It is to be remarked that Ascalon was not among the cities that Joshua took, but we learn that the region submitted to the Hebrews (B. 103) and Ascalon was lost before 1360 B.C.
These letters appear to be early. They have been supposed to come from Megiddo, but the topography (111 B. and 72 B. M.) cannot be reconciled with the latter, and applied exactly to the former town (now _El Mughâr_); in addition to which Megiddo appears as _Makdani_ in the letter from Accho (95 B.).
113 B.—“To the King my Lord ... and my Sun by letter thus (says) _Biridi_ a faithful servant, that I bow at the feet of the King my Lord and my Sun and my God, seven times and seven times. I have heard (literally, the servant has heard) the messages of the King my Lord and my Sun, and now they guard the city of _Makidah_, the chief city of the King my Lord.” The text is broken, but seems to read probably “without rest, and is set right ... without rest they watch with chariots, and they guard with chariots of the King my Lord, from those who do injury. And now behold a battle of chiefs in (or from) the land (below Mizpah?).(307) The King is my Lord for his land.”
114 B.—“To the King my Lord and my Sun by letter thus (says) Biridia, Chief of the city _Makidda_, a faithful servant of the King. At the feet of the King my Lord and my Sun seven times and seven times prostrated. I have been obedient then, zealous for the King ... thirty oxen ... they have gathered, and I (too) to fight.”
115 B.—_Biridia_ sends the usual salutation without mentioning his city. The text is rather worn and broken, but may be read as follows: “Let the King my Lord know this. Lo! since the Egyptian soldiers (_bitati_) have gone down (or away) _Labaya_ makes war against me and (without cause?) coming angrily and (without cause?). Thereupon the entrance (of gate) has been closed through the appearance of _Labaya_. Behold learn this, and there are no men of the Egyptian soldiers with us. So now it is desired to see them sent into the city of _Magiid_(_da_) and let the King see accordingly whether (it is to be) done. Let not _Labaya_ seize the city. If there is no word the city will open its gates. (For two years?) he rebels; and will not the King grant this also—chiefs of his guard as defenders of his chief city. Let not Labaya take her, though those who have fled from _Labaya_ have failed in this. Moreover those who disgraced the city _Ma_ ... are slain.”