelite who rebuilt Jericho), and Jehu (whom Jezebel calls "Zimri"). - As Ahab's political strength increases, Asa fades away and dies, in 871 BC. Ahab now also married Tiy/Nefertiti and assumes the rulership of Egypt as Akhnaton. Asa's son Jeshoshaphat, who himself will become a real power, seems to be the secondary partner in an alliance (unapproved by the prophets) with Ahab. - Ahab's sons, Ahaziah (Elah) and Joram/Jehoram - not necessarily both by Jezebel - may be, respectively, Akhnaton's sons - not necessarily both by Tiy.Nefertiti - Smenkhare and Tutankhamun (whose mother may have been Kiya). The vivid biblical account of the death of Joram/Jehoram (of Israel) may go a long way towards explaining the peculiarities with the mummy and rushed burial of Tutankhamun, Jehoram of Israel's proposed alter ego. - If we have indeed found the true biblical identification of the famous `boy king', Tutankhamun. in king Joram/Jehoram of Israel (who is given a bad press in the Bible, but less so than his brother, Ahaziah), then this must surely be an astounding discovery for Egyptology!!
[07] According the investigation of F.J. Giles it is possible that Smenkhare did not have any sole reign after Akhnaton. F.J. Giles, Ikhnaton, p. 95-102.
[08] A king named Ammizaduga, according to Dean Hickman, reigned in Babylon some 94 years after Hammurabi (ca. 967-925 BC).
[09] The Euphrates is described as being often 300 to 400 yards wide between Jerablus (Carchemish) and the chiefly Kurdish beehive constructed, treeless village of Tel Ahmar (Ahuni's capital Til-Barsip), a site explored by D.G. Hogarth, 14 miles downstream from Jerablus. In the summer it flows about 2 miles an hour, in the winter and spring flood time nearly twice as fast. [See R. C. Thompson in PSBA, `Tel-Barsip, Its Cuneiform Inscriptions,' Feb. 14, 1914, p. 66-67-71. The article states that terns and ibis (kelinak in Turkish) of Birejik fly past in the area. The villages attracted them because of `Hittie' and a few cuneiform inscriptions. These inscriptions show that it was `Kar-Sulmanuasarid', a name given by Shalmaneser II for Til-Barsip. ]
Two lion sculpturs were found at the location of Til-Barsip. They were translated to read:
"O Aššur, great lord, king of the [great] gods ... Anu, powerful, chiefest, begetter of the gods ... Bęl, father of the gods, lord of the lands ... Ea, the wise, the king of the deep, who openest [the ear] ... ; Marduk, the ruler of the gods (devils); lord of omens, the ... [of the gods]...; Nabű, the scribe of E-saggil, who holdest the tablest of destiny [of the gods] ...; [Sin] ... agreement lord of the disk, who brightenest the sky (the sun); Ištar, lady of battle, perfect [in warlike ordinance]; Gula, lady of healing, [mistress] great, the wife of the hero of the gods, the son of Bęl, the mighty ...; (Shalmaneser?) the great king(?) [king(?)] of nations(?) ...(n1) who has swept the lands of Hatti, Gutî , and all the lands of the sea [from] the shore of the great sea(?)(n2) of the Setting Sun ... Sun ... who has defeated the lands of Musru and Urartu ... with its people; who have swept the land of Kittu' ...(n3) the lands of Harutu (and) Labdudu, effecting their subjection, When ... in Ura[rtu(?)(n4) (some enemy) trusted(?)] [in] the number of the army of his(?){n5) (some enemy trusted(?) nor had he approached any former king (for friendship), but revolted and [asked] not [for peace(?), and] had not accepted(?) (it); he directed the whole of his army against my land dot fight; they destroyed(n6) ... his nobles. ... Ninkarnunna(?) the mother of E-Šarra, I besought(?) .... (my general) to the midst of that mountain drew nigh; he was victorious; with great booty, spoil, great weapons(?)(n7) and(?) the weapon(?) ... he blew(n8) like a fierce windstorm that breaks(n9) the [trees(?)]; his [troops] against him like a hawk(n10) he let fly; his defeat(?) he effected. Then the remainder of his forces were all destroyed . . . and he himself like a thief went out from his camp. His royal treasure . . . in (their) hands they took. In those days two mighty lions in the great gate of the city Kar-Šulmanu-ašarid, The city of my rule - I proclaimed their names . . . The name of the one "... of fierce ..., of irresistible attack," The name of the other "Glorious(?) ... [which causeth to attain] the heart's desire." They stand ... Saviour .... for my royaly(?) [I set up(?)]." [Ibid., p. 74; Plate of lion inscription is plate VI, p. 75]. -- Notes: (n1) The sign ... a bat may be possible ... a kur, i.e. [mMarduk]-apalusur of the land of Suhai, between the Balihi and the Habur rivers, who brought tribute to Shalamaneser II. But it does not seem probable.;
(n2) The character is undoubtedly `uh', and cannot be read tam-tim with rabîtu(tu) following.;
(n3) The country at the end of this line might read Kit-bu-', Kit-tu-' or possibly U-tu-' or U-bu.;
(n4) Doubtful restoration: it might be ina šadű(u) ra-[bu-u] "in the [great] mountain."
(n5) Kit(?)=pašu doubtful; but the characters are fairly clear.;
(n6) I-nu-ru for i-ni-ru?;
(n7) It is possible that we should read "narkabâti", `chariots' instead of ^isukakki, `weapons.';
(n8) My copy has i-zi-is for the first word, with the iz doubtful. It is probable this should be ka.;
(n9) Murišat, See Muss-Arnolt, `Dictionary.' 974, b.;
(n10) Anzaniš, adverb from anzű. It is noticeable that Shalmaneser (Balaw, Col. III, 5) in his final campaign against Ahuni, king of Til-Barsip, uses this rare word in a similar context. It is uncertain whether the king's general or the enemy is the subject in II. 14-16. Abikti-šu, at the end of the line is merely a suggested reading for the characters in my copy.