Hinge Points of History. John Hunsuck
of diagnosis has laid the foundation for the systematic observation and problem solving currently used today. (Ref 3) Note the emphasis on ethics. Accident or design?
The weakness of medicine for years was a basic lack of understanding of anatomy and physiology. One basic myth, prevalent at that time, was that the body contained four humors: black bile, yellow bile, blood and phlegm and was directly associated with the four elements of earth, fire, air and water. Disease was thought to be the result of an imbalance of these humors and treatment was aimed at restoration of balance. Note the similarity to Yin and Yan.
The current list of inventions, discoveries and medical art is not complete, even for the stated time. Many of these records are available at the libraries. Some have even tried to date the findings based on archaeological evidence. The author has dated and gives credit to the investigator.
With this foundation, we shall now watch an acceleration of development, invention and discovery. Sadly, most of the original recordings were lost due to the deliberate destruction of opponent’s libraries and archives as wars swept over the known world throughout history. We know from archaeology that these findings were in use and at what stage of development, however, the names and dates of the inventors or discoverers are lost. The great archives of Babylon, Persia, Egypt and Greece were mostly destroyed. We now only have fragments to attest to their presence.
While Israel struggled with their development and understanding of their responsibility, the rest of the world pressed on, developing three things foundational to the coming of the next and crucial event of history.
HINGE POINT
For quick and clear transmission of thoughts and ideas, a common language was necessary. A language of clarity and simplicity must be developed. Alexander wrote the common Greek.
The first of these came out of the Greek empire of Alexander the Great: a common and unambiguous form of language. He then required the use of his new language in all public and private contracts. Hellenism is the common name for this process which continued even after Alexander’s death in 323 B.C. to a time past the destruction of the Jewish Temple in 70 A.D. This resulted in “Alexander’s Greek” being the common language of the “known world.”
HINGE POINT
Lines of communication between capitals and trade centers were needed to allow free transit of people, information and material. The Roman roads were built.
The second was the building of Roman roads crisscrossing the “known world” (defined as South Europe, North Africa and Southwest Asia). China and the Far East developed independently, but the general status of the two spheres was similar. “All roads lead to Rome” was the simple statement of fact. Sea lanes were established and learned by the ships captains and navigators. Shore beacons were built to mark hazards, channels and ports.
HINGE POINT
Peaceful and secure travel was needed to protect the person and effects of citizens on the road or at sea. Their enemies vanquished, the Romans allowed free transit to encourage commerce and of course to collect the resulting taxes.
The third was the freedom of movement throughout that known world, or “Pax Romana,” meaning peaceful freedom to travel, at least for Roman citizens.
Now let’s cover the history of this period with the theme of this book: invention, discovery or development, all inspired by God that profoundly changed the course of history.
From about 1200 B.C., the nation Israel was alternately viewed with fear or contempt as events unfolded. The known world knew the story of Israel, as told in the Bible from Genesis through Joshua. They watched and, in some scattered cases, recorded some of the more profound points of interaction with Israel and their neighbors as this tiny country waxed and waned under the rule of the Lord by the law, without a king. The period of the Judges, as recorded in the Bible book of the same name, shows the pain suffered by Israel when they were disobedient and their triumph when they returned to God. The development of man’s relations to each other and to God seems to be recorded to exemplify the common problems of all mankind.
The family structure was the basic element of government structure in Israel. The senior patriarch was the central authority in a family. Male children made their homes within the bounds of the family property. The women were expected to marry into friendly neighboring families and to settle nearby. Marriage to foreigners was prohibited. Although this prohibition was violated at times, the prohibition was kept in law and usual practice.
The patriarch had the responsibility of making final decisions. If his decision was appealed on the basis of written law (the Mosaic Code), the case was then taken to the tribal chief or sub-chief and finally to the High Priest at the Tabernacle. The structure of the leadership from the family all the way to the High Priest still copied the family structure. All testimony was in front of the principles and the judges. The witnesses were not allowed to compare or to discuss their witness. As you can see, our current testimony practice began during this period. Secret witnesses were not allowed. Cross examination took place on the spot. False witness was punished severely. Contempt of the judge’s decision could be met with the death penalty. Scoff-laws could be given the death penalty for simply failing to obey their parents. Jurisprudence and precedent practiced even today have its roots from the annals of Israel.
God is extremely frank and serious in dealing with His people. He established the law because people do wrong things, some of which have automatic penalties attached and some that do not appear to have penalties in the human view. Thus the law is to convict the offender and repay the victim more than to punish. There were few jail cells and no long term penitentiaries during this time. Dungeons for political prisoners were prohibited in Israel. This is shown in the law by the process of confession and sacrifice to remove penalty. Again, we see this in action today when the judge asks for any final words from a convicted person prior to passing sentence. The judge is looking for a basis to reduce or modify the sentence if the person is penitent. It seems the purpose of law is to keep honest and virtuous people clean by reminder, but to capture and punish the criminal by recompense or death. Thus the development of the necessary tools of representation, law, justice and government in general are established upon the basic building block of society: the family.
Note: The punishment mode has changed drastically from the Mosaic Code. Today the theme of “punishment” is remediation and reform, but with little provision for the victims.
Although these were and still are options under the law for penitents, the impenitent had only harsh payment before them. If their violation was incidental or not premeditated, they were only required to pay actual damages and costs plus a mandatory “sin offering” at the Tabernacle or Temple. Premeditated crimes, however, called for as much as double damages and/or costs, plus the sin offering. Capital crimes, such as premeditated murder, required the death penalty to be carried out before sunset of the day they were found guilty. Note that “retribution” or material payment to the one injured was the norm. The courts exacted costs in money or work. Judges were the elders of the community. Jail time, as we practice it, was unknown except for violent offenders, and then only until the trial and execution. Few violent offenders survived to live after sunset on the trial date. The “state” was not the recipient of retribution or fines. The victim received retribution “in his hand” from the guilty party. Thus, there was no real need for many jails or jail cells in any district. They stood empty while the convicted earned enough to repay his debt to the victim, plus pay for his keep by the state while he was under the state’s supervision. (What a far cry from today’s norm!)
The state also gave explicit credit to God as Author of all law of the universe. The leaders were only stewards of that which they owned or had put into their trust by God. We even have an artifact from that in our courts. The judge usually admonishes a condemned person with, “... may God have mercy on your soul ...”
As time wore on, the people became uneasy with the loose form of government and opted to crown a king so they could be like