Isin dynasty and the events of Jacob's life

by koot van wyk (DLitt et Phil; ThD)

Kyungbook National University

Sangju Campus

South Korea

conjoint lecturer of Avondale College

Australia

24 December 2009

The city of Isin was one of a number of cities that were under the control of Ur during the Ur III period. The Ur III period is known for that name by the strong rulership of the rulers of Ur, Urnammu since 2112 BCE, Shulgi since 2098 BCE, Shu-shin since 2046 BCE, Amar-sin since 2037 BCE and Ibbi-sin since 2028 BCE. The Ur III period saw an increase in Amorite or Semite influence at Ur. Semites are the descendents of Shem, one of the three sons of Noah. Sumerians are descendents from Japhet, the other son. There were always some form of tension between Sumerians and Semites and at times they worked well together. Intermarraige resulted that nearly all these rulers until the last one Ibbi-sin were semitic inclined.

Our focus in this writing is the last king, Ibbi-sin who ruled until his 25th year in 2004 BCE. This was the year of the fall of Ur.

Fall of Ur

Shortly before the fall of Ur, Ibbi-sin asigned Ishbi-Erra to Isin and Nippur (religious city) as governor (T. Jacobsen). He trusted Ishbi-Erra but according to a letter II found on clay, Ishbi-Erra became disloyal. Information was given by Puzur-Namushda (governor of Kuzallu) that Ishbi-Erra decided to make Isin his royal residence. Assuming the the kingly role, he was openly disloyal to Ur and its empire. He also subdued Nippur and made prisoners of the governors of Ibbi-sin (S. Kramer, The Sumerians [1963]: 70). In answering Puzur-Namushda in Letter III, Ibbi-sin pleaded with him to remain loyal. He said that Ishbi-Erra was "not of Sumerian seed" and that the Amorites will strike the Elamites and capture Ishbi-Erra. Ur fell when the Elamites (modern Iran) overrun Ur and destroyed it. This was in the year 2004 BCE. Although Ishbi-Erra promised Ibbi-sin that he will be loyal and told him that there are food for 15 years and that he should never give in (known as Letter I), he did not keep his word when the test finally came. In the letter Ishbi-Erra also talked about Amorite incursions and especially the Elamites were giving problems (S. Kramer 1963: 70).

Ishbi-Erra wrote to Ibbi-sin in one letter "Isin and Nippur will be guarded for you, you may depend on me" (State letter no. 28-29 published in full by O. Gurney and S. Kramer, Sumerian Literary Texts in the Ashmolean Museum[Oxford: At the Clarendon Press, 1976], 17).

Kicking out the Elamites out of Ur

When Ishbi-Erra was needed, he was not there but later he had a formative role to play in kicking the Elamites out of Ur (S. Kramer 1963: 71).

When Vaughn Emerson Crawford studied the economic texts from the first dynasty of Isin (which is the time that Ishbi-Erra was ruling, thus after the destruction of Ur), he mentioned some texts which reported Isbi-Erra as kicking Elamites out of Ur. There is a year that is remembered as the "Year: The Elamite who was dwelling in the midst of Ur was captured" (BIN IX 40 et al in Vaughan Emerson Crawford, Sumerian Economic Texts from the First Dynasty of Isin [New Haven: Yale University Press, 1954: 14). There is also another year that was remembered as the "Year: Ishbi-Erra, the king, brought down by his mighty weapon the Elamite who was dwelling in the midst of Ur" (BIN IX 81 et al, Crawford 1954: 18).

These texts are placed by Crawford (Crawford 1954: 18) after the 20th year of Ishbi-Erra but they may as well be applicable to the very year near the beginning when Kramer said that Ishbi-Erra kicked out the Elamites out of Ur.

The first years of Ishbi-Erra

It is indicated by Crawford that the text of the first years of Ishbi-Erra is not complete "since this document allots one line to each year name, two or three years may be lacking from the start of Ishbi-Erra reign" (Crawford 1954: 6). In the diagram we have indicated the fragmented nature of the text but also added that the Elamite ejection texts and years may fit in here.

Jacob

Jacob and Isaac lived through all these events but Moses, the author of Genesis, guided by the Holy Spirit, did not think it necessary to focus on world events. What was important is the faith of Isaac, the faith of Jacob and selected aspects of this faith is recorded.

Female appointments by Ishbi-Erra

King Ishbi-Erra of Isin appointed some females to the position of High Priest during his reign. He did so in 2001 BCE but also in 1997 BCE and in 1980 BCE. The role of a female in a patriarchal society was not all quiet and encased. Also in the family of Isaac and Jacob this was not the case. In Genesis 28:7 it is clear that Esau understood both his father and mother decided that Jacob should go to Paddan-Aram, although in verse 2 that instruction seems to come only from his father. This means that we should not stigmatize selected descriptions too readily when it comes to culture, gender and other issues. It is a fragmented reality with only partial data. Not so with the cardinal truths about the revealing God. There is more clarity here although care should be taken not to jump too easily to conclusions.

Destruction of Martu city

In 2000 BCE there was a destruction of the city of the Martu. It is probably the Sumerian word for west or the city in the direction of the Mediterranean sea.

Land divisions

Ishbi-Erra divided the land into sections and for this he was remembered for at least two years of his reign. This means that borders were allocated and given government approval.

Fortresses building

Ishbi-Erra build a number of fortresses: the Itil-partunu in 1996 BCE, the Libur-Isbhi-Erra in 1994 BCE, the Eshtar-tara-Ishbi-Erra 1989 BCE, the Ishbi-Erra-rim-Enlil 1986 BCE.

High-priests appointed

Ishbi-Erra was instrumental in appointing a number of High-priests. One was appointed in 1995 BCE and the other was appointed in 1978 BCE.

War

A number of wars were fought by Ishbi-Erra during his reign of 33 years. In 1991 BCE he attacked the Sua-people in Elam. The destruction of the city of Martu in 2000 BCE was also done through his leadership. Samuel Kramer called him "ambitious and crafty, two-faced lieutenant[ ]" (Kramer 1976: 7). In 1989 I made a special trip to the Oriental Institute in Chicago to meet Samuel Kramer. I was able to greet him and John Brinkman introduced him to me and remembered that my professor Izak Cornelius used to tell us that when Kramer was asked what his citizenship is, he said that he was a Sumerian.

Omens and their role in the Isin dynasty

Ishbi-Erra used omens to appoint the High-priest of Inanna in 1995 BCE and also omens to appoint his daughter Ninzianna in 1982 BCE. What is striking is that the event of Jacob's vision with God of the ladder occurred in 1993 BCE. What we have here is not a conforming of the Bible in the language of its time, but a reality of a different kind. When God comes with the true revelation in a dream or vision, Satan, the competetor of Christ on earth, come up with his own designs, namely the role of omens. The true vision of Jacob in Genesis 28:12 had fakes already in 1995 BCE by Ishbi-Erra and also again in 1982 BCE.

Jacob to Haran

In the year 1992 BCE, the year before Ishbi-Erra's war with the Sua-people and Elamites, Isaac asked his son Jacob to go to Padan-Aram, to Haran and find a wife there.

[H]eber died

[H]eber died in 1990 BCE which is one year after the war with the Elamites and Sua-peoples by Ishbi-Erra.

Marriage of Jacob to Leah and Rachel

Jacob married in 1985 BCE (Genesis 29:21-30; and Genesis 30:1, 22-26).

Emblems for temples

Ishbi-Erra made a number of emblems for the temples: in 1987 BCE he made an emblem for Enlil Ninurta (BIN IX 13) and in 1984 BCE he made an emblem at the Ninmeanki for Inanna (BIN IX 5). In 1977 BCE he made a throne for the sanctuary fo Ninurta Ninlil (BIN IX 28).

Joseph born

Joseph was born in 1978 BCE (Genesis 30:25; 31:38-41), the year that Ishbi-Erra appointed the High-priest of Enlil (BIN IX 50).

Last years of Ishbi-Erra

The last years of Ishbi-Erra is not clear and most year dates for these years are allocated as "uncertain". Jacob moved with his family to Canaan in 1972 BCE (Genesis 31:17-21) one year before Ishbi-Erra's reign came to an end at Isin.

End item

Ur III fell in 2004 BCE

text broken 2003

text broken 2002

3? Year: The high priestess of Ninurta was elevated (to office). 2001

4? Year: The Martu city was destroyed. 2000

5? Year: After the Martu city was destroyed. 1999

6? Year: The field was established anew (?). 1998

7? Year: The high priestess of Ishkur was elevated (to office). 1997

8? Year: Ishbi-Erra, (now) master of his  (outlining) lands, built the great fortification, Itil-pashunu. 1996

9? Year: Ishbi-Erra chose by means of the omens the GAB-high priest of Inanna. 1995

10? Year: The fortification, Libur-Ishbi-Erra was built. 1994

11? Year: After the fortification, Libur-Ishbi-Erra was built. 1993

12? Year: After the fortification, Libur-Ishbi-Erra was built, year after that. 1992 Jacob goes to Haran Genesis 28:5

13? Year: Ishbi-Erra smote the army of the Sua-people and of Elam. 1991 Amenemhet I of Egypt started to reign (Old Reckoning)

14? Year: After Ishbi-Erra smote the army of the Sua-people and of Elam. 1990 [H]EBER dies 1990 BCE     Gn 11:17

15? Year: The fortification, Eshtar-taram-Ishbi-Erra, was built. 1989

16? Year: After the fortification, Eshtar-taram-Ishbi-Erra, was built. 1988

17? Year: Ishbi-Erra, the king made the emblem for Enlil and Ninurta. 1987

18? Year: The fortification, Ishbi-Erra-rim-Enlil was built. 1986

19? Year: After the fortification, Ishbi-Erra-rim-Enlil was built. 1985 Jacob marries Leah and Rachel Genesis 29:21-30 30:1,22-26

20? Year: Ishbi-Erra, the king made  Ninmeanki the great emblem of Inanna. 1984

21? Year: After Ishbi-Erra, the king made  Ninmeanki the great emblem of Inanna. 1983

22? Year: He chose by means of omens Ninzianna the daughter of the king. 1982

23? Year: Year after He chose by means of omens Ninzianna the daughter of the king. 1981

24? Year: The high priestess of Lugal-Marda was elevated (to office). 1980

25? Year: After the high priestess of Lugal-Marda was elevated (to office). 1979

26? Year: The high priest of Enlil was elevated (to office). 1978 Joseph born Genesis 30:25 31:38-41

27? Year: The king made the throne of the sanctuary for Ninurta/Ninlil. 1977  Amenemhet I started to reign (New Reckoning)