In Exodus 21: 22-23, the Bible sets forth a minimal case with larger implications for justice to be served by the civil authorities:
(1.) "If men strive... ."
The plural "men" is employed for the purpose of speaking indefinitely, because there might possibly be more than one person involved in causing injury.
Such as an abortion clinic.
You FORGOT---2.AND HURT A WOMAN WITH CHILD
God doesn't like it when people change His Word--so I've heard.
(2.) "So that her fruit depart from her, and yet no mischief follow... ."
An example of a premature birth.
Not at all. The fetus did not survive. If the fetus had survived it would have been put differently. Departed means dead--not just separated. If the fetus would have survived it would have said someting like--"so that her child come early."
Even if no injury results to either mother or child, the man who causes the "premature birth" is liable to be fined and, in fact, must be fined.
There was definitely injury to the mother--which you conveniently LEFT OUT as pointed out earlier. That is the only injury to be fined. The fetus is ignored. If the fetus were considered to be a person, the men who contrived to do the injury would have been stoned.
The Bible strongly protects the pregnant mother and her child, so that every pregnant mother has a strong hedge of legal protection around her.
A fine for injuring the mother and nothing or the loss of the fetus hardly seems "strong protection" to me.
(3.) "And if mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life... ."
An example of accidental abortion. If the penalty for an "accidental abortion" is so severe, it's obvious that a deliberately induced abortion is strongly forbidden.
This has nothing to do with the fetus. The fetus is long dead. This is about the WOMAN. The "mischeif that follows" is her death. If the womn dies from her injuries, those who killed her must die also.
It is not necessary to have a separate ban on any form of deliberate abortion since the maximum penalty is served by this statute. If man through his own reckless actions, unintentionally hurts a pregnant mother and causes her to abort a child, he must suffer the death penalty. How much more so for any person who intentionally induces an abortion?
That is the most twisted interpretaqtion of that passage I have ever seen. The fetus is dead--the fetus is barely a factor. This is all about the woman--not the dead fetus.
(4.) "if any mischief follow... give life for life."
The Bible strongly protects human life from the moment of conception. With the phrase "if any mischief follow," the child has equal protection under the law from the moment of conception "life for life."
That's some leap of logic, since the fetus under discussion has long since been conceived. I doubt you will find "Moment of conception" mentioned anyplace in the bible. Again--God hates it when people chage what He says---so I've heard. "Any mischief follows" refers to the womans death from her injuries---it has zero to do with the fetus.
God does not make exceptions that tolerate injury to any pregnant mother, or any child in the womb.
The biblical God orders the deaths of pregnant women. The biblial God orders the deaths of children.
In fact CURSES "come upon" and "overtake" nations that refuse to administer justice (Deut. 28:15).
28:15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee
The Ayatollahs spout the same message.
#58 | Posted by MURPHY at 2009-05-31 02:17 PM | Reply | Flag:
