Behind | Comparing Biblical and Ancient Near Eastern Laws

A comprehensive comparison between biblical and ancient Near Eastern law collections shows a number of remarkable similarities in form and content. However, there are marked differences as well. Here are some important ones to consider:

1. Law codes or collections were royal literature, or you could say royal propaganda. They pointed to the wisdom of the reigning king. The Bible also points to a reigning king, but it isn’t Moses. It is the God of Israel, YHWH. This helps us distinguish the notion of “laws” (common to all collections) and “Law” (an unchanging, unified divine revelation). 

2. Law collections were comprehensive to a point. They related to social and economic concerns. The laws of the Bible include socio-economic regulations but go further. Biblical law relates to all of life and has as much to say about ritual life as social life. YHWH’s covenantal rule over all of life is thereby established.

3. Laws outside of the Bible reflected and reinforced a hierarchical view of society. Consequently, punishment differed between common people and nobility. For example, a commoner would be put to death for murdering another person, but a ruler could pay a fine instead. The Bible has a remarkably democratized view of law: Everyone—including a future king!—was to be judged by a uniform standard.