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Secondary sourceBook1907

The Law of Hammurabi and Moses: A Sketch

Hubert Grimme · 1907

An English translation of a German scholarly study comparing Hammurabi's law code to the laws of Moses, with a translation of the relevant laws.

A scholarly comparison of Hammurabi's code with Mosaic law, including a translation of relevant laws.

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The Law of Hammurabi and Moses: A Sketch
Hubert Grimme (translated), The Law of Hammurabi and Moses: A Sketch, 1907. Scanned book, Internet Archive.

About this source

What it is

This 1907 book is an English translation of a study by Hubert Grimme, professor of Semitic languages, comparing the code of Hammurabi to Mosaic law. It includes a translation from Babylonian of the laws discussed, plus additional chapters by the translator, Rev. W. T. Pilter, on the history and archaeology of both codes.

Why it matters

This book shows how early 20th-century scholars used the newly discovered Hammurabi code to re-examine the origins of biblical law. It combines translation, comparison and commentary, revealing both genuine scholarship and the religious interests of its time.

Look closer

  • Why would a scholar in Switzerland and a clergyman in England collaborate on this topic?
  • What does comparing two ancient law codes side by side let historians learn?
  • What assumptions might the authors bring to their comparison of Babylonian and Mosaic law?

This book is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Hammurabi on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

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