Makkot

Makot (in hebrew: מכות) (in english: "Lashes") is a tractate of the Mishnah and Talmud. It is the fifth volume of the order of Nezikin. Makkot deals primarily with laws of Jewish courts and the punishments which they may administer, and may be regarded as a continuation of tractate Sanhedrin, of which it originally formed part.

The tractate of Makot deals primarily with the laws of the jewish courts and the punishments that they may administer, and can be seen as a continuation of the Sanhedrin tractate of which he was originally part. In its scope of application are included the topics of:

• The false witnesses (edim zomemim).
• The exile in a city of refuge.
• The lashes administered by the court. (makot)
• The definition of what a tattoo is.

Content of the treaty

There was a recorded dispute between Rabbi Judah and the other sages as to the maximum number of lashes a person could receive. Rabbi Judah held that the maximum number of lashes was 40, while the sages said that the maximum was 39 lashes. The Talmud rules according to the sages. The lashes were administered in groups of three, one at the chest and one at the back of each shoulder. Rabbi Judah held that 40 lashes should be administered, placing the final blow between the shoulder blades. Since the person being whipped was not to be killed, a doctor evaluated how many lashes the condemned could endure.