III.  “To the king my lord thus speaks Ebed-Tob thy servant:  at the feet of my lord the king seven times seven I prostrate myself.  Behold, has not Malchiel revolted to the sons of Labai and the sons of Arzai to demand the country of the king for themselves?  As for the governor who does this deed, why does not the king question him?  Behold, Malchiel and Tagi (the father-in-law of Malchiel) are they who have done this, since they have taken the city of Rubute (Rabbah, Josh. xv. 60)....  There is no royal garrison.  May the king live for ever!  Verily Puru (Pa-Hor) has gone down to him; he has left me and is in the city of Gaza.  But let the king remember him and send fifty men as a garrison to defend the country.  All the country of the king has revolted.  Send Yikhbil-Khamu, and let him consider the country of the king.  To the Secretary of the king, Ebed-Tob thy servant:  make a clear report of my words to the king:  ‘Abundant good fortune be unto thee!  I am thy servant.’”

IV.  “To the king my lord thus speaks Ebed-Tob thy servant:  at the feet of the king my lord seven times seven I prostrate myself. [Behold the deed] which Malchiel and Suardatum have done against the country of the king my lord, hiring (?) the forces of the cities of Gezer, of Gath, and of Keilah, and occupying the country of the city of Rubute (Rabbah).  The country of the king has gone over to the Khabiri.  And now at this moment the city of the mountain of Jerusalem (Uru-salim), whose name is Bit-Bir (the temple of the god Bir), the city of the king, is separated from the locality of the men of Keilah.  Let the king listen to Ebed-Tob thy servant, and let him despatch troops that I may restore the country of the king to the king.  But if no troops arrive, the country of the king is gone over to the Khabiri.  This is the deed of Suardatum and Malchiel.  But may the king send help to his country.”

V. The commencement is lost.—­“And now as to the city of Jerusalem, if this country belongs to the king, why is it that Gaza is made the seat of the garrison for the king?  Behold, the country of the city of Gath-Carmel has fallen away to Tagi and the men of Gath.  He is in Bit-Sani, and we have effected that they should give Labai and the country of the Bedawin (Suta) to the Khabiri.  Malchiel has sent to Tagi and takes his sons as servants.  He has granted all their requests to the men of Keilah, and we have delivered the city of Jerusalem.  The garrison whom thou sentest by the hand of Khapi (Apis), the son of Miyaria (Meri-Ra) Hadad-el has taken and has established in his house in Gaza.”

VI.  “To the king my lord thus speaks Ebed-Tob thy servant:  at the feet of the king my lord seven times seven I prostrate myself. [Let the king listen to] the words [of his servant which] have been conveyed to [him]....  Let the king know that all the provinces have united in hostility against me, and let the king send help to his country.  Behold, the country of the cities of Gezer, of Askalon