Page 47 - The Poetic Books - Student Text

Ninurta was a Sumerian god worshipped in both Babylon and Assyria. He was responsible for battle and
fertility. Hymns were written to him in both aspects. We might contrast the “Hymn to Ninurta as God of
Vegetation” with Psalm 65 and its praise to God for the bounty of harvest. The Ninurta hymn is
repetitions and unimaginative. It reflects the god’s role in the fertility of people and the ground. Israel’s
God is described as creator and sustainer. His righteousness works throughout his deeds. He is the hope
of everyone on earth.

Life-giving semen, life-giving seed,
King whose name was pronounced by Enlil,
Life-giving semen, life-giving seed,
Ninurta whose name was pronounced by Enlil.

My king, I will pronounce your name again and again,
Ninurta, I your man, your man,
I will pronounce your name again and again.

My king, the mother-goat [has given birth] to the kid,
[The mother-goat] has given birth [to the kid,
The mother-goat] has given birth [to the goat]
[I will pronounce your name again and again]
Figure 27: Ninurta
(remainder of obviously destroyed)

The king….
As long as he was king….
In the river [there flowed fresh water].
In the field grew the rich grain.
The sea was filled with carp and …-fish.
In the canebrake grew “old” reeds and young reeds,
The forests were filled with deer and wild goats,
In the steppe grew the mashgur-tree,
The watered gardens were filled with honey (and)
wine,
In the palace “grew” long life.
Figure 28: Ninurta Amulet
It is a balbale-song.
72

Much of this discussion on types of psalms is dry and has questionable spiritual value. A reader can
spend many difficult hours poring over the opinions and speculations of scholars. Mark D. Futato has a
fairly simple explanation suggesting five basic psalm forms.

72 S. N. Kramer, trans. “Hymn to Ninurta as God of Vegetation” in The Ancient Near East, vol. II, James B. Pritchard
ed. (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1975), 123-124.
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