The Code of Hammurabi

[MN Dave]

Harsh.

http://www.wsu.edu/~dee/MESO/CODE.HTM

[Todd]

Indeed.  For that and several other reasons, I'm glad I don't live in ancient Mesopotamia.  On the other hand, the code, however harsh, seems potentially better than a purely arbitrary system.  At least one would know to be careful with asses that are not one's own.

[MN Dave]

Indeed.

If any one bring an accusation against a man, and the accused go to the river and leap into the river, if he sink in the river his accuser shall take possession of his house. But if the river prove that the accused is not guilty, and he escape unhurt, then he who had brought the accusation shall be put to death, while he who leaped into the river shall take possession of the house that had belonged to his accuser.

[Spotswood]

What's interesting is that we think of the Laws of Moses as being harsh and rigid, but they represent an ethical advance on the Code of Hammurabi. "An eye for an eye" is actually a more humane way of dealing with transgression. Under Hammurabi, for example, if a man kills your daughter, you are entitled to kill his. (Sounds sort of fair, doesn't it?) The Hebrews believed everyone should pay for his or her own sin.

The reasons I dislike the Christian doctrine of original sin is that it strikes me as very un-Hebrew. As Jeremiah (31:29-30) wrote:

In those days they will not say again,
         'The fathers have eaten sour grapes,
         And the children's teeth are set on edge.'

But everyone will die for his own iniquity; each man who eats the sour grapes, his teeth will be set on edge.

Original sin does away with this concept. We are all guilty, because in Adam all have sinned.  And, since the story is now regarded as a myth, the whole apple thing is out, and we don't even know exactly what it is he's supposed to have done.

[MN Dave]

Sometimes it's more than just an eye for an eye. Sometimes it's your life for an ass.

If any one steal cattle or sheep, or an ass, or a pig or a goat, if it belong to a god or to the court, the thief shall pay thirtyfold; if they belonged to a freed man of the king he shall pay tenfold; if the thief has nothing with which to pay he shall be put to death.

[karlhenning]

Free your mind, and your ass will soon follow.

[Spotswood]

Sometimes it's more than just an eye for an eye. Sometimes it's your life for an ass.

If any one steal cattle or sheep, or an ass, or a pig or a goat, if it belong to a god or to the court, the thief shall pay thirtyfold; if they belonged to a freed man of the king he shall pay tenfold; if the thief has nothing with which to pay he shall be put to death.

Well, I never said it was nice. But at least they don't kill your family. 

[Spotswood]

Free your mind, and your ass will soon follow.

Wow, I'm gonna have that one tattooed on my ... arm.

[MN Dave]

Mom, a bully at school stole my lunch money!

If any one is committing a robbery and is caught, then he shall be put to death.   0:)

Thanks, Mom!

[karlhenning]

If any one is committing a robbery and is caught, then he shall be put to death. 0:)

Looks like it was just printed yesterday in Tehran, eh?

[Spotswood]

Looks like it was just printed yesterday in Tehran, eh?

Capital punishment for theft was practiced in Britain as late as Dickens' time. The West has come a long way, but only recently.

[Archaic Torso of Apollo]

Harsh.

You call that harsh? THIS is harsh:

http://listverse.com/2007/09/12/top-10-gruesome-methods-of-execution/

Hammurabi's Code is for wimps.