Decoding Hammurabi’s Code Is Hammurabi’s code just? Some people would say yes, others might say no. For anyone who doesn’t know what Hammurabi’s code is, it is a set of laws given around 1740 BC. and was most likely more of a scare tactic rather than an actual punishment. These laws would remain in place during this time period because the laws covered the accused, victim, and society. Any person accused of some type of crime was given trial. Law 3 states: if any one bring an accusation against a man, and the accused go 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 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. Law 5 says that if any one steal cattle or sheep, or an ass, or a pig or a goat, if it belonged to a god or to the court, the thief shall pay thirtyfold therefore; if they belonged to a freed man of the king he shall pay tenfold; if the thief has nothing with which to pay he shall be put to death. Law 104 states: if a woman quarrel with her husband, and say: “You are not congenial to me,” the reasons for her prejudice must be presented. If she is guiltless, and there is no fault on her part, but he leaves and neglects her, then no guilt attaches to this woman, she shall take down her dowry and go back to her father’s house. Law 108 says that if a state slave or the slave of a freed man marry the daughter of a free man, and children are born, the master of the slave shall have no right to enslave the children of the free. All of the laws stated above prove that everyone lived under the law, and would go to trial for committing any crimes against the law. Hammurabi’s laws were just laws for the victims of the crimes. Law 5 says that if any one steal cattle or sheep, or a donkey, or a pig or a goat, if it belonged to a god or to the court, the thief shall pay thirtyfold therefore; if they belonged to a freed man of the king he shall pay tenfold; if the thief has nothing with which to pay he shall be put to death. Law 117, says that if any one strike the body of a man higher in rank than he, he shall receive sixty blows with an ox-whip in public. Law 123 states: if the patient be a freed man, he receives five shekels. The laws are just a few examples of Hammurabi’s fairness to the victims. The society has fairness in the laws. Law 12 says, if any one be too lazy to keep his dam in proper condition, and does not so keep it; if then the dam break and all the fields be flooded, then shall he in whose dam the break occurred be sold for money, and the money shall replace the corn which he has caused to be ruined. Law 13 states: If he be not able to replace the corn, then he and his possessions shall be divided among the farmers whose corn he has flooded. Law 14 says, if any one open his ditches to water his crops, but is careless, and the water floods the field of his neighbor, then he shall pay his neighbor corn for his loss. All of these laws show that if something happens, society can have confidence in the law and know that what they’ve lost will be returned or replaced. Although some people believe that these laws are unjust, it can appear through examination of the laws individually stated above that they really were not. Hopefully, one can realize that for the time period it wasn’t that hard for people to follow and live by.