Reproductive issues in the Torah

Abstract

Fertility was the basis of primitive man’s economy. It is therefore not surprising to find that various facets of fertility and reproduction are mentioned and commented upon in connection to religious based texts from the period. The stories related to fertility and reproduction in these religious text compliment comments from other contemporary texts and archaeology to give an indication of the prevalent thoughts and beliefs of that age. The Torah serves as a compilation of Jewish historical religious oriented folk-tales predating the Iron Age. Its stories reflect the developing relationship and increasing dependence for survival between the Jewish people and Yahweh – a dependence inherently linked to fertility of the settled land to provide sustenance and of the people to provide for an increase in the population and communal strength.