The document describes Hammurabi's role as the ruler of Babylon, appointed by the gods Marduk and Anu to establish justice and righteousness. It then lists several legal cases and what Hammurabi declared the punishment should be, such as putting a builder to death if their faulty construction causes a house to collapse and kill the owner, or throwing a neglectful wife into the water. The document emphasizes establishing order and justice according to the will of the gods.

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

3. When Anu the Sublime, King of the Anunaki, and Bel, the lord of Heaven and earth, who decreed the fate of the land, assigned to Marduk, the over-ruling son of Ea, God of righteousness, dominion over earthly man, and made him great among the Igigi, they called Babylon by his illustrious name, made it great on earth, and founded an everlasting kingdom in it, whose foundations are laid so solidly as those of heaven and earth; then Anu and Bel called by name me, Hammurabi, the exalted prince, who feared God, to bring about the rule of righteousness in the land, to destroy the wicked and the evil-doers; so that the strong should not harm the weak; so that I should rule over the black-headed people like Shamash, and enlighten the land, to further the well-being of mankind.

4. You Decide!! Decide what you think to be a fair way to deal with each of the following problems. Then, we’ll see what Hammurabi declared. Would Marduk, the supreme god, be pleased with your decisions?

5. What should be done to the carpenter who builds a house that falls and kills the owner? Put him on trial Put him to death

6. Nope!! Try again

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

8. What should be done when a "sister of god" (or nun) enters the wine shop for a drink? Put her on trial Burn her

9. Oops!! Try again

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

11. What happens if a man is unable to pay his debts? Sell his family Put him to death

12. Uh-oh!! Try again

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

14. What happens to the wine seller who fails to arrest bad characters gathered at her shop? Arrest her Put her to death

15. Yikes!! Try again

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

17. What should be done about a wife who ignores her duties and belittles her husband? Throw her in water Make fun of her

18. Argh!! Try again

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

20. What should be done if a son is adopted and then the birth-parents want him back? Adoptive parents get him Birth parents get him

21. Hecky darn!! Try again

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

23. How is the truth determined when one man brings an accusation against another? Water test Drown him

24. Oh, well!! Try again

25. If any one bring an accusation against a man, and the accused go to the river and leap into the river, if he sink in the river his accuser shall take possession of his house. But if the river prove that the accused is not guilty, and he escape unhurt, then he who had brought the accusation shall be put to death, while he who leaped into the river shall take possession of the house that had belonged to his accuser.

26. What should happen to a boy who slaps his father? Cut off his hand Put him to death

27. Oopsy!! Try again

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

30. Bibliography http://www.phillipmartin.info/