Compare And Contrast The Laws Of Hammurabi

Mediterranean civilizations Before Common Era, included some of the most influential and respected cultures of history. These cultures were fueled by the large support they received from empires and their divine rulers. Throughout history, every successful empire has implemented laws that allow citizens of the empire to live peacefully in avoidance of chaos and disorder. Two great Mediterranean B.C.E. examples are: the Mesopotamian empire and the establishment of the Israelites in the Promise Land.

The Mesopotamian civilization had many great rulers who helped keep order and peace throughout their vast empires. One of the greatest leaders in Mesopotamia was Hammurabi. He was able to unite the people of Mesopotamia and bring order to his large

The rules are mainly in place in order to help people live together while maintaining peace throughout their empires. The Laws of Hammurabi are written with much greater detail and moral reasoning to the text, whereas the Ten Commandments are broad but clear. The resemblance in their messages can arguably insinuate that one set of laws influenced the other, “[if] in a lawsuit a man gives damning evidence, and his word is not justified, then, if his suit be a capitol one, that man shall be slain”(The Judgment of Hammurabi, 14). The passage given is one that modernly reads or is the equivalent to not giving a false testimony about another person. The Law of Hammurabi presents the public with an in depth situation, though its message is similar to that of the Ten Commandments, “[neither] shall you bear false witness against your neighbor”(the Book of Deuteronomy, 61). The message, given to the Israelites and the Mesopotamians, are similar in structure and the main point that is addressed encourages giving an honest testimony. The Ten Commandments, as vague as they are, cover a majority of the topics that the very detailed Hammurabi does, “[honor] your father and your mother, as the Lord your God commanded you;”(the Book of Deuteronomy, 61). The Ten Commandments directly addresses children and commands they obey their parents. . The Law of

The Laws of Hammurabi is defined as, “a compilation of decisions, or misharaum (equity rulings), that the king made in response to specific cases and perceived injustices”(the Judgements of Hammurabi, 13). The Laws of Hammurabi is a guide that seeks to help the citizens of the Mesopotamian empire settles decisions and several situations that can cause conflict. This differs from the Ten Commandments of the Bible, which is seen as the ten sacred laws that God gave his people as a “sacred pact” (the Book of Deuteronomy, 59). The Ten Commandments do not present the Israelites with a breakdown of how to handle certain situations; instead it is a broad and generalized overview of what has to be done in order to reach Heaven. Whereas the Laws of Hammurabi are not filled with guidelines needed to reach heaven or any afterlife destination; the situations in the ancient artifact seem to support self-vindication. Throughout the Laws of Hammurabi, the situations depicted end with men handling the conflicts, “[if] in a lawsuit a man gives damning evidence, and his word that he has spoken is not justified, then, if the suit be a capital one, that man shall be slain...”(the Judgements of the Hammurabi, 14). The laws of Hammurabi are much less spiritual in origin, instead focus on the current physical world. These laws