TT #620 · Parashas Ki Seitzei · Seventh Aliyah · Passuk 25:02
And it shall be, if the wicked one is to be flogged, the judge shall cause him to lie down and be beaten in his presence, according to his guilt, by number.
Torah Temimah points to Makkot 23a.
TT lemma: וְהִפִּילוֹ.
English: They flog him with a doubled strap – one doubled into two, and two into four. And from where do we know that the strap is doubled? Because it is stated ‘and he shall cause him to lie down.’ But that is needed for its own teaching! If so, let the verse say ‘and he shall incline him.’ Why does it say ‘and he shall cause him to lie down’? Learn from it two things.
Ribbui from choice of verb (Bavli) — an apparently superfluous form teaches an additional halakhah about the instrument.
The lash itself must be a doubled (and further folded) strap so that the blow has the force implied by the verb ‘cause him to fall.’