This post was originally a Letter to the Editor of the Allentown Morning Call written in response to a letter by a Professor Emeritus from Muhlenberg College, claiming that the passages below support abortion. The paper never printed it. That does not surpirse me.
Do Biblical Passages in Numbers, Chapter Five, Support Abortion?
Ever since the Bishops’ Bible appeared in 1568, and even long before that, men have desired to change expressions offensive to public taste. The results of these actions are a sanitized Bible that most readers would not find offensive, but it makes understanding some passages difficult. Numbers, Chapter Five is one such chapter. Does it support abortion? Absolutely not.
The chapter’s context begins with verse one. In verse 3, the Almighty makes it clear, He is dwelling among them. He is their judge, from the standpoint of omniscience. The text in verses 12 - 14 reveals the woman is accused of sexual misconduct by her husband, but there are no witnesses. Notice, the subject of pregnancy is never mentioned. It says she may be defiled, or unclean. Neither of these conditions apply to pregnancy. Since when, was a woman being pregnant considered to be defiled? Unless, it was through adultery. She is considered defiled, because she is being accused of having sexual relations, with a man other than her husband, not by being pregnant. She is to drink the potion given to her by the priest. If she is guilty, it says, she will be in great pain, her abdomen will swell and her thigh will fall away.
Her thigh will fall away? What does her thigh have to do with sexual behavior? The word thigh, ירך or yaw-rake in Hebrew as it is used here, is a euphemism for the female regenerative parts. (Sanitizing the scriptures perhaps?) According to the Hebrew Sage Chizkuni, Your thigh to collapse. This refers to the womb, which will be destroyed in retribution for it’s sinful activity. They will shrivel up, and she will be barren. If she is innocent, she shall be able to bear children. It has everything to do with being able to have children in the future. If she is guilty, her womb will shrivel up, and she will be barren which was considered a curse among the Hebrew people, who put so much emphasis on having children.
This chapter has nothing to do with abortion.
Shalom,
Barry W. Gaugler
That was very informative, Barry. I've not ever heard of any portions of the Torah used in defense of abortion. However, I will now have the deeper understanding of Numbers, and be able to further show that G-d doesn't contradict Himself. Nothing in the Torah shows us that G-d finds it acceptable to take the life of an unborn child.
ReplyDeleteThis was originally a "Letter to the Editor" to the Morning Call newspaper in Allentown, Pa., in response to a Professor Emeritus from Muhlenburg College, who claimed the passages in Numbers, Chapter Five support abortion. Oh how wrong the professor is. My letter was never printed which is no surprize to me. No wonder the liberal newspapers will soon be a thing of the past. I'll sure miss them. NOT!
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