Lurking for some weeks ...
Curious as to the 'biblical' source of condemnation for abortion. I posted
the following verse (with others concerning 'when life begins') to another
forum .... I include the explanation which has been given by one
individual -- although it makes for consistency with the abortion argument,
it does not seem to make sense. I wondered if you 'experts' could enlighten
me (and others).
***
Abortion is nowhere mentioned in the Bible.
The closest the Bible gets is an accidental miscarriage that might occur
when men are fighting with each other.
Exodus 21:22-23 (KJV)
22 If men strive, and hurt a woman with child, so that her fruit
depart from her, and yet no mischief follow: he shall be surely
punished, according as the woman's husband will lay upon him;
and he shall pay as the judges determine.
23 And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life,
If the woman dies as a result of the miscarriage, the man at fault must
die because he committed a murder; "thou shalt give life for life." If a
miscarriage occurs and the woman is unharmed, the man merely pays a fine;
no life for life here, as no life was lost.
***
what I was told ...
You bring up an important point. Exodus 21:22-23 actually refers to the
early *birth* of a child, together with the possibility of what we call
abortion, resulting from violent behavior. With the old English of the KJV
(and without reading the original Hebrew) it is difficult to discern that
"so that her fruit depart from her" really means "so that her child comes
out of her." This is a healthy child, in the case that "no mischief
follow."
In short, the injunction is for the guilty party to pay for any extra
medical expenses that arise from premature childbirth. (Yes, they had
nurses in Moses' day.) If the child is injured or dies, the man is held
guilty of the injury or murder. Please read the verses again carefully
with this understanding. If you would like a full exposition of this
passage, with references to the original Hebrew, I can provide it for you.
I'm sure others will point out the passages that speak of God's care for
those in the womb. As to miscarriages, the issue is the same as sickness
or death of old age. There is certainly a moral difference between natural
processes which lead to death, and causing death by one's actions.
Any and all insights would be appreciated ...
Regards,
Michael
Whenever we read the obscene stories, the voluptuous debaucheries,
the cruel and torturous executions, the unrelenting vindictiveness,
with which more than half the Bible is filled, it would be more
consistent that we called it the word of a demon, than the word of
God. It is a history of wickedness, that has served to corrupt and
brutalize mankind. -- Thomas Paine, The Age of Reason