Compare and Contrast the Code of Hammurabi and the Ten Commandments
...t significant in understanding the ancient societies with which they are associated. A clear division between Mesopotamian and Hebrew law are the religious systems upon which they are based. The Code of Hammurabi is based on a pantheistic background where many deities exist, while the Ten Commandments are derived from a monotheistic background where there is only one God. Hammurabi was ordained by Marduk (one of the many gods) to compose a collection of laws, while it is believed Moses simply brought God’s own word from atop Sinai. The Mesopotamian laws are, thus, inspired by man, as the Mosaic laws are inspired by God. Members of each society view God and their relationship to God differently. The gods depicted by the Code of Hammurabi are punitive and demand precise obedience, and, as the King is the representative of a god on Earth, citizens must respect and obey him as such. The Hebrews have no intermediary to God, they have a direct relationship with a God who is stern, but noticeably more compassionate. In addition, the Ten Commandments outline how and when to worship God, while the Code of Hammurabi fails to provide these instructions. This fact supports the notion that the Decalogue is more so a collection of moral guidelines than a set of specific, concrete, or traditional laws. This notion is continued by the lack of details provided by the Ten Commandments in comparison to the Code of Hammurabi. The Code is over 300 paragraphs long and includes descriptive and very specific crimes and their associated, and equally descriptive, punishments. The Ten Commandments are brief and vague. The punishments found in Deuteronomy are not like the cruel, seemingly barbaric, physical tortures of Hammurabi. There are no prisons or forced labour in ancient Mesopotamia, there is no room for accidents. Penalty to those who disobey the Ten Commandments is enacted in the afterlife by God. The Hebrews valued the lives of individuals and had fewer harsh punishments as a result of their nomadic social structure. This is also reflected in the protection of those who kill in self-defence by Hebrew law. The Code of Hammurabi has no such stipulation and fails to consider intent when determining the nature of any crime. The resident Mesopotamian population is larger and the rights of an individual are insignificant in comparison to the importance of maintaining social order. The commercial and urban consciousness of the Mesopotamians is shown in the inclusion of monetary compensation, equity, and legal responsibility for management and construction in the Code of Hammurabi. Upon examining the terms of monetary compensation offered by Hammurabi, it is clear that the Mesopotamian social structure is divided into classes while Hebrew society is not. The Amelu are the rich, upper-class who benefit from the privilege of being penalized financially for infractions made against an individual of a lower class. The Mushkinu, the middle-class, are not given the same privileges as the higher class, but are required to pay smaller fines and fees. The lowest class is slaves and they have very minimal rights. The Ten Commandments embrace equality among citizens and, while imperfect, women and the underprivileged are marginalized to a lesser degree by Mosaic Law. By modern ...