Fertility as blessing and infertility as curse in the ancient Near East and the Old Testament

Abstract

Fertility and infertility are amongst the most important subjects in curses and blessings in the Ancient Near East and in the· Old Testament. Fertility was especially linked to three spheres: bumper crops, thriving livestock and a growing family. This paper treats the subject in treaty and covenant texts, in curses and blessings in inscriptions and documents and in historical, mythological and legendary texts to demonstrate to what extent the subject lived in the heart and minds of the people of the Ancient Near East. This lies at the background of much of the myth and ritual of the Ancient Near East and of petition and sacrifice in Israel.