Code of Hammurabi

The Code of Hammurabi was one of the earliest and most complete written legal codes and was proclaimed by the Babylonian king Hammurabi, who reigned from 1792 to 1750 B.C. Hammurabi expanded the city-state of Babylon along the Euphrates River to unite all of southern Mesopotamia. The Hammurabi code of laws, a collection of 282 rules, established standards for commercial interactions and set fines and punishments to meet the requirements of justice. Hammurabi’s Code was carved onto a massive, finger-shaped black stone stele (pillar) that was looted by invaders and finally rediscovered in 1901.

It was a pretty efficient code system. It was bringing the whole world of trade into one system or framework. Over the centuries it was morphed until it appears now as Canon Law, and UCC Code, they are literally using code from 500BC still today.

When the Israelites were in captivity in Egypt they learned this code and brought it with them when they left and built the temple in Jerusalem. It was incorporated into their temple worship and this is where Jesus rebukes them as money changers. They had brought Babylonian code into the country as statutes.