Throughout history there have been many laws put in place to ensure order and safety within different societies. The first set of written laws originated in Mesopotamia in approximately 1754 BC, called the Code of Hammurabi. Dating from the 10th century B.C. there were another set of laws created in the old Testament called the Hebrew code of laws, making up of Moses’s 611 commandments. Hammurabi’s Code and the Hebrews (in Mosaic Code) became supreme over all sources of authority; playing an important role in the legal process among society. There have been striking amount of similarities between the Hammurabi laws and the Mosaic code of the Hebrew Old Testament.
Hammurabi is the first king of the Babylonian Dynasty, known to us. Although …show more content…
Hammurabi, like Moses, received his laws from divine hand itself (Hammurabi receiving his code from the sun-god). One of the most famous and well know laws from Hammurabi’s Code is, “and thine eye shall not pity; life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.” In similarity the Mosaic code imposes, “If man destroy the eye of another man, they shall destroy his eye… If one breaks a man’s bone, they shall break his bone.” The resemblance between the two is undeniable. Both codes clearly set forth the underlying principle in all penalties. It may be come to understood that “life for life, eye for eye, etc.” was one of the main primary principle of ancient law givers. This illustrates the idea that the punishment would fit the crime. At the same time, capital crimes were to be met with the death penalty. Both codes acknowledge the severity of rape. Hammurabi’s code states, “If a man force the (betrothed) wife of another who has not known a male and is living in her father's house, and he lie in her bosom and they take him, that man shall be put to death and the women shall go free.” In comparison the Mosaic code states, “But if a man finds a betrothed damsel in the field and the man force her and lie with her; then the man only that lay with her shall die.” Hammurabi’s Code and the …show more content…
The division illustrates that the Babylonian society most likely belonged to later days when society had become more complex. As a result, a question emerges regarding if the Mosaic Law were not in some respects even more “archaic” than the Hammurabi Code. “The origins of the Hebrew law code go far back into the times when, according to a tradition which has never been proved untrustworthy, the forefathers of the Hebrews state were in Babylonia.” It is hard to say if the codes had a common origin, and, or influenced each other; but regarding the information provided in the article much of the logic and evidence supports the belief that they did. The resemblance that is portrayed in both codes I find to be resounding. Based off of the many similarities regarding their legal system and everyday life; both Hammurabi’s Code and the Mosaic Code displayed the practical necessities of community life. It could be said that every law-code in existence is a combination of certain ancient everyday principles descending from the first nationalization of the people who first evolved the
Hammurabi is the first king of the Babylonian Dynasty, known to us. Although …show more content…
Hammurabi, like Moses, received his laws from divine hand itself (Hammurabi receiving his code from the sun-god). One of the most famous and well know laws from Hammurabi’s Code is, “and thine eye shall not pity; life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot.” In similarity the Mosaic code imposes, “If man destroy the eye of another man, they shall destroy his eye… If one breaks a man’s bone, they shall break his bone.” The resemblance between the two is undeniable. Both codes clearly set forth the underlying principle in all penalties. It may be come to understood that “life for life, eye for eye, etc.” was one of the main primary principle of ancient law givers. This illustrates the idea that the punishment would fit the crime. At the same time, capital crimes were to be met with the death penalty. Both codes acknowledge the severity of rape. Hammurabi’s code states, “If a man force the (betrothed) wife of another who has not known a male and is living in her father's house, and he lie in her bosom and they take him, that man shall be put to death and the women shall go free.” In comparison the Mosaic code states, “But if a man finds a betrothed damsel in the field and the man force her and lie with her; then the man only that lay with her shall die.” Hammurabi’s Code and the …show more content…
The division illustrates that the Babylonian society most likely belonged to later days when society had become more complex. As a result, a question emerges regarding if the Mosaic Law were not in some respects even more “archaic” than the Hammurabi Code. “The origins of the Hebrew law code go far back into the times when, according to a tradition which has never been proved untrustworthy, the forefathers of the Hebrews state were in Babylonia.” It is hard to say if the codes had a common origin, and, or influenced each other; but regarding the information provided in the article much of the logic and evidence supports the belief that they did. The resemblance that is portrayed in both codes I find to be resounding. Based off of the many similarities regarding their legal system and everyday life; both Hammurabi’s Code and the Mosaic Code displayed the practical necessities of community life. It could be said that every law-code in existence is a combination of certain ancient everyday principles descending from the first nationalization of the people who first evolved the