Deuteronomy 22:18

18 The elders must then take the man and punish him.

Deuteronomy 22:18 Meaning and Commentary

Deuteronomy 22:18

And the elders of that city shall take the man, and chastise
him.
] Not with words, but blows. Jarchi interprets it of beating, and so does the Talmud ^F24; and both the Targums of Onkelos and Jonathan render it,

``shall beat him;''

that is, with the beating or scourging of forty stripes, save one.

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FOOTNOTES:

F24 T. Bab. Cetubot, fol. 46. 1.

Deuteronomy 22:18 In-Context

16 Her father must say to them, ‘I gave my daughter to this man to be his wife, and now he has turned against her.

17 He has accused her of shameful conduct, saying, “I discovered that your daughter was not a virgin.” But here is the proof of my daughter’s virginity.’ Then they must spread her bed sheet before the elders.

18 The elders must then take the man and punish him.

19 They must also fine him 100 pieces of silver, which he must pay to the woman’s father because he publicly accused a virgin of Israel of shameful conduct. The woman will then remain the man’s wife, and he may never divorce her.

20 “But suppose the man’s accusations are true, and he can show that she was not a virgin.