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Document Details : Title: 'Lightening the Yoke' Subtitle: The Exercise of Power and Royal Legitimacy in the Ancient Near East Author(s): EPH'AL-JARUZELSKA, Izabela Journal: Orientalia Volume: 89 Issue: 2 Date: 2020 Pages: 196-238 DOI: 10.2143/ORI.89.2.3293052 Abstract : The article consists of seven units. Part I presents the various ways in which a king could lessen an economic burden. Part II discusses the establishment of justice as a motif in the king’s self-presentation. Part III deals with the establishment of justice by illegitimate successors or those whose legitimacy is under threat. Part IV expands on this topic, discussing exemptions granted to particular cities throughout history and showing that these exemptions were the main way in which illegitimate rulers might 'lighten a yoke' (cf. 1 Kings 12:4). Part V discusses the granting of exemptions to particular cities in some literary texts and letters that were not connected to the royal court. These texts shed light on their composers’ expectation that the king respect these exemptions. Part VI attempts to explain the failure of royal legitimizing texts to mention cancellation of private debts. Finally, Part VII compares the approach to royal legitimacy illustrated in Parts III-V with other concepts of royal legitimacy that are also based on the manner in which power is exercised. |
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