"among men": Whence do I derive (the same for) women (quarreling with each other), or a woman quarreling with a man? From "and they (men or women) shall draw near to judgment."
"and they vindicate the righteous one and incriminate the wicked one": I might think that all the wicked receive stripes; it is, therefore, written (verse 2) "Then it shall be, if liable to stripes is the wicked one" — Sometimes he does receive stripes; sometimes not. But I still would not know which acts receive stripes; it is, therefore, written (verse 4) "You shall not muzzle an ox in its threshing." Just as muzzling is distinct in being a negative commandment, transgression of which is subject to stripes, so, transgression of all negative commandments is subject to stripes. I might then think that all negative commandments linked to (remedial) positive commandments are (also) subject to stripes. It is, therefore, written "You shall not muzzle an ox in its threshing." Just as muzzling is distinct in being unlinked to a (remedial) positive commandment, transgression of which is subject to stripes, so transgression of all negative commandments unlinked to (remedial) positive commandments is subject to stripes. R. Shimon says: "and they vindicate the righteous one": Vindicate him so that he not receive stripes.