The Jewish outlook. (Denver, Colo.) 1903-1913, 1905-09-29
Babylonian Sources Of the Bible

writer, R. Campbell Thompson in tracing
resemblances between BabylOnian literary
remains, including Hammurabi's code OF
laws, and the Bible, have each, in the de-
partment of the Old Testament he handles,
shown a tendency, according to Dr. John F.
Peters, in the Homiletc Review New York;,
to attribute everything TO BaDylonlan
sources. DR.. Peters takes exception to this
position although he admits the indebted
ness of all western Asia to Babylonian in
fluences.
1T is an undoubted fact that Jewish civ
iiZation and Jewish religion owe a great
debt directly indirectly to Babylona
The myths and legends, the magic, the rlt-
ual, the science, the literature and legisla-
ton of BabylOnia produced profound I'M
preston on the whole of Hither Asia. and
any one who wishes to understand histor-
ically the origin and development of Jewish
religion and civilization must acquaint him.
self with Babylonian religion and civlllZa-
ton"
He points out however, the superiority
of Hebrew to Babylonian scriptures, and
this feature of the Jewish books consti-
tutes their originality. To quote his own
words
.The more evident the connection be-
tween Babylonia and Israel, the clearer, also.
becomes the spiritual eXaltation of the lat
ter in comparison with the former Ihe
polythesm and sensuality of the BabylOnian
originals give place to monOtheism and sp1r-
ituality in the Hebrew derivations. and
while for the historical understanding OF the
DEVELOPMENT one needs to know the Baby
lonian original, spiritually it has been so
modified and exalted in it's Hebrew form
as to constitute in fact a creation. The
element contributed by the Hebrew is more
important than that contributed by the
Babylonian, precisely as in beautiful
sculpture the creative work of the artist is
more valuable than the raw material.
The Hammurabi Code of Babylon is cited
by him an instance of the nterconnec
ton of Hebrew and Babylonian legislative
ideas. 1t consists of the compilation and
condensation of laws already existing, and,
in the words of DR.. Peters:
ct is the earliest codificatiOn of law
of which we have any certain knowledge.
It's highly developed character, however, is
evidence that there were before that time
codes of law in existence, fact of which we
have further evidence in the contract tab
lets Of an earlier period, discovered at Nip
pur, Telo and elsewhere. The legislation OF
Babylonia affected the regions northward,
westward and eastward, which were within
the sphere of Babylonian influence, CONNER
cial and political. The racial and linguistic
affinity of Canaan and Babylonia added to
the political dependence OF Canaan on
Babylon in the time of Hammurabi
and his successors must have made
that influence especially effective in
Canaan. The Hebrew, assimilating Canaan
itic civilization, found there, may fairly
assume a Legislative system based on or in
huenced by the code of Hammurab The
more primitive patriarchal right and patr
archal customs of Israel gave way in some
measure. certainly, to these laws. better
adapted to their new conditions, having
their parentage in Babylonia.'
He holds that the higher elements of He
brew legislation not derived from Ham
murabi but exist ed among the nation before