They bring her up to the High court in Jerusalem [where] they instill fear in her in the manner in which they instill fear in wit-nesses to capital cases. They say to her: My daughter, wine causes much [impropriety], levity causes much, childishness causes much, [and] bad neighbors cause much. Do for the sake of His great Name which is written in holiness, so that it not be erased in the water. And they relate to her incidents which neither she nor her father’s family deserve to hear.

If she said, “I am defiled,” she writes a receipt for her marriage contract and is divorced. But if she said, “I am pure,” they take her up to the Eastern Gate which was opposite the Nicanor Gate, where they give the women suspected of adultery [the bitter waters] to drink, purify the women who have given birth, and purify those who have [recovered from] tzaraas. A Kohen takes hold of her garments —- if they tore they tore, and if they became tattered they became tattered —- until he uncovers her bosom; and he undoes her hair. R’ Yehudah says: If her bosom was comely he did not uncover it; and if her hair was comely he did not loosen it.

If she was dressed in white, he dresses her in black; if she was wearing gold ornaments, chokers, nose-rings or finger rings, they remove them from her in order to disgrace her. He then brings an Egyptian rope and ties it above her breasts.  Whoever wishes to watch may come and watch, except for her male and female slaves, because she is familiar with them. And all the women are allowed to watch her, for it is stated (Ezekiel 23:48): And all the women will have been chastised not to imitate your lewdness.

According to the standard in which one behaves, so he is treated. She adorned herself for the sin —- the Almighty disgraced her; she revealed herself for the sin —- the Almighty revealed her [sin]; she sinned with the thigh first and then with the belly —- therefore the thigh should be struck first and then the belly; and the rest of the body does not escape [either].