Hazor yields fragments of a law code

Two fragments of a cuneiform tablets containing portions of a law code have been recovered at Hazor, according to the excavators, Prof. Amnon Ben-Tor and Dr. Sharon Zuckerman. The report from Hebrew University says,

The text parallels portions of the famous Law Code of Hammurabi, and, to a certain extent even the Biblical “tooth for a tooth”. The team is presently working its way down towards a monumental structure dating to the Bronze Age, where more tablets are expected to be found.

A brief report with several photos may be read at Device Magazine.

Earlier this year I noticed that a teacher had brought her students to dig at Hazor. I think the area had been salted so they would be sure to find some nice shards of pottery. We sometimes say that archaeology is the national pastime in Israel. These kids are learning early.

Kids learning about archaeology at Hazor. Photo by Ferrell Jenkins.

Notice the Hula Valley in the distance below the tell.

When Hazor was captured by Joshua and the Israelites it was a the head of all the kindgoms in the area.

And Joshua turned back at that time and captured Hazor and struck its king with the sword, for Hazor formerly was the head of all those kingdoms. (Joshua 11:10 ESV)

HT: Joseph I. Lauer; Bible Places Blog.