The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-16
HISTORY IN GENESIS
TRUE, TABLET SHOWS
Yale Archaologists Announce
Reading Of Sumerian
Inscription.
FOUR KINGS NOT MYTHICAL
Biblical Controversy Over One
Of Abraham's Wars Now
Believed Ended.
FOUR KINGS NOT MYTHICAL

NEW HAVEN, Conn, May 15-Arch-
biologists all over the world will be in
terested in an announcement made here
to-day that Babylonian votive offering
cone Just deciphered at Yale practically
settles a controversy that has been wsged
for years among Biblical scholars. Some
years ago 1t was asserted that the names
OF the four kings mentioned In the four
teenth chapter of Genesis, who Invaded
Palestine in the days Of Abraham, were
chronological inventions of imaginary
characters" 1t was held that the entire
historical background for the patriarchal
stories was different from that given In
Genesis. BY the aid of the pick and
shovel and tho work of the declpherer
these assertions, which had been made
with the utmost assurance, are found to
he valueless, according to the Yale au-
thorlties.
Several inscriptions OF Arioch (Eri-Aku)
have been published. and several of his
brother. Rim-Sin Cor Rim-Aku). For
merly these individuals were regarded az
Identical And. although Thureau- Dagin
" the Louvre made Il reasonable that they
We're different persons. number OF
scholars still maintain. according TO the
Yale authorities. that. they are the same
This dynastic tablet recently obtained for
the Yale Babylonian collection. however
fully determines the question. in that II
shows that the last two kings OF Larsa
were Eri-Aku and Rim-Sn or Aku.
These two rulers were sons of Kudur-
MabuR. the Elamite who was also
suzerain of Palestine and Syria. Chedor-
laomer mentioned In the fourteenth chap.
ter OF Genesis, was probably another SON
in the opinion OF the Yale authorities Ac,
cording to Genesis Arloch of Larsa and
Amraphel of Shinar were Chedoraomer's
allies In the invasion. Since the reign OF
| Rlm-Aku followed that of Eri-Aku. n
seems to those who have studied the sub
1ect here that Amraphel or Hammurapi
| also written Ammurapi. must have been
very young when the invasion took place
The Yale psychologists point out that
| the knowledge that Arioch was the son OF
an Elamite king. who claimed TO be suzer-
am OF Palestine and syria, Is remark
I able confirmation OF 4 detail in this Old
Testament narrative In that It furnishes
a reason why Arioch OF Ellasar G.arsa)
| who was son OF an Elamite king was
| allied with Elan. Moreover, Il is known
that Amraphel OF Shinar was subservien,
70 Elam until he overthrow IT'S power In
his thirty-hrst year.
The new Inscription OF Arioch in the
Yale Babylonlan collection is votive
Offering In the form of n conical brIcl;
| dedicated to his goddess Innina or Ish.
tar The Yale Inscription Is written in
| Sumerian. the non-Semitic language OF the
early period. and being deciphercd, reads
| as follows.
ITO Innina Cor Ishtar) the exalted lady
OF splendor. priestess Of hosts. the eldest
daughter Of the god SIN. his lady. Uru-
| Aku, the favorite Prince of NippuT. tn,
adorner of the city Ur. the overseer OF the
cities Girsu and Shirpura. who Use revered
In Cthc temple) Ebabbar; king Of I.arsa
king OF Sumer and Accad the beloved
! lord of the harvest Cor hunt who full
! Nils the commands: who built anew the
temples OF the gods who had made a
colossal copper statue of her kingshlp
who restores its greatness to her over.
turned city, who truly rebuilt her wall
who truly caused to be inhabited greatly
| her widespread land exalted OF hearts.
THE warrior who turns them back an
| | to whom wide understanding for tn,
! conduct OF the Clty's work Ea has given
| for the sake of lnnina. the merciful lady
her house OF splendor. the awe inspiring
dwelling OF her joyous heart, according
| to its old appearances. its interior he He'd
with light more than before her (shrine)
E-su-sig-ga he enlarged for the future
! for his life he built IL. Its head he rea red
/ high: like mountain he made II lofty
on these brilliant doings may Innna. my
! lady. look abundance of years. a vel! es-
| tablshed throne, a putting down OF up
| risings may she as a gift bestow upon
me-"
The inscription is interesting to Biblical
scholars In that il belonged to one OF
the kings that Abraham, with n handful
OF followers, routed at night by means
of strategy.