Israel's Covenant compared to Hammurabi's Code of Laws
The ancient Mediterranean world, as well as some modern primitive societies, maintained a strong belief in the reality of a spirit world which continually interacted with the human world (Pilch, 20). They populated their surroundings with gods and goddesses of various natures in order to come to terms and gain some control over their environment and circumstances. Note that these gods/goddesses represented (were) powers of nature. In addition, Abraham came from a nomadic culture, in such cultures where central government is weak and/or ineffective the people have to look after themselves. When social equals are unable to help them, they seek someone with greater means who they expect to play the role of patron (Pilch, 79). A patron could be a neighboring king, vassal or other person of power (by means or wealth) who was willing to take the seeker in as part of his extended family, offering his help and protection. Abraham must have been delighted to discover a patron, God, who was seeking him. Given his cultural background, he may have initially accepted God based on his own primitive society's belief in divine communication. Through God's revelations, however, he came to understand and affirm that God was not as a natura
This ensured a periodic redistribution of wealth, minimizing the number of poor, destitute people. The law perpetuated and maintained a formidable control system based on human emotions; fear, guilt, and jealousy. Any pollution of the Israelite settlement by "detestable" worship practices, or those who gave lip service to the covenant while retaining allegiance to false gods was a capital cri!me. The means by which the chosen people could become the people of God is contained in the Ten Commandments, the basis and the heart of Israel's relationship with the Lord. Pilch seems more accurate than as suzerain. The law passed from parents to children, the earliest known form of formal education. I will use the term "Covenant" to describe the treaty used as it is unique to Israelites; suzerain forms were common only to settled peoples, not nomadic tribes (Anderson, 91). Any infractions of the law, whether it concern civil, religious or moral matters, were satisfied by sacrifice and rituals of the Hebrew faith to bring the individual concerned back to the covenant and God's grace. During this process Israel witnessed how God used things of the world, his creation, to provide for them. The 10 Commandments allowed "wide latitude for freedom of action and for interpretation of obligation to God and to one's fellow beings. All the people were part of Israel and as long as they, or any aliens in the land, remained they were subject to the law. While it ensured the moral and financial welfare of Israel's soldiers, it also ensures that every soldier had a personal reason to make sure Israel succeeded militarily. The Levites (priests) were in charge of the keeping the law as well as ministering to God, they performed duties as building, sanitation, and health and welfare inspectors and assisted appointed judges (NIV, Leviticus 15:33-57). This system of the extended family gave the hope of upward mobility to even the lowest persons in Israel. Similarly, the law contained provisions to ensure the proper functioning and loyalty of Israel's military forces.
Common topics in this essay:
NIV Deuteronomy,
,
God Israel,
NIV Leviticus,
King Israel,
Fertile Crescent,
Note Deuteronomy,
John Pilch,
Ten Commandments,
Village Elders,
chosen people,
extended family,
god israel,
niv deuteronomy,
people god,
subject law,
law contained,
law contained provisions,
inheritance niv,
witnessed god,
term patron,
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Acceptance Essays
