Aiming a Blow at an Enemy and Striking a Friend Instead

"And if men strive together" (Exodus 21:22-23). Why was this passage stated? Because Scripture says, "And if a man comes presumptuously," and so forth, we have heard only of one who intended to strike his enemy and struck him, that he is liable to death; but one who intended to strike his enemy and struck the one he loved, we have not heard. Scripture therefore says, "And if men strive together... and if harm follows," and so forth: the verse comes to teach you that one who intended to strike his enemy and struck the one he loved is liable to death. For this reason the passage was stated. Rabbi says: even one who intended to strike one person and struck another would by strict law be exempt; rather, the verse comes to teach you that injury to a wife belongs to her husband, and the value of the offspring belongs to the husband, and anyone liable to death is exempt from monetary payment. Rabbi Yitzchak says: even one who intended to strike one and struck another is exempt, unless he says, "I am striking so-and-so"; Scripture says, "And he lies in wait for him and rises against him" (Deuteronomy 19:11), and so forth. And why does Scripture say "And if men strive together"? Because it says, "And a man who strikes down any human life," I might think even an eight-month infant is included; Scripture therefore says, "And if men strive together," teaching that he is not liable until he strikes a viable child. "And if men strive together": I have only men; from where do I include women? Rabbi Ishmael used to say, and so on. Rabbi Yoshiyah says, and so on. Rabbi Yonatan says, and so on.