rabi. The variation between the sources effectively amounts to a different introduction in
tablet B. In contrast to LH, the variant introduction in tablet B appears to give more atten-
tion to the instruments that symbolise kingship. In addition it ostensibly abbreviates the
text as reflected in LH, though the extent to which the text is abbreviated is uncertain (see
further H1 and note above).
Other less extensive expansive and clarifying pluses to the text are found in tablet B. For
example, H10 reflects an expanded epithet for Hammurabi relative to LH. The clarifica-
tion of the object is also attested, by way of a redundant pronominal object suffix in H59,
and the probable addition of a divine title in H95. Similarly, in the section that contains
the laws, J reflects additional pronominal suffixes in H147 and H172 (but cf. H162).
The same phenomenon is attested in tablet c (H224, but cf. H221) and tablet e (cf. H230
and H236). In one instance tablet P omits a phrase that indicates the thematic temporal
setting of the clause (H186). Further, in the epilogue as reflected in tablet e, we note an
omitted dative pronominal suffix (H243), as well as suffixed and relative pronouns that
serve to clarify the grammatical object (H262-63 and H270).
Hermeneutic Variants
The three hermeneutic variants that occur are only attested in the poetic sections, that is
in the prologue and the epilogue as recorded in tablets B and e.