Inscriptions by Ḥimyarite High Officials

June 523 CE

Qayl (Prince) Sharaḥ’īl Yaqbul, son of Shuraḥb’īl Yakmul of the lineage of Yaz’an and Jadanum, Ḥabbum, Nas’ān, and Ghaba’, have described in this inscription what they accomplished in military expeditions which they undertook after they [stormed] with their lord, King Yūsuf As’ar, against the Abyssinians in Tsafār and they burned the church. The king swooped down on Ash‘arān as he sent him with an independent armed troop. He fought against Makhwān (Mokka) and killed all its inhabitants, burned the church, and fought against all the fortresses of Shamīr and its plain, and he joined the king at Ash‘arān, and the number of victims killed or captured by the king’s armies amounted to thirteen thousand killed and nine thousand five hundred captives, two hundred and eighty thousand camels, cows, and goats. Then the king sent him to stand guard against Najrān with a detachment of the Yaz’anids, with the tribes of dhū-Hamdān: their townsmen and their nomads; and the nomads of Kiddat, Murādum, and Madhḥijum. The king helped in the defense against Abyssinia and to strengthen the Maddabān chain with his troops and with him his brothers, the qayls, Laḥay‘at Yarkham, Sumyafa‘ Ashwa‘, and Shuraḥb’īl As‘ad of the Yaz’an lineage with his tribe, the Yaz’anites. In the month of dhū-Qiyātsān of the year six hundred and thirty-three. May God to whom belong heaven and earth help King Yūsuf against all his enemies. Under the protection of Raḥmanān, may this inscription (be placed) against all who would damage it and (any) depredator. May You be merciful to the whole world! (Grant us) Your mercy! You are the Lord.

Source: Ry 508

Undated; probably 523 CE

Mu‘awiyat son of Wali‘at, Na‘āmat son of Malkum, officials (maqtawīs) of Sharaḥ’īl of the lineage of Yaz’an. Lord of Jews (rabbyahūd) with Raḥmanān.

Source: Ry 515

July 523 CE

May God to whom heaven and earth belong bless King Yūsuf As’ar Yath’ar, king of all the tribes, and (may He bless) Laḥay‘at Yarkham and Sumyafa‘ Ashwa‘ and Sharaḥ’īl Ashwa‘ and Shuraḥb’īl As‘ad, son of Shuraḥb’īl Yakmul of the lineage Yaz’an and Jadanum, have accompanied their lord, King Yūsuf As’ar Yath’ar, when he burned the church, killed the Abyssinians at Tsafār, and waged war against Ash‘arān, Rakbān, Farasān, and Mukhwān, fought and besieged Najrān. He repaired the Maddabān chain. He [gathered them] (the qayls) and sent them with an independent contingent. All that the king acquired and took as booty in this expedition amounted to twelve thousand five hundred killed, eleven thousand prisoners, and two hundred and ninety thousand camels, cows, and sheep. This inscription was engraved by the qayl Sharaḥ’īl dhū-Yaz’an after he had besieged Najrān with the tribe of dhū-Hamdān: the townsmen and the nomads, and the armies of the Yaz’anids and the nomads of Kiddat, of Murādum, of Madhḥijum, while the qayls, his brothers with the king, stood guard on the sea against Abyssinia and repaired the Maddabān chain. All that they described in this inscription: slain, booty, and battles (was accomplished) in the course of an expedition, after which they returned to their homes, thirteen months later. May Raḥmanān bless their sons: Shuraḥb’īl Yakmul and Ha‘ān As’ar, the two sons of Laḥay‘at, and Laḥay‘at Yarkham, son of Sumyafa‘, and Marthad’īlān Yamjad, son of Sharaḥ’īl, those of the lineage of Yaz’an. In the month of dhu-Madhra’ān of the year six hundred thirty-three. Under the protection of heaven and earth and the strength of the warriors this inscription [is guarded] from all damage and falsification and may Raḥmanān the Most High [protect it] from every depredator and from anyone who might damage it. This inscription (was) recorded, written, and entrusted to the name of the Raḥmanān. Recorded by Tamīmum dhū-Ḥadyat. Lord of the Jews (rabbhūd), with (?) the Praised!

Source: Ja 1028

July 523 CE

May God (Ilāhān), to whom the he[aven and the earth] belong, bless [King (Yūsuf) As’ar Yath’ar, king of all the] tribes [ . . . ]

Under the protection of [the Lord of the he]aven and the earth.

Source: Ry 507, lines 1, 10–11