One of the most interesting and perplexing Hittite texts is the so-called “Apology” of Hattusili III (r. ca. 1267–1237 BCE). In some ways, this text is similar to the Biblical account of 2 Samuel concerning the rise of David to the throne of Israel (even though he was not from the royal line and, in fact, was estranged from Saul, the previous king). Similarly, Hattusili was in effect a usurper to the Hittite throne and wrote this autobiographical account to justify his seizure of power from his nephew, Urhi-Teshup, whose throne name was Muwatalli III (r. ca. 1272–1267 BCE). Although most of the text is an account of Hattusili’s rise to power, the document is in fact a royal decree granting temple estates for the goddess Ishtar of Samuha, a city governed by Hattusili before he took royal power. The long biographical account is actually a historical prologue to the decree.