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LIBERTY UNIVERSITY
Submitted to Professor Hosaflook
202120 Spring 2021 HIEU 201-D10 LUO
Evaluative Essay 1
Law and Government
by
Brandy Grigson
April 17, 2021
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The Code of Hammurabi and The Roman Law of the Twelve Tables are where the first
written laws began; however, God the Holy One had laws of His own known as the Ten
Commandments that represented equality for the people and government.
Code of Hammurabi
One of many King Hammurabi was the Babylonian ruler around 1780 B.C. over the
Mesopotmains, and his role as king was to administer the laws that the gods sent down. 1 He
wrote what is known to be the oldest written Law. Etched in stone, these laws provided the
Mesopotmains with a measure of security. No one was above the laws, not even the kings.
"Punishments were generally severe—"an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." The code
prescribed death for housebreaking, kidnapping, aiding the escape of slaves, receiving stolen
goods, and bearing false witness; however, it allowed consideration of extenuating
circumstances." 2 Kings built a stunning place of worship and festooned sanctified statues with
luxurious clothing and beautiful jewels to respect the gods. You will find that The Code of
Hammurabi is very similar to God's Laws taken out of context. "38You have heard that it was
said, 'Eye for Eye and tooth for tooth.' 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone
slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. " 3 (Matthew 5:38-39, NIV) We
1 Perry, "Western Civilization", Vol 11, 1-3b
2 Perry, "Western Civilization", Vol 11, 1-3b
3 Holy Bible, "Matthew", 5:38-39, NIV
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can compare the Holy Bible to The Code of Hammurabi codes 196-229, which speak of "eye for
an eye, tooth for a tooth" cutting off limbs and punishment by death. However, all can be found
in Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy exedra in the Bible.
The Roman Twelve Tables
The Patricians and Plebeians had a conflict that paved the way for the Romans to establish
laws of their own called The Twelve Tables, written on bronze tablets in Rome in 450 BC during
the Peloponnesian War and Persian Wars, which became the first written laws in Rome. 4 The
Code of Hammurabi built the foundation for the Romans, making it critical to Western
civilization. The Code of Hammurabi and The Roman Twelve Tables are very similar in many
ways, yet very different. They both include written laws regarding criminal and social
procedures. Both laws believe in removing limbs and death as a punishment, and they could not
marry between social classes. Neither believed that all people were equal, especially women. 5 "17
Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish
them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest
letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is
accomplished." 6 (Matthew 5:17, NIV)
4 Perry, "Western Civilization", Vol 11, 6
5 Hadley, "Introduction to Roman Law", 1902
6 Holy Bible, "Matthew", 5:17, NIV
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Conclusion
In closing, these written laws recommend guidelines by which all can read and try
to follow. Both the Code of Hammurabi and the Roman Twelve Tables paved the way to the
Western civilization of Law and government. God shows many times over His Law, yet they
fought to utilize instruction and fairness but failed to reach the Biblical standard.
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Bibliography
Hammurabi, Percy Handcock, and Kinichi Asakawa. The Code of Hammurabi. London; New York: Society for
Promoting Christian Knowledge; The Macmillan Company, 1920. The Making of Modern Law: Foreign,
Comparative and International Law, 1600–1926 (accessed April 25, 2021).
https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/HT0100683970/MMLF?u=vic_liberty&sid=MMLF&xid=8f16623f&pg=1.
Hadley, James. Introduction to Roman Law. In Twelve Academical Lectures. New York: D. Appleton and
Company, 1902. The Making of Modern Law: Foreign, Comparative and International Law, 1600–
1926 (accessed April 25, 2021). https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/HT0100476407/MMLF?
u=vic_liberty&sid=MMLF&xid=ddfe10f7&pg=1.
Western Civilization - Ideas, Politics, and Society, Volume i: to 1789, by Marvin Perry, Cengage Learning, Inc,
2014.
Matthew 5:39-42 NIV - But I tell you, do not resist an evil ...... https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?
search=Matthew%205:39&version=NIV
Matthew 5:17-18 Meaning of I Have Not Come to Abolish Them ..... https://connectusfund.org/matthew-5-17-
meaning-of-i-have-not-come-to-abolish-them-but-to-fulfill-them
