Chapter 3 – Since Ancient Israel Believed That the Unborn are Truly Human from Conception, We Should Too: What Does the Bible Really Teach About Abortion?
Jesus and John being truly human from the moment conception teaches us that all embryos are as well, but these truths come primarily from the New Testament. What about the Old Testament? Are Jesus and John the exception to the rule, or do they further the rule? God gives us the answer through Moses in the laws He gave to Ancient Israel.
Ancient Israel’s History
After God freed Israel from slavery in Egypt, He brought them to Mount Sinai and gave them His covenant law, including the Ten Commandments.
Having been in bondage, most of the people probably could not read or write. They were uneducated while living under Egypt, which worshipped many gods. God’s Ten Commandments are detailed in Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5:
1. “You shall have no other gods before Me.”
2. “You shall not make for yourself a carved image or worship them.”
3. “You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.”
4. “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.”
5. “Honor your father and your mother.”
6. “You shall not murder.”
7. “You shall not commit adultery.”
8. “You shall not steal.”
9. “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”
10. “You shall not covet anything that is your neighbor’s” (Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 5:6-21).
God’s commands are simple and explicit. Israel was His people, and they were to follow and obey Him.
An Eye for an Eye
In the next chapter, God gives more details for applying these commands in every-day life. He even tells them how to care for the most vulnerable among them. One of the most explicit passages is Exodus 21:22-25:
22 “When men strive together and hit a pregnant woman, so that her children come out, but there is no harm, the one who hit her shall surely be fined, as the woman’s husband shall impose on him, and he shall pay as the judges determine. 23 But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, 24 eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, 25 burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe.
