R. Schmitt reconsiders the role of magic within the study of religion, Ancient Near Eastern and Old Testament studies (chapter 1) and the cosmological "Weltbild" of Ancient Near Eastern magic (chapter 2). The terminology used in the Old Testament (chapter 3), words, actions and various materials used within the magical performances (chapter 4), and magical practices mentioned in the Old Testament (chapter 5) are analysed in detail: Far from beeing simply taken over from other Near Eastern religious spheres, magic played an important role within the daily life and the religion of Ancient Israel and cannot be considered to be a mere "survival". Polemics in the Old Testament were not directed against all kind of magic, just against "Schadenzauber" and other unauthorised forms (chapter 6). Chapter 7 offers an overview of a history of magic on the Old Testament in diachronic and synchronic perspectives.