Did you know that in arabic, it's not beat as in harm?

God says that if there is more than one meaning to something that we should take the best meaning possible.....another definition of idrib besides beat is separate....so taking the best meaning possible would mean to separate from your wife in preperation for possible divorce if all other means of reconciliation have failed(or at least as a cooling off period before the next go around). God does not sanction violence except in self defense and in times of war and those have strict guidelines too.