were we created? What is the goal of life? How are we to act? Who is control of the universe? Etc… This is the reason the Old Testament has survived as a religious and historical document throughout the ages.The code of HammurabiThe first thing anyone will notice with the Code of Hammurabi is the detail presented in all of the laws given. In contrast to the laws of the Old Testament, the Code of Hammurabi covers ever aspect of life in great detail without any storyline. Which coincidently leads to the idea that Hammurabi didn’t just receive the Law as explained, but that the laws were written as situations arose by many authors. The Code presents its laws with clarity and authority. There is no ambiguity to exactly what is the punishment or what is the procedure in any situation.Unlike the Old Testament, the Code of Hammurabi gives us a clear look at the civilization in which Hammurabi lived. I was amazed at the sophistication level of this early civilization presented in the laws. The Amorites are talked about as a tribe, yet the word “tribe” denotes some kind of uncivilized group of people, which is not the case. In reading between the lines we can find that the people of Hammurabi (the Amorites) had judges that were appointed by the people (v. 5), they had temples (v. 6), they ran many businesses including beer shops (v. 104), they had adoption procedures and laws concerning adoption situations (v. 186), and finally they had surgeons both for humans and animals (v. 215 & 224). By contrast the Old Testament didn’t give as much detail, although we know that Noah had some amazing technology to build a huge ark.Despite this high level of civilization the Code of Hammurabi is very harsh and violent. Capitol punishment was the punishment of choice for almost any crime of serious nature. Though not spelled out in the Old Testament, the law of the Jews were similar, but perhaps more lenient.Similarities...
