Numbers 5

Numbers 5:16

"And the priest shall bring her, and cause her to stand before the Lord."
Does the Bitter Water Ritual in Numbers 5 Support Abortion?

Numbers 5:11–28 describes a ritual that tests the faithfulness of a wife if her husband suspects her of infidelity, yet there are no witnesses. Remember, a truth is established by witnesses (Deut. 19:15; 2 Cor. 13:1). If there are no witnesses, then an accusation of adultery cannot be verified. So another means would be implemented. Let's take a look at the verses and see if they support abortion. (Hint: they don't.)

First: The debate centers on whether the phrase "her abdomen will swell, and her thigh will waste away" (NASB95) is a euphemism for a miscarriage or if it refers to permanent infertility. A miscarriage is not an abortion. A miscarriage is a function where the mother's body rejects the pregnancy. An abortion is an invasive procedure that kills the life growing inside the mother. They are different. A miscarriage is not an abortion.

Second: Another possible understanding deals with the possibility of permanent infertility, which, in this case, would be a judgment of God. This is supported by verse 28: "She will then be free and conceive children." So, if she is innocent, she can have children. If she is not, she can't.