Shevuot 3: When Two Oaths Are Four Oaths, Pt. 2

The rabbis explain that Masechet Shevuot follows Masechet Makkot in part because of the latter's final discussion of hair cutting.  The rabbis notice, the punishment of two sets of lashes for cutting the hair improperly is in fact an example of "two that are four".

The rabbis note examples of this rule regarding shevuot, oaths.  Regarding oaths that are utterances, there are two that are four: 

• "I will eat" "I will not eat" actually include utterances of, "I ate" and "I did not eat" 
• 'Awareness of defiling the Temple' includes awareness of ritual impurity before eating sacrificial food and before entering the Temple; this actually includes awareness of the ritual purity of sacrificial food and awareness that one was in a holy place  
• Carrying out on Shabbat includes two that are four: a poor person or by a homeowner; bringing in by a poor person or by a homeowner  
• Identification of leprous marks are "two that are four" with a wool-white leprous mark and a snow-white leprous mark; these include similar marks beside each of these marks

The rabbis argue about whether or not one should be punished with flogging for the violation of a prohibition which does not involve an action.  Reish Lakish clarifies that one is not flogged in this case because one cannot be forewarned with certainty.