Exodus: a series of unfamiliar units and a commentary on current social debates

So far, Exodus is full of units: ephah, matrix, omer, shittim wood, cherubim, cubit, selvedge, taches, ephod, ouches, mitre, and chapiters, to name the ones I found. So I will spend some time defining these, so as to make reading (hopefully) a little easier:
Ephah: a Hebrew unit of dry measure, equal to about a bushel (35 l).

Matrix: The womb; or something that constitutes the place or point from which something else originates, takes  form, or develops
Omer:a Hebrew unit of dry measure, the tenth part of an ephah
Shittim Wood: the wood, probably acacia, of which the ark of the covenant and various parts of the tabernacle were made. Ex. 25, 26.

Cherubim: a member of the second order of angels, often represented as a beautiful rosy-cheeked child with wings
Cubit: an ancient linear unit based on the length of the forearm, from elbow to the tip of the middle finger, usually from 17 to 21 in. (43 to 53 cm)
Selvedge: the edge of woven fabric finished so as to prevent raveling, often in a narrow tape effect, different from the body of the fabric
Tache: a buckle; clasp
Ephod: a richly embroidered, apronlike vestment having two shoulder straps and ornamental attachments for securing the breastplate, worn with a waistband by the high priest. Ex. 28:6, 7, 25–28.

Ouches: a clasp, buckle, or brooch, esp. one worn for ornament; or the setting of a precious stone
Mitre: the official headdress of the ancient high priest, bearing on the front a gold plate engraved with the words Holiness to the Lord.  Ex. 28:36–38
Chapiters: The upper part of a column that supports the entablature

Now, I found a couple of the rules of Exodus 22 to be rather odd. The first was this: "And if a man entice a maid that is not betrothed, and lie with her, he shall surely endow her to be his wife. If her father utterly refuse to give her unto him, he shall pay money according to the dowry of virgins." Exodus 22: 16-17. 
This is a line that implicitly condones pre-marital sex, but only if you betroth her afterward. And this is only for a maid, or a virgin. So if a woman is not a virgin, then you can sleep with that woman with no consequences (thus far in the Bible). And there does not appear to be a time limit stated, for example "he shall surely endow her to be his wife within the period of seven days, or he shall be put to death." (Punishments are typically mortal in the Bible, so I just added that for good measure). So, in essence, the pre-marital sex rule, up to the point of the end of Exodus, is that it is just fine to do so long as you eventually intend to marry the girl. And dowries are now an archaic practice in the United States, so it's free no matter how you look at it. So pre-marital sex is fine. Just don't spill your seed (Genesis 38: 9-10).
The other rule was this: "Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people." Exodus 22: 28.Why is "gods" plural? This seems rather odd, especially when paired with Exodus 34: 14: "...for thou shalt worship no other god: for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God." Does he mean angels? Are we to revere angels as gods? I thought the angels had to bow to us? Although, of course, the Bible does contradict itself constantly, and is more a form of oral literature which does not always follow logically, and the logical inconsistencies are merely to be taken in stride.
As for abortion, well, Exodus 21: 22-25 sums that up: "If me 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. 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." So abortion is allowed so long as the father allows it. So far, anyway.