16 July 2015

The Human Life Commandments

  1. If a man causes the death of a fetus, he shall pay the woman's husband whatever the judges decide.
  2. 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. Exodus 21:22

  3. But if the woman is injured, the man who caused her injury shall be injured in the same way.
  4. And if any mischief follow, then thou shalt give life for life, Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, Burning for burning, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. Exodus 21:23-25

  5. Put a dollar value on human life according to the following table.
  6. The Value of Human Life
    Age Sex In Shekels of Silver In 2014 US Dollars
    less than one month
    (Newborn babies and fetuses)
    male 0 0
    female 0 0
    one month to 5 years male 5 $36.40
    female 3 $21.84
    5 to 20 years male 20 $145.60
    female 10 $72.80
    20 to 60 years male 50 $364.00
    female 30 $218.40
    over 60 years male 15 $109.20
    female 10 $72.80
    Thy estimation shall be of the male from twenty years old even unto sixty years old, even thy estimation shall be fifty shekels of silver, after the shekel of the sanctuary. And if it be a female, then thy estimation shall be thirty shekels. And if it be from five years old even unto twenty years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male twenty shekels, and for the female ten shekels. And if it be from a month old even unto five years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male five shekels of silver, and for the female thy estimation shall be three shekels of silver. And if it be from sixty years old and above; if it be a male, then thy estimation shall be fifteen shekels, and for the female ten shekels. Leviticus 27:3-7
    Every thing that openeth the matrix in all flesh, which they bring unto the LORD, whether it be of men or beasts, shall be thine: nevertheless the firstborn of man shalt thou surely redeem, and the firstling of unclean beasts shalt thou redeem. And those that are to be redeemed from a month old shalt thou redeem, according to thine estimation, for the money of five shekels, after the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs. Numbers 18:15-16

    The value of five shekels for humans above six months old seems to agree with the value given in Leviticus 27. But the other age/gender details are missing in Numbers 18. It's also not clear whether the five shekel value refers to firstborn humans and animals, or to humans only.

    Maimonides #227: To estimate the value of people as determined by the Torah —Lev. 27:2

  7. Humans who are devoted to God cannot be sold or redeemed.
  8. (Every devoted thing is most holy to God.)
    Notwithstanding no devoted thing, that a man shall devote unto the LORD of all that he hath, both of man and beast, and of the field of his possession, shall be sold or redeemed: every devoted thing is most holy unto the LORD. Leviticus 27:28
    Maimonides #231: Carry out the laws of interdicting possessions (cherem) — Lev. 27:28
    Maimonides #232: Not to sell the cherem — Lev. 27:28
    Maimonides #233: Not to redeem the cherem — Lev. 27:28

  9. They must be killed.
  10. None devoted, which shall be devoted of men, shall be redeemed; but shall surely be put to death. Leviticus 27:29

  11. Don't value human life.
  12. Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of? Isaiah 2:22

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