Quoting%20commentary for Sanhedrin 169:5

מאי לאו אידי ואידי במקום מצוה הא בבנו הא באחר

— No. In both clauses no distinction is drawn between a son and a stranger, yet there is no difficulty. The one treats of smiting as a precept, the other when not. And it is thus to be interpreted: If when a precept is involved, i.e., when it is a positive command to smite [sc. a person under sentence of flagellation], it is nevertheless a command not to smite [unnecessarily, i.e., with more than the prescribed number of lashes, viz., forty]; then when no positive command is involved, viz., when one is not to be flagellated, one is surely commanded not to smite unnecessarily.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Hence this teaches a prohibition against smiting anyone unless sentenced by Beth din. ');">⁵</span>

Explore quoting%20commentary for Sanhedrin 169:5. In-depth commentary and analysis from classical Jewish sources.