put on different people. People of Mesopotamia were under the rule of their kings, and therefore were required to follow the laws. There were no democracies or courts as there were in Greece. The laws were created by the rulers as direct order from the gods. People were to live by these divine laws, and die by them. A divine ruler, called the Pharaoh was the link between God and mortals in Egypt. As in other ancient cultures, laws were in direct relation to spirituality. Law and everyday rules in Egypt were believed to be God given, to the Pharaoh, who was of both god and man. He had the power of the gods to protect all of Egypt in life and in death. The Pharaoh was considered the protector of his land. From maintaining the rule, to controlling the flood waters of the Nile river, his power was more than necessary in Egyptian life. There was no room for discussion in the way of the law, as in Mesopotamia; the word of the divine ruler was final. As in most other cultures of the ancient times, laws in the Hebrew civilization were religion based as well. Though the Hebrew people believed that they were the first people to receive Gods law, otherwise called the Ten Commandments. It was Hebrew belief that they were chosen by God to set an example of moral behavior to other peoples of the world , unlike other civilizations, who kept their law codes to themselves. Hebrew law did not make separate laws for commoners and nobles as the Code of Hammurabi did. The idea of law was that it was created by God, who had no ill intentions for his people, and therefore all law was for the better of humanity. There were no divisions of law for different classes in Hebrew culture. Hebrew people are often reminded that they were once the slaves of the Egyptians, and that God saved them from that plight. Therefore there is an obligation for Hebrews to follow the laws of God. A common thread through all of Hebrew law is that they must do w...
