Both the ancient Greeks and Jews had concepts of laws being divinely influenced or ordained, but they understood and interpreted this in different ways.
Ancient Greeks:
* Divine Law (Themis & Dike): The Greeks had a concept of "themis" (divine law, custom, or tradition) and "dike" (justice, order). These were seen as fundamental principles established by the gods that maintained cosmic and social harmony. Disobeying them would bring consequences, not just from the state but also from the gods.
* Natural Law: Greek philosophers, particularly the Stoics, developed the concept of "natural law" - laws inherent in the universe and accessible through reason. They believed that humans could discern these laws and use them as a basis for human law. This natural law was often linked to the divine, as the universe was seen as being ordered by a divine intelligence or principle.
* Human Law: While acknowledging the importance of divine and natural law, the Greeks understood that human-made laws (nomoi) were necessary for governing city-states. These laws were created by citizens or rulers and were subject to change. However, a just law was expected to be in accordance with the principles of divine and natural law.
* Influence of Oracles: Oracles, like the Oracle at Delphi, were believed to communicate the will of the gods. Their pronouncements could influence laws or policies, particularly in matters of religious observance or purification.
* Not a Direct Dictation: It's important to note that the Greeks didn't typically believe that laws were directly dictated by the gods in a written code. Rather, they saw divine law as a set of fundamental principles that informed human lawmaking.
Ancient Jews:
* Divine Legislation: In Judaism, the most significant aspect is the belief that God directly gave laws to Moses on Mount Sinai, as recorded in the Torah (the first five books of the Hebrew Bible). This includes the Ten Commandments and a vast body of other laws covering religious, ethical, social, and ritual aspects of life.
* Torah as Divine Law: The Torah is considered the word of God and the ultimate source of law for the Jewish people. It provides a comprehensive legal framework meant to govern all aspects of life.
* Interpretation and Application: While the Torah is seen as divine law, Jewish tradition also emphasizes the importance of interpreting and applying these laws to specific situations. This led to the development of the Oral Torah, which was later codified in the Talmud. The Rabbis throughout the centuries have played the central role in interpreting divine law to adapt to changing circumstances.
* Halakha: Jewish law (Halakha) is derived from the Torah, the Talmud, and subsequent rabbinic rulings. It governs all areas of Jewish life, from religious observance to civil and criminal law (although in modern times, Jewish law primarily governs personal status matters).
* Direct Divine Origin: A fundamental difference is that Jewish law is believed to have a direct divine origin in the form of the Torah. This contrasts with the Greek concept, where divine law was more about underlying principles that humans had to discover through reason and tradition.
In Summary:
* Both the ancient Greeks and Jews had the idea that laws had a connection to the divine.
* For the Greeks, divine law was more about fundamental principles of cosmic and social order that influenced human lawmaking. They emphasized reason and natural law as pathways to understanding these principles.
* For the Jews, the laws in the Torah were believed to be directly given by God, providing a detailed legal framework for life.
* The Greek concept was more about discovering divine principles, while the Jewish concept was about receiving direct divine commandments.