Deuteronomy 25:1-19

Ordinances regarding the Infliction of Stripes, the Baising of Seed to a Brother, Modesty, and Fair Dealing

3. And not exceed] In order to keep within the limit it was usual to inflict thirty-nine stripes: see 2 Corinthians 11:24. The milder beating was with a rod. A severer form of this punishment was scourging, inflicted with a whip of thongs into which pieces of iron were inserted. In the time of our Lord beating was inflicted in the synagogue upon ecclesiastical offenders: see on Matthew 10:17; Acts 26:11.. While the culprit was being beaten the words in Deuteronomy 28:58; Psalms 78:38 were read.