I have no problem with the word translated as "beat" or "punish" (or "blazed" as in Jonah) My husband and I looked it up in our concordance and found that it means to "oppose" or "go with". You can "beat" the clock, you can "beat" somebody in a race, etc., Here I think it simply suggests a proactive approach to parenting.
Of course my people would still read "spank" into this... I have to find a way to show them that they are beginning with a conclusion and going back to the Bible for support...
Anyways, I was excited about this line in these verses because my pastor has a Calvanistic bent and is very ADAMENT that there is NOTHING one can do to save themselves... I think I may have an argument here if you ladies can help me develop it