Liable Only When the Blow Lands Where the Child Is Carried

Yalkut Shimoni on Torah 335:6

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·

"And they strike a pregnant woman" (Exodus 21:22). Abba Chanan in the name of Rabbi Eliezer says: what does Scripture teach by this? Since it says, "and her offspring come out," we have already learned that she is pregnant; so what does Scripture teach by saying "pregnant"? Rather, if he struck her on her head or on one of her other limbs, I might think he should be liable for the offspring; Scripture therefore says "pregnant," teaching that he is not liable until he strikes her in the place of her pregnancy.

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