The attack on Sidon was thus apparently the fact which opened the eyes of Amenophis. It appears to have preceded the final success, when the wealthy city of Gebal was taken by Aziru.
No. 42 B. M.—“This letter is the letter of the city _Irkata_(207) to the King. O our Lord, thus (says) the city of _Irkata_, and her men, her (flock? or lords?). At the feet of the King our Lord seven times seven times they bow. To the King our Lord thus (saith) the city of _Irkata_. Knowing the heart of the King our Lord we have guarded the city of _Irkata_ for him ... Behold the King our Lord orders _Abbikha_ ... he speaks to us thus, O King ... to guard it. The city of _Irkata_ answers ... the man ruling for the King.... ‘It is well. Let us save ... the city of _Irkata_. It is well to save (a city?) faithful to the King.’ ... Behold many fight ... the people ... are frightened ... Thirty horses and chariots enter the city of _Irkata_. Lo! has arrived ... a letter of the King as to arriving ... thy land they reach. The men of the city ... (belonging) to the King have made ... to fight with us for the King our Lord. You send your chief to us that he may be our protector. Let the King our Lord hear the message of these his servants, and appoint us provision for his servant, and thou shalt exult over our foes and thou shalt prevail. The message of command of the King thou shalt not deny us. Our destroyer was troubled at the coming of the King’s order to us. Mightily he has fought against us, exceeding much.”
128 B.—“To _Yankhamu_ by letter thus (says) _Yapaaddu_.(208) Why is it spoken? Lo! from the city of _Simyra_ a destruction by _Aziru_ of all the lands, in length from the city of _Gebal_ to the city of _Ugariti_;(209) and the destruction of this the city _Sigata_,(210) and of the city _Ambi_.(211) Behold ... the slave has (broken?) the ships ... in the city _Ambi_ and in the city _Sigata_, and in all which dispute for the lands with the city of _Simyra_: and shall we not arise to enter the city _Simyra_,(212) or what shall we ourselves do? But send this news to your great city (or palace).(213) It is regretted that the ... is unfortunate.”
44 B. M.—This letter seems to be an appeal by the cities of Phœnicia on behalf of Ribadda, the brave King of Gebal, during the time of his resistance to Aziru, which failed because no help was given to him from Egypt, where Aziru was still thought faithful. The spokesman Khaia is perhaps the same Egyptian mentioned in Aziru’s letters.