פירוש על מכות 3:12

על העמוד – which is stuck in the ground upright and tall in order to lean upon it.

Introduction Mishnayoth twelve describes where and how the one being lashed and the one lashing should stand. It also describes the whip itself.

וחזן – the sexton who is the agent of the Jewish court.

How do they lash him? His two hands are tied to a pillar on either side of it and the minister of the synagogue grabs his clothing, if they are torn, they are torn; if they are ripped open, they are ripped open, until he exposes the offender’s chest. And a stone is placed behind the offender, the minister of the synagogue stands on it, a strap of cowhide in his hands, doubled over into two, and redoubled, and two straps that rise and fall attached to it. While being lashed the victim is tied to a post with his hands spread apart. The “minister of the synagogue”, who was responsible for most of the administrative duties, would open the offender’s garments, even if this would cause them to rip. The minister would then stand upon a stone and hold a whip in his hand. The whip was made of cowhide folded twice to make it thicker, and thereby stronger. From the central piece came out two other straps. According to the Talmud these two other straps were made of donkey’s hide, which was not as thick as the cowhide.

נפרמו – the threads of the seam were torn.

מאחוריו – of the person being flogged.

ורצועה של עגל – as it states (Deuteronomy 25:3): “He may be given up to forty lashes” and near it (Deuteronomy 25:4): “You shall not muzzle an ox while it is threshing.”

כפולה לשנים ושנים לארבעה – four straps sewed on one top of the other.

ושתי רצועות – thin of a donkey

עולות ויורדות בה – like the horse-cover of a saddle, and the reason is because it is written (Isaiah 1:2): “An ox knows its master, an ass its master’s crib; [Israel does not know, My people takes no thought].” God said (Makkot 23a) that a person who recognizes his master’s crib should settle with him who does not recognize his master’s crib.”