Comparing The Hammurabi Code To The Torah

590 Words3 Pages
Comparing the Hammurabi Code to the Torah In comparing passages of both the Torah and Hammurabi Code it is necessary to explore how and why these passages came into existence. Most advanced organized civilizations have a state at its foundation and all states progress from an establishment of laws and regulations and without them the state is destined to exist in disorder. If these laws are religious or not religious in nature they play a huge part in the development of its civilization and the behavior or state of mind of its people. The Torah and the Code of Hammurabi Code were established in two different eras one was established by King Hammurabi and the other believed to be the directions from GOD. The Code of Hammurabi is a complication of decisions, or misharum that the king made in response to specific cases and perceived injustices (14), for Babylonian society, who were industrialized and urbanized. The Torah is believed to be GODS instructions which were revealed to Moses for the Jewish people, who were nomadic, rural and primitive, however in spite of their many differences each share much in common. The Hammurabi Code as it relates to marriage and adultery “If a wife of a man is found lying with another male, they shall be bound and thrown in the water. If the husband lets his wife live, then the King shall let the servant live (Hammurabi 129:15), where the Torah states “If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife -with the wife of his neighbor both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death” ( Leviticus 20:10). The main differences are Hammurabi Code gives the King the power to pardon the adulterer and the husband the right to pardon his wife. The Torah does not allow any exceptions and both parties are put to death. In situations that relates to individual responsibility Hammurabi Code states “If the child of the
Open Document