Does Hammurabi's Code predate the Ten Commandments?

Question

Please provide reliable/verifiable sources.

Leo B gave me an idea.

I Googled "old testament timeline" and found one that placed the birth of Moses at 1576 BC (200 years after Hammurabi).

I then Googled "old testament timeline" AND hammurabi. This brought up a timeline placing the birth of Moses at 1393 BC (long after Hammurabi).

So it would seem at least using the Bible as a source indicates Hammurabi came before the Ten Commandments.

The answer I want to get at, though, is which came first historically (in actual history, in the view of actual PhD historians).

So I guess I could refine my question to: Does Hammurabi's Code predate Judaic Law and the origin of the Old Testament?

Answer 1

I'm not sure exactly when the ten commandments were given to moses supposedly by God from mt Sinai. I know that the code of Hammurabi was written c.1780bc. I guess if you can figure out when Exodus from the bible took place you'll know your answer. Here are some links to both:

Code of Hammurabi:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_of_hammurabi

http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761557960/Hammurabi_Code_of.html

The Ten commandments:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_ten_commandments

http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761557978/Ten_Commandments.html

Are you trying to find if the ten commandments were inspired by the code of hammurabi? If so I don't think so, because the code is based more or less on the "eye for an eye" idea, while the commandments are more moral based. Although I remember reading that some pagan religions did influence judaism and chritianity. Like zoroastrianism for example.

Anyway Good Luck on your search.

Answer 2

Scientifically the Code is seen as the first list of "laws" put down on paper(or Tablet in this case). Without going into the Christian side of history, historically speaking it does predate the 10 commandments(and there are many who argue that those commandments are simply applied from the Code. Here's more info:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Code_of_Hammurabi

Hope this helps!

Answer 3

Yes
Wikipedia.com list several references in its note section of the article. Code of Hammurabi