The First Lawyer: Hammurabi and His Code of Laws

Hammurabi’s code was the first to state laws that were to be observed and obeyed by all citizens, including the rulers. As the king of Babylonia (in present-day Iraq), he was the first to create a set of laws that were not at the disposal or discretion of the ruler. It included punishments for stealing, adultery, divorce, and traitors among other crimes. The punishments were usually very severe; death being the most common. If someone were to accuse another of a crime, the accused would have to jump into a river as a trial of innocence. If he drowned, it was interpreted as being found guilty, if he survived (knew how to swim, literally) he was considered innocent and the punishment, usually death, would go to the accuser.

Hammurabi also made history by declaring that kings and rulers after him must honor and enforce the laws, not change or manipulate them. Before him, kings would change the rules as they pleased, allowing for unfair treatment of citizens.

What would be government be like without Hammurabi’s contributions to law? It is a scary thought to consider that the governments of the world and their leaders would be allowed to change the laws at any point in time without any restrictions. Anyone but the king would be at an unfair disadvantage.

Sources: James Downs, PhD in The Intellectual Devotional