Hammurabi's Babylonian Code was most like that of the Hebrews



For full article, see: http://specialtyinterests.net/hammurabi.html

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According to Wikipedia again, Hammurabi's Babylonian Code was most like that of the Hebrews (though chronological reasons would prevent Wikipedia, and others of a conventional persuasion, from recognising any dependence of the Code upon the Hebrew version):

"Of all the ancient legislations, that of the Hebrews alone can stand comparison with the Babylonian Code. The many points of resemblance between the two, the Babylonian origin of the father of the Hebrew race, the long relations of Babylon with the land of Amurru, have prompted modern scholars to investigate whether the undeniable relation of the two codes is not one of dependence. …. Needless to notice that Hammurabi is in no wise indebted to the Hebrew Law [sic]."

Knight regards the Code as both sophisticated and superior in part to later Roman Law (op.cit.):

"Hammurabi's Code cannot by any means be regarded as a faltering attempt to frame laws among a young and inexperienced people. Such a masterpiece of legislation could befit only a thriving and well-organized nation, given to agriculture and commerce, long since grown familiar with the security afforded by written deeds drawn up with all the niceties and solemnities which clever jurists could devise, and accustomed to transact no business otherwise. It is inspired throughout by an appreciation of the right and humane sentiments that make it surpass by far the stern old Roman law."Further here we read, along the lines of what we had earlier read from Pellegrino:

"A carving at the top of the stele portrays Hammurabi receiving the laws from the god Shamash, and the preface states that Hammurabi was chosen by the gods of his people to bring the laws to them. Parallels to this divine inspiration for laws can be seen in the laws given to Moses for the ancient Hebrews."That Moses and the tradition he fostered was utterly essential to the young Solomon, and that the latter had been prepared by his father, king David, to live by Moses' laws and statutes, is apparent from these words of counsel given to him by his ageing father (1 Kings 2:2):

'Be strong, be courageous, and keep the charge of the Lord your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statues, his commandments, his ordinances, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, so that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn'.

Rit Nosotro in an article also entitled "Hammurabi", reiterates the parallels between the Scriptures and the Law of Hammurabi:

"There are also some interesting speculations showing some parallels between the Bible and the life and laws of Hammurabi. One theme concept in both the Levitical law and the Code of Hammurabi that repeat themselves again and again are, namely: "eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise." (Exodus 21:24-25). Although Hammurabi did not know it, the principles in his laws reflected the Biblical principle of sowing and reaping as found in Galatians 6:78 and Proverbs 22:8: "Do not be deceived, God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." (Galatians 6:7)[200]. "He who sows wickedness reaps trouble." (Proverbs 22:8a).

Of course, if Hammurabi were Solomon, the author of many, many proverbs, then of course he probably 'did know it', to paraphrase Nosotro, as far as Proverbs 22 goes. Thus there may in fact be a direct connection between certain Hammurabic principles and the above-mentioned Proverbs 22. Indeed, Hammurabi-as-Solomon would have been most acutely aware of the biblical Proverbs, since he was the very author, or compiler, of so many of them. For: "[Solomon] composed three thousand proverbs, and his songs numbered a thousand and five." (1 Kings 4:32).

Likewise we read in the Book of Ecclesiastes of king Solomon (12:9-14):

Epilogue

Besides being wise, the Teacher [Qoheleth] also taught the people knowledge, weighing and studying and arranging many proverbs. [255]

The Teacher sought to find pleasing words, and he wrote words of truth plainly. The sayings of the wise are like goads, and like nails firmly fixed are the collected sayings that are given by one shepherd. Of anything beyond these, my child, beware. Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.

The end of the matter: all has been heard. Fear God, and keep his commandments; for that is the whole duty of everyone. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.

Now Hammurabi's Code too, just like Solomon's Ecclesiastes, starts with a Preface (similarly the Book of Proverbs has a Prologue) and ends with an Epilogue, in which we find an echo of many of Solomon's above sentiments, and others, beginning with Hammurabi as wise, as a teacher, and as a protecting shepherd king. These common 'buzz words', that I shall identify as we go along, in fact clinch - as far as I am concerned - the fact that, in Hammurabi and Solomon, we are dealing with one and the same person.

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