(Devarim 22:17) "And they shall spread the garment before the elders of the city": They must clarify the matter as a (new) garment. The witnesses for both husband and father must clarify the matter before the elders of the city. This is one of the things that R. Yishmael was wont to expound as a mashal (a metaphor). Similarly, (Shemoth 22:2) "If the sun shone upon him": Now is it upon him alone that the sun shines? What, then, is the intent of "If the sun shone upon him"? Just as the sun is "peace" for the world, here, too, if he (the one threatened with robbery) knows that he (the robber) is "at peace" with him (and will not kill him if he resists, [as in the instance of a father robbing a son]) and he (the son) kills him, he is liable (for murder). Similarly, (Ibid. 21:19) "If he arise and walk outside on his crutch" — on his own power.
And thus: "And they shall spread the garment before the elders of the city" — If the witnesses of the husband were (clearly) found to be zomemin (scheming witnesses), etc.
(דברים כב יז) וּפָרְשׂוּ הַשִּׂמְלָה – יְחַוְּרוּ דְּבָרִים כַּשִּׂמְלָה. זֶה אֶחָד מִן הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁהָיָה רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל דּוֹרֵשׁ מִן הַתּוֹרָה בְּמָשָׁל. כַּיּוֹצֵא בוֹ (שמות כב ב): ״אִם זָרְחָה הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ עָלָיו דָּמִים לוֹ״, וְכִי עָלָיו הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ זוֹרַחַת? וּמַה תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר ״אִם זָרְחָה הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ עָלָיו דָּמִים לוֹ״? מָה הַשֶּׁמֶשׁ – שָׁלוֹם לָעוֹלָם, אַף זֶה, אִם הָיָה יוֹדֵעַ שֶׁהוּא שָׁלוֹם מִמֶּנּוּ וַהֲרָגוֹ – הֲרֵי זֶה חַיָּב. כַּיּוֹצֵא בוֹ (שמות כא יט): ״אִם יָקוּם וְהִתְהַלֵּךְ בַּחוּץ עַל מִשְׁעַנְתּוֹ״ – עַל בּוּרְיוֹ. וְכֵן הוּא אוֹמֵר וּפָרְשׂוּ הַשִּׂמְלָה – יְחַוְּרוּ דְּבָרִים כַּשִּׂמְלָה.
(Devarim 22:17) "And they shall spread the garment before the elders of the city": They must clarify the matter as a (new) garment. The witnesses for both husband and father must clarify the matter before the elders of the city. This is one of the things that R. Yishmael was wont to expound as a mashal (a metaphor). Similarly, (Shemoth 22:2) "If the sun shone upon him": Now is it upon him alone that the sun shines? What, then, is the intent of "If the sun shone upon him"? Just as the sun is "peace" for the world, here, too, if he (the one threatened with robbery) knows that he (the robber) is "at peace" with him (and will not kill him if he resists, [as in the instance of a father robbing a son]) and he (the son) kills him, he is liable (for murder). Similarly, (Ibid. 21:19) "If he arise and walk outside on his crutch" — on his own power.
רַבִּי עֲקִיבָה אוֹמֵר: הֲרֵי הוּא אוֹמֵר וּפָרְשׂוּ הַשִּׂמְלָה לִפְנֵי זִקְנֵי הָעִיר – נִמְצְאוּ עֵדֵי הַבַּעַל זוֹמְמִים. וּפָרְשׂוּ הַשִּׂמְלָה, יָבוֹאוּ עֵדָיו שֶׁל זֶה וְעֵדָיו שֶׁל זֶה, וְיֹאמְרוּ דִבְרֵיהֶם לִפְנֵי זִקְנֵי הָעִיר.
And thus: "And they shall spread the garment before the elders of the city" — If the witnesses of the husband were (clearly) found to be zomemin (scheming witnesses), etc.
רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר בֶּן יַעֲקֹב אוֹמֵר: דְּבָרִים כִּכְתָבָם.
R. Eliezer says: The words ("and they shall spread the garment") are to be taken literally (as signifying the nuptial garment).