#enrique nardoni

[eelhound]

"It is worth noting that, in spite of changes in demography, in language, and in religion, a basic concept of justice with a strong liberating dimension developed over the centuries in Mesopotamia. In the social reforms, in the legal codes, and in the decrees of mercy, the mission of the king was to remove injustice from his territory and to liberate the oppressed and the forsaken so that they might render service to the gods.

But, the reiteration of reforms, the promulgation of new codes, and the periodic announcement of decrees of mercy demonstrate how difficult it was to eliminate exploitation and oppression and to establish justice and equity. In addition, the texts of popular piety show how elusive justice was and how almost inaccessible it was to the humble class.

In spite of the difficulties, the Mesopotamian tradition kept the king's obligations alive with respect to justice: he was obliged to control the excesses of the state and the power of the oppressor and to reestablish violated rights; he was obliged to free his people from unsupportable and counterproductive obligations and burdens; he was obliged to protect those who, like the orphans and the widows, were forsaken for various reasons and who lacked the capacity to sustain themselves in society."

- Enrique Nardoni, from Rise Up, O Judge: A Study of Justice in the Biblical World