Egyptian society generally had no laws.\u00a0 Instead, the Egyptians governed their society by an ethical concept called Maat, “order.”\u00a0 This concept led to a pretty permissive society.\u00a0 If an act did not disrupt the community and was not an act against the king, it was generally permitted.<\/p>\n

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Punishment for Crimes<\/strong><\/h4>\n

We have to remember that Egyptian ruled by a brutal military dictatorship.\u00a0 So magistrates maintained order by force and corporal punishment.\u00a0 Acts against the king were usually met with the death penalty.\u00a0 But for lesser offenses beatings were commonplace.<\/p>\n

However, magistrates did not only use beatings to punish crime but also as an interrogation method.\u00a0 The way the Egyptians used beatings was that they would beat you first before asking any questions, ask their questions, then beat you again if they felt like you needed it.\u00a0\u00a0 Interrogators only believed that they got honest answers when an interrogation first started with a beating.<\/p>\n

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Egyptian Jails<\/strong><\/h4>\n

If the magistrate or king could not decide what to do with you, they would send you to jail.\u00a0 In Genesis 39, we read about Potipher\u2019s wife falsely accusing Joseph of rape.\u00a0 As a slave, this crime would earn more than a beating.\u00a0 But if the accuser was less than reputable, it would not necessarily warrant the death penalty.\u00a0 Perhaps, Potipher understood the character of his wife.\u00a0 So Joseph was sent to Egyptian jail [Gen 39:20].<\/p>\n

Now, the Egyptian concept of jail might not be what you expect.\u00a0 The Egyptians used their rock quarries as jails.\u00a0\u00a0 Quarries existed that were the operated by skilled professional stone cutters [see featured image].\u00a0 However, quarries were also used as prisons.<\/p>\n

Egyptian jails had no doors, bars, or walls.\u00a0 Succinctly put, these jails needed no restraints.\u00a0 Quarries typically were found in remote locations with very little water.\u00a0 If anyone tried to escape, they would be subject to the heat of the desert and die of dehydration in short order.\u00a0 This was strong incentive to stay and do one’s time.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Egyptian society generally had no laws.\u00a0 Instead, the Egyptians governed their society by an ethical concept called Maat, “order.”\u00a0 This concept led to a pretty permissive society.\u00a0 If an act did not disrupt the community and was not an act against the king, it was generally permitted.   Punishment for Crimes We have to remember…<\/p>\n

Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1432,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"spay_email":"","jetpack_publicize_message":""},"categories":[159,30],"tags":[61,176,175,157,177],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"http:\/\/www.egyptandthebible.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/02\/Hatnub-1.jpg","jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\n