(fl. 14th century B.C.E.) Prince of Jerusalem, in modern Israel
He corresponded with AKHENATEN (r. 1353–1335 B.C.E.) of the Eighteenth Dynasty concerning the troubled events of the era. The messages sent by Abdu Heba are included in the collection of letters found in the capital, ’AMARNA,a remarkable accumulation of correspondence that clearly delineates the life and political upheavals of that historical period. This prince of Jerusalem appears to have maintained uneasy relations with neighboring rulers, all vassals of the Egyptian Empire. SHUWARDATA, the prince of Hebron, complained about Abdu Heba, claiming that he raided other cities’ lands and allied himself with a vigorous nomadic tribe called the Apiru.
When Abdu-Heba heard of Shuwardata’s complaints, he wrote Akhenaten to proclaim his innocence.
