"In a fracas between men, a pregnant woman suffered an accident fatal to her or the child, "then you must give soul for soul." No. That is not what the passage says. If only the fetus is killed, then only a small fine is levied--enough to cover the woman's inconvenience and very minor loss.
“When men strive together and hurt a woman with child, so that there is a miscarriage and yet no harm follows, the one who hurt her shall be fined according to as the woman’s husband shall lay upon him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. If any harm follows, then you shall give life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.” Exodus 21: 22-25
Leaving aside the fact that no rational person ought to be bound by the rituals and cultural mores of uneducated tribes from the past, let us consider the passage anyway.
If the woman died the punishment was death ("life for life"). But if only the fetus died and the woman was unharmed, there is only a fine. But if the woman is harmed, then it is eye for eye, life for life, etc. Again...a fetus killed results in a mere fine.
The value of the fetus? A shekel or 2. The value of the woman? A life for a life, and eye for an eye. As Sesame Street might say: "One of these things is not like the other!"
But that is not surprising. Fetuses are not innocent. They are GUILTY...just as are all children. God would not order innocent people murdered. That would be wrong.
“Now therefore kill every male among the little ones.” Numbers 31:17“Slay both man and woman, infant and suckling.” 1 Samuel 15:3
“Dash their children, and rip up their women with child.” 2 Kings 8:12
“Their children also shall be dashed to pieces before their eyes; their houses shall be spoiled and their wives ravished.” Isaiah 13:16
“They shall have no pity on the fruit of the womb; their eyes shall not spare children.” Isaiah 13:18
“Slay utterly old and young, both maids and little children.” Ezekiel 9:6
“Their infants shall be dashed in pieces, and their women with child shall be ripped up.” Hosea 13:16 |
