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Horus: Strong-Bull-arisen-in-Thebes;
[Two Ladies: Enduring--in-kingship-like-Re-in-heaven; Gold-Horus:
Mighty-in-strength, Ma-jestic-in-appearance]; the King of Upper
and Lower Egypt, Lord of the Two Lands: Menkheperre; the
Son of Re, [of his body: Tuthmosis, given life forever].
His majesty commanded to record [the victories his father Amun
had given him] by an inscription in the temple which his majesty
had made for [his father Amun, so as to record] each campaign,
together with the booty which [his majesty] had brought [from
it, and the tribute of every foreign land] that his father Re
had given him.
Year 22, fourth month of winter, day 25, [his majesty passed the
fortress of] Sile on the first campaign of victory [to smite those
who attacked] the borders of Egypt, in valour [strength, might,
and right]. For a [long] period of years ------ plunder, with
every man [serving] ---. For it had happened in the time of other
(kings) that the garrison there was (only) in Sharuhen, while
from Yerdj to the ends of the earth there was rebellion against
his majesty.
Year 23, first month of summer, day 4, the day of the feast of
the King's Coronation, (arriving) at the town of "Conquest-of-the-Ruler"
[the Syrian name of which is] Gaza. [Year 23], first month of
summer, day 5, departure from this place in valour, [strength],
might, and right, to overthrow that wretched enemy, to extend
the borders of Egypt, his father, mighty and victorious Amun,
having commanded that he conquer.
Year 23, first month of summer, day 16, (arrival) at the town
of Yehem. [His majesty] ordered a consultation with his valiant
army, saying: "That wretched foe of Kadesh has come and entered
into Megiddo and is [there] at this moment. He has gathered to
him the princes of [all] the foreign lands [that had been loyal]
to Egypt, as well as those from as far as Nahrin, consisting of,
Khor and Kedy, their horses, their armies, [their people]. And
he says-it is reported- 'I shall wait [and fight his majesty here]
in Megiddo.' (Now) tell me [what you think]."
They said to his majesty: "How will it be to go [on] this
road which becomes narrow, when it is [reported] that the enemies
are waiting there [beyond and they] are numerous? Will not horse
go behind [horse] and [soldiers] and people too? Shall our vanguard
be fighting while the [rearguard] waits here in Aruna, unable
to fight? There are two (other) roads here. One of the roads is
[to our east] and [comes out] at Taanach. The other is on the
north side of Djefti, so that we come out to the north of Megiddo.
May our valiant lord proceed on whichever of [these] seems best
to him. Do not make us go on that difficult road!"
Then messages ., which they had said before. The speech of the
majesty of the palace: "I swear, as Re loves me, as my father
Amun favours me, as my nostrils are refreshed with life and dominion
my majesty shall proceed on this Aruna road! Let him of you who
wishes go on those roads you spoke of. Let him of you who wishes
come in my majesty's following. Or they will say, those foes whom
Re abhors: 'Has his majesty gone on another road because he is
afraid of us?' So they will say."
They said to his majesty: "May your father Amun, Lord of
Thrones--of-the-Two-Lands, who presides over Ipet-sut, do [as
you wish]! We are followers of [your majesty] wherever your majesty
goes! A servant follows his lord."
[His majesty ordered to] tell the whole army: ["Your valiant
lord will guide your steps on] this road which becomes narrow."
[For his majesty had taken] an oath, saying: "I shall not
let [my valiant army] go before me from [this place!" Thus
his majesty resolved] that he himself should go before his army.
[Every man] was informed of his order of march, horse following
horse, with his majesty at the head of his army.
Year 23, first month of
summer, day 19, awakening in [life] in the royal tent at the town
of Aruna. Northward journey by my majesty with my father Amen-Re,
Lord of Thrones-of-the-Two-Lands, [that he might open the ways]
before me, Harakhti fortifying [the heart of my valiant army],
my father Amun strengthening [my majesty's] arm, and . protecting
my majesty.
Coming out (of the pass) by his majesty [at the head of his army],
grouped in many battalions, [without meeting] a single [enemy].
[Their] southern wing was at Taanach, and [their] northern wing
on the [north] side [of the Qina valley. Then] his majesty called
to them: ", they are fallen! The wretched enemy.. Amun ..
Give [praise to him, extol the might] of his majesty, for his
strength is greater than------. [He has protected the rearguard
of] his majesty's army in Aruna." Now while the rearguard
of his majesty's valiant army was still at Aruna, the vanguard
had come out into the Qina valley, and they filled the opening
of the valley.
Then they said to his majesty: "Lo, his majesty has come
out with his valiant troops and they fill the valley. May our
valiant lord listen to
us this time. May our lord watch for us the rearguard of his
army with its people. When the rearguard has come out to us in
the open, then we shall fight against those foreigners; then we
shall not be concerned about the rearguard of our army!"
His majesty halted in the open. He sat [down] there to watch the
rear guard of his valiant army. Now when the last of the lead-troops
had come out from this road, the shadow turned.
His majesty arrived at the south of Megiddo, on the shore of the
Qina brook, when the seventh hour was in (its) course of day.
A camp was laid out for his majesty, and the whole army was told:
"Prepare yourselves! Make your weapons ready! For one will
engage in combat with that wretched foe in the morning; for one
..." Resting in the royal camp. Giving provisions to the
officers, rations to the attendants. Posting the watch of the
army; saying to them: "Steadfast, steadfast! Vigilant, vigilant!"
Awakening in life in the royal tent. One came to tell his majesty:
"The region is safe, and so are the troops of the south and
the north."
Year 23, first month of summer, day 21, the exact day of the feast
of the new moon. Appearance of the King at dawn. An order was
given to the whole army to pass .. His majesty set out on a chariot
of fine gold, decked in his shining armour like strong-armed Horus,
lord of action, like Mont of Thebes, his father Amun strengthening
his arm. The southern wing of his majesty's army was at a hill
south of the Qina [brook], and the northern wing to the northwest
of Megiddo, while his majesty was in their centre, Amun protecting
his person (in) the melee, and the strength of [Seth pervading]
his limbs.
Then his majesty overwhelmed them at the head of his army. When
they saw his majesty overwhelming them, they fled headlong [to]
Megiddo with faces of fear, abandoning their horses, their chariots
of gold and silver, so as to be hoisted up into the town by pulling
at their garments. For the people had shut the town behind them,
and they now [lowered] garments to hoist them up into the town.
Now if his majesty's troops had not set their hearts to plundering
the possessions of the enemies, they would have [captured] Megiddo
at this moment, when the wretched foe of Kadesh and the wretched
foe of this town were being pulled up hurriedly so as to admit
them into their town. For the fear of his majesty had entered
[their bodies], and their arms sank as his diadem overwhelmed
them.
Then their horses were captured, and their chariots of gold and
silver became an easy [prey]. Their ranks were lying stretched
out on their backs like fish in the bight of a net, while his
majesty's valiant army counted their possessions. Captured was
the tent of that wretched [foe], which was worked [with silver].
------. Then the entire army jubilated and gave praise to Amun
[for the victory] he had given to his son on [that day. They lauded]
his majesty and extolled his victory. Then they presented the
plunder they had taken: hands, living prisoners, horses, chariots
of gold and silver and of [rpainted work'].
[Then his majesty] commanded his army, saying: "Grasp well,
grasp well, [my] valiant [army]! Lo, [all the foreign lands] are
placed [in this town by the will of] Re on this day. Inasmuch
as every prince of every [northern] land is shut up within it,
the capture of Megiddo is the capture of a thousand towns! Grasp
firmly, firmly!" .. [Orders were given to] the troop-commanders
to [provide for their soldiers and to let] every [man know] his
place. They measured the town, surrounded (it) with a ditch, and
walled (it) up with fresh timber from all their fruit trees. His
majesty himself was on the fort east of the town, guarding [it
day and night]. . [surrounded] by a thick wall its thickness.
It was given the name "Menkheperre-Encircler-of-Asiatics."
Guards were placed at the camp of his majesty and were told: "Steadfast,
steadfast! Vigilant, vigilant!" His majesty . [No one] of
them [was permitted to come] out beyond this wall, except for
a coming out to [knock] at the gate of their fortress.
Now all that his majesty did to this town and to the wretched
foe and his wretched army was recorded on its day by the name
of the sortie and by the name of the troop-commander. ... They
are recorded on a roll of leather in the temple of Amun to this
day.
Now the princes of this foreign land came on their bellies to
kiss the ground to the might of his majesty, and to beg breath
for their nostrils, because of the greatness of his strength and
the extent of the power of [Amun over all foreign lands]. ------,
all the princes captured by his majesty's might bearing their
tribute of silver, gold, lapis lazuli, and turquoise, and carrying
grain, wine, and large and small cattle for his majesty's army;
one group among them bore tribute on the journey south. Then his
majesty appointed the rulers anew for [every town]
[List of the booty which his majesty's army brought from the town
of] Megiddo. Living prisoners: 340. Hands: 83. Horses: 2,041.
Foals: 191. Stallions: 6. Colts: ---. One chariot of that foe
worked in gold, with a [pole] of gold. One fine chariot of the
prince of [Megiddo], worked in gold. [Chariots of the allied princes:
30]. Chariots of his wretched army: 892. Total: 924. One fine
bronze coat of mail belonging to that
enemy. One fine bronze coat of mail belonging to the prince of
Megiddo. [Leather] coats of mail belonging to his wretched army:
200. Bows: 502. Poles of mry-wood worked with silver from the
tent of that enemy: 7. And the army of [his majesty] had captured
[cattle belonging to this town].: 387. Cows: 1,929. Goats: 2,000.
Sheep: 20,500.
List of what was carried off afterward by the King from the household
goods of the enemy of Yanoam, Inuges, and Herenkeru, together
with the property of the towns that had been loyal to him which
were captured by [the might of his majesty] ..
[Maryan-warriors] belonging to them: 38. Children of that enemy
and of the princes with him: 84. Maryan-warriors belonging
to them: 5. Male and female slaves and their children: 1,796.
Pardoned persons who had come out from that enemy because of hunger:
103. Total: 2,503. In addition, bowls of costly stone and gold,
and various vessels .. One large jar of Syrian workmanship. Jars,
bowls, plates, various drinking vessels, large kettles, knives:
.. + 17, making 1,784 deben. Gold in [disks] skillfully
crafted, and many silver [disks], making 966 deben and
I kite. A silver statue .. with a head of gold. Walking
sticks with human heads: 3. Carrying chairs of that enemy of ivory,
ebony, and ssndm-wood worked with gold: 6. Footstools belonging
to them: 6. Large tables of ivory and ssndm-wood: 6. One
bed of ssndm-wood worked with gold and all costly stones
in the manner of a krkr, belonging to that enemy, worked
with gold throughout. A statue of ebony of that enemy worked with
gold with a head of lapis lazuli. .., bronze vessels and much
clothing of that enemy.
The fields were made into plots and assigned to royal inspectors
in order to reap their harvest. List of the harvest which his
majesty brought from the fields of Megiddo. Sacks of wheat: 207,300
+ . apart from what was cut as forage by his majesty's army. ...
