After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the government of Russia became more
limited by —

the use of email to replace slower surface mail.

8 - (2a + 7) = a + 40     distribute/multiply - into (2a + 7)

8 - 2a - 7 = a + 40

1 - 2a = a + 40       add 2a on both sides

1 = 3a + 40         subtract 40 on both sides

-39 = 3a       divide 3 on both sides

-13 = a

[proof]

8 - (2a + 7) = a + 40

8 - (2(-13) + 7) = -13 + 40

8 - (-26 + 7) = 27

8 - (-19) = 27

8 + 19 = 27

27 = 27

the lachish letters were written by hoshaiah, a military officer stationed possibly in mareshah,   and sent to yaush, possibly the commanding officer at lachish.

the series of letters were written in carbon ink in ancient hebrew on clay ostraca, shortly before lachish fell to the babylonian army of king nebuchadnezzar in 588/6 bc during the reign of zedekiah, king of judah.