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Malkot (Hebrew: מלקות, lit. 'whipping') is a type of flagellation, and a punishment mentioned in the Torah. The punishment was given to Jews who violated one of Mitzvah's lo te'aseh bemeizid. According to Hebrew teachings, Malkot cannot prevent a punishment that is yet to come afterlife.

In Judaism, there are 207 violations that could result in Malkot. The laws of Malkot can be found in Masekhet Makkot.

Origin

The Malkot originated in Ki Teitzei, the 49th weekly Torah portion (פָּרָשָׁה‎, parashah) in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the sixth in the Book of Deuteronomy:

כִּי יִהְיֶה רִיב בֵּין אֲנָשִׁים, וְנִגְּשׁוּ אֶל הַמִּשְׁפָּט, וּשְׁפָטוּם: וְהִצְדִּיקוּ אֶת הַצַּדִּיק, וְהִרְשִׁיעוּ אֶת הָרָשָׁע. וְהָיָה אִם בִּן הַכּוֹת הָרָשָׁע, וְהִפִּילוֹ הַשֹּׁפֵט, וְהִכָּהוּ לְפָנָיו כְּדֵי רִשְׁעָתוֹ, בְּמִסְפָּר, אַרְבָּעִים יַכֶּנּוּ, לֹא יֹסִיף; פֶּן יֹסִיף לְהַכֹּתוֹ עַל אֵלֶּה מַכָּה רַבָּה, וְנִקְלָה אָחִיךָ לְעֵינֶיךָ.

— Deuteronomy, Chapter 25

In English NIV:

When people have a dispute, they are to take it to court and the judges will decide the case, acquitting the innocent and condemning the guilty. If the guilty person deserves to be beaten, the judge shall make them lie down and have them flogged in his presence with the number of lashes the crime deserves, but the judge must not impose more than forty lashes. If the guilty party is flogged more than that, your fellow Israelite will be degraded in your eyes.

The amount of whipping should be always 40 and at the shoulders, as written in Mishnah, Makkot, Chapter 3, Mishne 10:

כַּמָּה מַלְקִין אוֹתוֹ? אַרְבָּעִים חָסֵר אַחַת, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר "בְּמִסְפַּר אַרְבָּעִים" - מִנְיָן שֶׁהוּא סָמוּךְ לְאַרְבָּעִים. "רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר: "אַרְבָּעִים שְׁלֵמוֹת הוּא לוֹקֶה; וְהֵיכָן הוּא לוֹקֶה אֶת הַיְתֵרָה? בֵּין כְּתֵפָיו.

— Mishnah, Makkot, Chapter 3, Mishne 10

In English translation (Dr. Joshua Kulp):

How many lashes is he given? Forty save one, as it says, “By number forty” (Deuteronomy 25:2-3) which means, a number close to forty. Rabbi Judah says: “He is given forty in full.” And where does he receive the additional lash? Between his shoulders.

References

1. "רמב"ם הלכות סנהדרין והעונשין המסורין להם – ויקיטקסט". he.wikisource.org (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-10-04.
2. "Bible Gateway passage: Deuteronomy 25 - New International Version". Bible Gateway. Retrieved 2024-10-04.
3. "משנה מכות ג י – ויקיטקסט". he.wikisource.org (in Hebrew). Retrieved 2024-10-04.
4. "Mishnah Makkot 3:10". www.sefaria.org. Retrieved 2024-10-04.

• Judaism and capital punishment