Chapter IV: Translations Alone

Of translations there was early no lack. SCHEIL’s appeared in October, 1902, WINCKLER’s first, the following month. _The Oldest Code of Laws in the World_, a baldly literal translation of the Code alone, with a short introduction and index of subjects by C. H. W. JOHNS, appeared in February, 1903 (T. & T. Clark, Edinburgh).

_Le leggi di Hammurabi re di Babilonia (a. 2285-2242 a. C.) con prefazione e note_, by P. BONFANTE (Milano, 1903), and _Il codice di Hammurabi e la Bibbia_, by FR. MARI (Roma, Desclée, 1903), witness to the interest shown in Italy.

In the _New York Independent_ for December 11, 18, 1902, and January 8, 15, 22, 1903, W. HAYES WARD gave a translation of the Code, following WINCKLER closely; as did C. F. KENT in his article, _The Recently Discovered Civil Code of Hammurabi_, published in the _Biblical World_ (Chicago University Press, March, 1903).

A translation of the Code also appeared in W. ST. CHAD BOSCAWEN’s _The First of Empires_, along with comments and notes. The book presented a clear and readable account of the life and times of Hammurabi and the dynasty to which he belonged. It gave many interesting views upon Babylonian history and the relations to Israelite legislation; but it must be used with great caution, as it is often inaccurate and full of misprints (London and New York, Harper’s, 1903).

The many criticisms which had appeared on his first translation and the desirability of a less expensive presentation led V. SCHEIL, in 1903, to put out a fresh translation as _La loi de Hammurabi_ (Paris, E. Leroux); in which, however, he accepted little from his critics. A second edition came out in 1904.

Other translations have appeared in connexion with particular discussions. Thus the present writer was induced to set out a fresh translation for his _Babylonian and Assyrian Laws, Contracts, and Letters_ in the _Library of Ancient Inscriptions_ (Edinburgh, T. & T. Clark, 1904). This work covered most of the helps to the study of the subjects referred to in this survey available up to that date. R. W. ROGERS included an excellent translation and transliteration of the text in his useful work, _Cuneiform Parallels to the Old Testament_ (Oxford, Clarendon Press, 1912).

Several of those who have discussed the relation of the Code to the laws of Moses have given translations based upon SCHEIL, WINCKLER, or MÜLLER. _The Hammurabi Code and the Sinaitic Legislation_, by CHILPERIC EDWARDS (London, Watts & Co., 1904), _The Codes of Hammurabi and_ _Moses_, W. W. DAVIES (New York, Eaton & Maine, 1905), _The Code of Hammurabi_, by C. H. W. JOHNS, in the Extra Volume of _A Dictionary of the Bible_ (Edinburgh, T. & T. Clark, 1904), pp. 584-612, may be named. In the second and third editions of his excellent work, _The Old Testament in the Light of the Historical Records and Legends of Assyria and Babylonia_ (London, S. P. C. K., 1903), T. G. PINCHES translated the Code (1903, pp. 487-536; 1908, pp. 487-538). The treatment is full of acute observation and accurate scholarship.

A. UNGNAD has contributed a fresh translation to _Altorientalische Texte und Bilder zum alten Testamente, herausgegeben von_ H. GRESSMANN, _erster Band_, pp. 140-71 (Tübingen, J. C. B. Mohr, 1909).