Deuteronomy 28 and Ancient Near Eastern Curses

This chapter reviews previous scholarship pertaining to the composition of Deuteronomy 28 in light of the ancient Near Eastern curse and treaty tradition, and in particular to the Neo-Assyrian text known as ‘Esarhaddon’s Succession Treaties’. The alleged relationship between the curses in Deuteronomy 28 and Esarhaddon’s Succession Treaties is important for the insights it provides concerning the dating and reasons behind the composition of the book of Deuteronomy. However, not all scholars are in agreement concerning the extent of the relationship: whether Deuteronomy 28 is a direct translation of the Succession Treaties, whether it appropriates the Treaties in an act of literary subversion, or even if the two texts are related at all. Since several important Aramaic inscriptions featuring curses have recently come to light, it is suggested that a new investigation of the problem is long overdue.