Deuteronomy 22:18-19

Ver. 18, 19. The elders—shall—chastise—him, &c.— That is, say the Talmudists, condemn him to receive forty stripes, save one; and they add, that the woman was sent back with a solemn benediction; and that the false witnesses who deposed against her were stoned. See ch. Deuteronomy 19:18. It is thought that this chastisement was only inflicted in case of the non-payment of the fine of one hundred shekels of silver; which sum the father was to receive, as some compensation for the reproach thrown on his family; and because the husband designed to put his wife away without allowing her maintenance, he was to pay a hundred shekels, which is a double dowry. See Exodus 22:17. Besides the two former punishments, in his person and his purse, he was deprived of the common benefit which every Israelite had, who did not like his wife; which was, to sue out a divorce: He may not put her away all his days. "A good name," says Lord Clarendon, "is too precious a thing to be left to the rude tongue of every licentious person, without a severe penalty for the abusing it. God had so signal a tenderness for the reputation of his people, that, in the first body of laws which he puts himself to the task of compiling, he provided, that if a man traduced his own wife, he was to be most severely punished. We never see any notable act of in injustice and oppression done, but the person is much defamed, first, to make him the fitter to be injured when he seems unworthy to be pitied; and therefore St. Paul put backbiters and haters of God together, Romans 1:30 as if they could not love the majesty of God, who have no remorse in calumniating their neighbour."