When Marduk sent me to When Marduk sent me to rule over men, to give the rule over men, to give the protection of right to the protection of right to the land, I did right and in land, I did right and in righteousness brought about righteousness brought about the well-being of the the well-being of the oppressed.oppressed.

Below are situations Below are situations Hammurabi faced.  Decide Hammurabi faced.  Decide what you think to be a fair what you think to be a fair way to deal with the way to deal with the problem. Then, we will see problem. Then, we will see what Hammurabi declared.  what Hammurabi declared.  Would Marduk, the supreme Would Marduk, the supreme god, be pleased with your god, be pleased with your decisions?decisions?

You DecideYou Decide

What should be What should be done to the done to the carpenter who carpenter who builds a house that builds a house that falls and kills the falls and kills the owner? owner?

If a builder builds a If a builder builds a house for a man and house for a man and does not make its does not make its construction sound, construction sound, and the house which and the house which he has built he has built collapses and causes collapses and causes the death of the the death of the owner of the house, owner of the house, the builder shall be the builder shall be put to death.put to death.

You DecideYou Decide

What should be What should be done when a done when a "sister of god" (or "sister of god" (or nun) enters the nun) enters the wine shop for a wine shop for a drink? drink?

If a "sister of god" If a "sister of god" (nun) who is not (nun) who is not living in a convent living in a convent opens a wine shop opens a wine shop or enters a wine or enters a wine shop for a drink, shop for a drink, they shall burn that they shall burn that woman. woman.

You DecideYou Decide

What happens if a What happens if a man is unable to man is unable to pay his debts? pay his debts?

If a man be in debt If a man be in debt and is unable to pay and is unable to pay his creditors, he shall his creditors, he shall sell his wife, son, or sell his wife, son, or daughter, or bind them daughter, or bind them over to service. For over to service. For three years they shall three years they shall work in the houses of work in the houses of their purchaser or their purchaser or master; in the fourth master; in the fourth year they shall be year they shall be given their freedom. given their freedom.

You DecideYou Decide

What happens to What happens to the wine seller who the wine seller who fails to arrest bad fails to arrest bad characters characters gathered at her gathered at her shop? shop?

If bad characters If bad characters gather in the house gather in the house of a wine seller and of a wine seller and she does not arrest she does not arrest those characters those characters and bring them to and bring them to the palace, that the palace, that wine seller shall be wine seller shall be put to death.put to death.

You DecideYou Decide

What should be What should be done about a wife done about a wife who ignores her who ignores her duties and belittles duties and belittles her husband? her husband?

If the woman has If the woman has not been careful not been careful but has gadded but has gadded about, neglecting about, neglecting her house and her house and belittling her belittling her husband, they shall husband, they shall throw that woman throw that woman into the water.into the water.

You DecideYou Decide

What should be What should be done if a son is done if a son is adopted and then adopted and then the birth-parents the birth-parents want him back? want him back?

If a man takes in If a man takes in his own home a his own home a young boy as a son young boy as a son and rears him, one and rears him, one may not bring may not bring claim for that claim for that adopted son.adopted son.

You DecideYou Decide

What should What should happen to a boy happen to a boy who slaps his who slaps his father? father?

If a son strikes his If a son strikes his father, they shall father, they shall cut off his hand.cut off his hand.

You DecideYou Decide

How is the truth How is the truth determined when determined when one man brings an one man brings an accusation against accusation against another?another?

If any one brings an If any one brings an accusation against a man, accusation against a man, both men go to the river and both men go to the river and the accused person leaps the accused person leaps into the river. If he sinks in into the river. If he sinks in the river, his accuser shall the river, his accuser shall take possession of his house. take possession of his house. But if the river proves that But if the river proves that the accused is not guilty, the accused is not guilty, and he escapes unhurt, then and he escapes unhurt, then he who had brought the he who had brought the accusation shall be put to accusation shall be put to death, while he who leaped death, while he who leaped into the river shall take into the river shall take possession of the house that possession of the house that had belonged to his accuser. had belonged to his accuser.