Mishnayos Makkos Perek 3 Mishnah 13
Change text layout:
מכות פרק ג׳ משנה י"ג
The length of its handle is one handbreadth, and the width of the straps is one handbreadth, and the strap must be long enough so that its end reaches the top of his abdomen, i.e., his navel, when he is flogged from behind. And the attendant flogs him with one-third of the lashes from the front of him, on his chest, and two one-third portions from behind him, on his back. And he does not flog him when the one receiving lashes is standing, nor when he is sitting; rather, he flogs him when he is hunched, as it is stated: “And the judge shall cause him to lie down, and strike him” (Deuteronomy 25:2), which indicates that the one receiving lashes must be in a position that approximates lying down. And the attendant flogging the one receiving lashes flogs [makeh] him with one hand with all his strength,
יָדָהּ טֶפַח וְרָחְבָּהּ טֶפַח, וְרֹאשָׁהּ מַגַּעַת עַל פִּי כְרֵסוֹ. וּמַכֶּה אוֹתוֹ שְׁלִישׁ מִלְּפָנָיו וּשְׁתֵּי יָדוֹת מִלְּאַחֲרָיו. וְאֵינוֹ מַכֶּה אוֹתוֹ לֹא עוֹמֵד וְלֹא יוֹשֵׁב אֶלָּא מֻטֶּה, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים כה) וְהִפִּילוֹ הַשֹּׁפֵט. וְהַמַּכֶּה מַכֶּה בְיָדוֹ אַחַת בְּכָל כֹּחוֹ:
Bartenura
ידה טפח. בית יד שהרצועה תלויה בה, ארכו טפח:
ורחבה. של רצועה של עגל טפח:
וראשה מגעת על פי כריסו. לכך צריך שיהא בבית יד של רצועה נקב, שהחזן המלקה יכול להאריך ולקצר הרצועה כרצונו. שאין מלקין לאדם אלא ברצועה שראשה מגעת על פי כריסו שהוא טבורו:
שליש מלפניו. דכתיב (דברים כ״ה:ב׳) והכהו לפניו כדי רשעתו, לפניו כדי רשעתו אחת, ולאחריו כדי שתים. מלפניו, על לבו. מאחריו. שליש על כתף זו ושליש על כתף זו:
מכה בידו אחת. אבל כשמגביה הרצועה מגביה בשתי ידיו:
בכל כחו. דכתיב (שם) מכה רבה:
ידה טפח – the handle that the strap is hanging from, is the length of a hand-breadth.
ורחבה – of the strap of the calf is a hand-breadth.
וראשה מגעת על פי כריסו – for that reason, there must be in the handle of the strap a hole, that the sexton who flogs can lengthen or shorten the strap as he wishes, for we do not flog a person other than with a strap whose head reaches the belly which is his navel.
שליש מלפניו – as it is written (Deuteronomy 25:2): “and be given lashes in his presence, [by count] as his guilt warrants” – “in his presence (i.e., in his front) as his guilt warrants” – one, and from his back – two. מלפניו – on his heart. מאחריו – one-third on this shoulder and one-third on the other shoulder.
מכה בידו אחת – but when he lifts the strap, he lifts it with his two hands.
כבל כחו – as it is written (Deuteronomy 25:3): “to excess, [your brother be degraded before your eyes].”