Exodus 

“If you make an altar of stone for Me, you shall not build it of cut stones, for if you wield your tool on it, you will profane it” (Exodus 20:25 NASB1995).

Here, we see that God rejects altars made from cut stones. The Lord prohibited this act to protect the Israelites from falling into sin (Jamieson). The Jews of this time struggled greatly with Idoltary, so as to avoid such struggles, God requested them not to forge their idols in such a manner (Ellicott & Gill).

Due to “the idolaters of that time built their altars of hewn stones, therefore God forbad it, lest we should be like them, and that we might shun it in all things, he commanded the altar to be made of earth, as it is said, an altar of earth shalt thou make unto me; and if it could not be made without stones, that the stones should remain in their own natural form, and be neither hewn nor polished; as he after forbad a painted stone, and a plantation of trees by an altar; for in each of these there is one and the same intention and design, namely, that we might not worship him in the same manner in which idolaters used to worship their fictitious deities” (Gill & Maimonides).

“If men struggle with each other and strike a woman with child so that she gives birth prematurely, yet there is no injury, he shall surely be fined as the woman’s husband may demand of him, and he shall pay as the judges decide. But if there is any further injury, then you shall appoint as a penalty life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise,” (Exodus 21:22-25 NASB1995).

Exodus 21:22 speaks of two men fighting. Moses explains that if the child is born “prematurely”, this is to say that the baby miscarries, yet there is no other injury, he is merely to be fined. If the man brings further injury, then punishment shall be inflicted upon him. 

A person may question why the causing of a miscarriage does not cause a greater punishment, but the context seems to make it out that this was an accidental loss in the middle of a fight. It would seem that the crime of accidental killing is differentiated from intentional murder. As Ellicott explains in his commentary, “It is assumed that this hurt would probably take place through the interference of a pregnant wife in some strife wherein her husband was engaged. It would almost certainly be accidental,” (Ellicot).

We can learn from this passage that God is just and understands that accidents happen; even so, such accidents need righteous judgment, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord,” (Romans 6:23 NASB1995). 

"You shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread; for seven days you are to eat unleavened bread, as I commanded you, at the appointed time in the month Abib (a month used by ancient Israelites, corresponding from late March to April), for in it you came out of Egypt. And none shall appear before Me empty-handed" (Exodus 23:15 NASB1995).

None shall appear empty-handed; that is, a person must give a sacrifice to God.

 As Cambridge's commentary states, "every man shall give [an offering] as he is able, according to the blessing of Jehovah which he hath given thee,’ i.e. according as he can afford to give, out of the produce of the year). In Deuteronomy 16:16 c the clause actually follows the one corresponding to Exodus 23:17 = Exodus 34:23, so that it refers to all three pilgrimages; and no doubt this was its original place (viz. after Exodus 34:23 = Exodus 23:17): it would be natural to expect an offering to be prescribed for each pilgrimage".