Date Palm and Tamarisk (BWL pls. 39–40)

E 1-5, Ac 1-6, THa 1-3a: In those days, in [tho]se nights, in [distant] years, after the gods (THa: the Igigu(?)) had founded the land, had built cities for the distant people, after they had piled up mountains eve[rywhere], had dug rivers, the life of the land, the gods of the land (Ac: of the lands) convened an assembly. Anu, Enlil, Ea deliberated together. Among them sat Šamaš, and between them sat the great lady of the gods (THa: had founded, the gods toiled in place of mankind. In the assembly they came to rest. They added abundance to it).

E 6-11, Ac 7-17, THa 3b-9: Formerly, there had been no kingship in the land (Ac: in the lands), and rule was given to the gods. But the gods grew fond of the black-headed people and ga[ve a king] over the land (Ac: They commanded the black-headed people to him). They gave him all of Kiš to protect (THa: Formerly, they appointed a king to rule the country, to strengthen the people, to administer the city of Kiš, the numerous black-headed people). The king planted date palms (THa: a date palm) in his palace (THa: in his courtyard). He filled the space around them with tamarisk trees (Ac: dito). In the shade of the tamarisk (THa: date palm), the meal was [brought(?)] (Ac: the meal was prepared). In the shade of the date palm, the drum boomed(?) loudly(?) (THa: the drum was beaten), [the drum] was beaten(?). The people [cheered], the palace rejoiced.

E 12-14, Ac 18-21, THb 1'-3': The trees were hostile, both competing with each other. [Tamarisk and date palm] both held a contest(?), doing [...] So said the tamarisk: “I am so tall!” Truly said the date palm: “I hang down [upon you] (Ac: I am much taller than you).

E 15-17, Ac 22-26a, THb 4' -5a': You, tamarisk, are a useless tree. What are your branches, tamarisk, without fruit? Our (Ac: my) fruit [is brought] to the table [of the king]. The king eats, the people talk a lot(?) about me (Ac: talk well about me together with him).

E 18-20, Ab'-2', Ac 26b-30, THb 5b'-6': I let the gardener receive profit, let him get the mistress. His mother raises the child (Ac: I raise the child). The adult eats the gift of my strength (Ac: of my fruit). My fruits are always before the royal family.”

E 21-24, Ab 3'-6': The tamarisk opened its mouth, [responding very proudly with its mouth overflowing]: “[My body] is superior to your [body] (Ab: My flesh [serves(?)] as the flesh [of the gods(?)]. [You bring me(?)] your beautiful things. [Like a slave who brings her mistress] her daily work and presents it to her, so you bring me what is dear and good to me (Ab: What is dear and good, you bring [...], like a slave ...]).”

E 25-30, Ab 7'-10', Ac 38-41: With her mouth overflowing, the d[ate palm] answered and spoke to her brother, the tamarisk (Ac: the date palm): “If he(?) has set up a high seat(!) on our terrace (so Ac; Ab: As follows: Has he(?) ... set up), we have invoked the life of the god(?) ... If we have invoked the god because of our sins (so Ac; Ab: Have we ... invoked), [may you(?)] indeed be the flesh [of the gods(?)]. But the tamarisk does not know how to beautify {X}!? gods. Beautifying the flesh(?) of the gods is a source of pride.”

E 31'-36', Ab 21'-27', Ac 30-37, THb Rs. 3-7a: “Your benevolence [...] before [...].” [The tamarisk replied ...] very [proudly]: “I think (Ab: think of) the movable property (THb: think of any movable property of yours) in the king's palace. What of mine is in the house (Ac: palace) of the king? The king eats from my table (Ac: from my vessel). The queen eats from my cup (THb: whether the king eats from my table, whether the warriors eat from my baking trough). The warriors eat with my spoon. The baker kneads the flour in my baking trough.

I am a weaver and beat the threads. I clothe the troops and make the king shine. I am an exorcist and renew (Ac, THb: cleanse) the temple. [...] is my mouth (Ab: [I] am truly princely) and I have no equal (Ab: I do not want to have an equal).”

E 37'-40', Ab 28'-30', THb Rs. 7b-11a: With her mouth overflowing, the date palm replied, speaking to her brother, the tamarisk: “At the gizinakku (THb: come, the great gizinakku), at: the sacrifice of prince Sîn, the king does not sacrifice without me (Ab: [w]here I am not; THb: as long as [I] am not) being present. My (THb: the) hand cleansing rites are performed in the four directions. My fronds are piled up on the ground (THb: the fronds are not chopped up, [are] piled up on the [ground]) and a feast is celebrated.

E 41'-42', Ab 31', THb Rs. 11b-12a: And just then the tamarisk is only good [for the hand] of the beer brewer (THb: you are in the hand of the beer brewer), and spent grain is piled up like an earth wall [on i]t (THb: on you).

E 43'-44', Ab 32'-33', THb Rs. 12b-14: [The tamarisk opened its mouth, replied very proudly with its overflowing mouth]: “Come (THb: come, on the day of the festival), let us go, you and I, to the city of your (Ab: [my(?)]) smiths, the place of work.”

E 45'-47', Ab 33'-35', THb Rs. 14b-15a: As follows: “Am I not full of resin all around, not full of incense? (THb: I swear: truly, the tamarisk is full of resin, [...] completely filled with incense). The qadištu priests take [tamarisk] water [...] and one speaks a praise and holds a feast.

E 48'-49', Ab 35'-36', THb Rs. 15b-17a: Just then, the date palm is in the hands of the butcher (THb: are you [in] the hands of the cook), and its fronds are in excrement and blood [...].”

E 50'-52', E' 1-3, Ab 37'-39': With her mouth overflowing, the date palm replied to her brother, the tamarisk: “Come, let us go, you and I, to the city [of my] feast, the place of joy. I will lay your processor, tamarisk, the carpenter, on my middle ribs, and the carpenter (Ab: he) honors me and praises [me] daily.”

E 53'-59', E' 4'-12', Ab 11'-16': The tamarisk opened its mouth and replied very proudly, its mouth overflowing: “[For] the craftsman I have every gain (Ab: I am more than you the father of every craftsman). For the farmer I have [everything] he needs. From my branches he cuts(?), from my ... From my lap his hoe is brought forth. With my hoe [the canal(?)] is dug. He opens the irrigation ditch and the field drinks. I have tested the earth, and in the softness of the soil [I lay] the grain. I renew the kingdom, [and] the grain is exceedingly magnificent [...] (Ab: I renew the grain, the abundance of the people).”

E 60'-63', E' 13', Ab 17'-20': [With a full] mouth, the date palm replied, saying to her brother, [the tamarisk]: “I have more than you for the craftsman of every [profit] (Ab: I am more than you, the father of every craftsman). For the farmer I have (Ab: the farmer has) profit, as much as he needs: guide ropes, the rope, ropes for the harness, the rope for the belt, the [belonging to ...], ... for the wagon [...] (Ab: guide ropes, whips, the rope of the harness and the g[irth], straps, the rope of the wagon board, the rope of the side board, the padding of the wagon, [...]), the equipment for the farmer, everything that (Ab: as much) there is. I am greater than you.”

E 64'-66', Ab 40'-44': Dito: “Who does not mock whom? I endure your insult [...] and the tops(?) of the large martû trees(?) [...] I cut(?) off. Like a mat weaver who [...], I want to rejoice [in] the strength of my great power. [Truly(?)], I have placed you [...] As a working tool, strengthening people, you are [my(?) ...] twice as superior.”

(E) 67'-71' = Ab 45'-53': Dito: “I am six times more powerful, seven times greater than you. I am the representative of the grain. For three months, [constantly(?)], the orphan, the widow, the poor man [...] eat food without shortage. Good are my dates [...] the descendants [...] My offspring are praised [...] I will be praised [...].”