Page 39 - Advanced OT Survey Student Textbook
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The Code of Hammurabi
Babylon’s kind Hammurabi (1792-1750 BC) is best known for his code of law in scripted on a large stone.
His code contains 282 laws which have numerous parallels to the Scriptures. The collection of these
laws is incomplete and ignores many subjects which are contained in the Mosaic laws which stated 613
individual commandments. Hammurabi did not create these laws; rather, they appear to be a collection
of diverse traditions. It would not be until another 500 years before God would give a more complete
code of law to Moses at Sinai.
The format of the Code is very similar
to the Mosaic codes found in Exodus,
Leviticus, and Deuteronomy. Both
the Code of Hammurabi and the
Covenant Code of Moses have a
series of laws structured in an
“if…then” format. These laws begin
with the word “if,” introducing a
description of a potentially criminal
action. The format continues with the
word, “then,” offering the
consequences or penalty for breaking
the law. The format of this
presentation is often called “case
law” since its format describes particular cases or situations and the consequences for the offense.
The “if…then” format of the Code of Hammurabi appears frequently in the Covenant Law of Moses. The
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similarities of these two codes show there was a widespread legal tradition in the 2 millennium B.C. In
fact a number of situations mentioned in the Hammurabi code are virtually duplicated in the Mosaic
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code, often with differing penalties.
Leviticus
Leviticus is the third book of the five books of the law.
Author and Date: Moses again stands as the primary author of
Leviticus.
Themes: Leviticus has 27 chapters and two main divisions. Chapters 1-10 focus on the sacrificial
worship of God. Chapters 11-27 focus on living a set apart life before God. Hill and Walton commented
on the purpose of Leviticus saying, “
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34 So That’s Why Bible, Thomas Nelson Publishing, p. 113.
35 Andrew E. Hill and John H. “A Survey of the Old Testament (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2009), p. 133
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