Q&A: The Uniqueness of the Torah’s Laws
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
The Uniqueness of the Torah’s Laws
Question
What is the significance of the similarity between the Torah’s laws and other ancient law codes (the Laws of Eshnunna, the Code of Hammurabi)?
Answer
https://mikyab.net/%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%AA/%D7%93%D7%99%D7%9E%D7%99%D7%95%D7%9F-%D7%A9%D7%9C-%D7%97%D7%95%D7%A7%D7%99-%D7%94%D7%AA%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%94-%D7%9C%D7%93%D7%AA%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%A2%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%A7%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%90%D7%97%D7%A8%D7%95
I seem to remember there were other discussions here on these topics, so it’s worth searching.
As for the phenomenon itself, see here (a lot of familiar material, but also some genuinely new insights):
https://www.knowingfaith.co.il/%D7%9E%D7%A7%D7%A8%D7%90-%D7%95%D7%90%D7%A8%D7%9B%D7%99%D7%90%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%92%D7%99%D7%94/%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%A7%D7%A8%D7%90-%D7%95%D7%A1%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%95%D7%AA-%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%96%D7%A8%D7%97-%D7%94%D7%A7%D7%93%D7%95%D7%9D-%D7%97%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%91%D7%99-%D7%92%D7%9C%D7%92%D7%9E%D7%A9-%D7%95%D7%94%D7%AA%D7%A0-%D7%9A
As for the claim (mistaken, in my humble opinion) that there is nothing unique about the Torah’s laws, see here for a discussion of the moral dimension:
https://www.knowingfaith.co.il/%D7%AA%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%94-%D7%95%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%A1%D7%A8/%D7%94%D7%AA%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%94-%D7%95%D7%94%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%9C%D7%9D-%D7%94%D7%A2%D7%AA%D7%99%D7%A7