The Relations between the Laws of Babylonia and the Laws of the Hebrew Peoples The Schweich Lectures

"The Relations between the Laws of Babylonia and the Laws of the Hebrew Peoples" by C. H. W. Johns is a historical exploration examining the connection between ancient Babylonian legal codes, particularly the Code of Hammurabi, and the laws of the early Israelites found in the Hebrew Bible. The text compares these legal systems, highlighting similarities and possible influences to clarify how legal ideas changed and grew over time. The author begins by explaining the significance of comparing Babylonian and Hebrew laws, especially because people have long admired Mosaic law, and then moves on to the discovery of the Code of Hammurabi and the different ways experts have understood both legal systems ever since. The work emphasizes the historical importance of these laws and argues for a careful and complex understanding of how these legal systems emerged and affected one another reflecting a wide-ranging mix of culture and legal tradition.