A first peculiarity to notice is that the provisions are remarkably non-threatening. A glance at other ancient codes or laws will point the difference. Thus, the first section of the Code (or Laws) of Hammurabi (of, at the latest, the early th century B.C.) reads: In contrast, penalties are noticeably absent from the Ten Commandments. Mention of punishment occurs only in three, two of them among the religious rules, and they are non-specific. Thus, for bowing down to other gods, God will punish the children for the offense of their parents down to the fourth generation (.). The precise punishment, however horrible it might be, is not expressed. For wrongly using the name of God He will not acquit (.). The remaining mention of punishment scarcely deserves that name: you should honor your parents “so that your days may be long in the land that God gave you.” (.). For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but rested the seventh day; therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and consecrated it. Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house; you shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or male or female slave, or ox, or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.63 63 The translation is that of theNew Revised Standard Version. 64 Translation of M.E.J. Richardson, Hammurabi’s Laws (Sheffield, 2000), p. 41. If a man has made allegations against another man, and he has laid a charge of homicide against him but is unable to substantiate his guilt, the one who made the allegations against him shall be killed.64 . . . . . . .
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