question #3 Sahih al-Bukhari 2153, 2154, Book 34, Hadith 105 : What is the significance of the punishment prescribed for illegal sexual intercourse in the context of this narration?

Allah’s Messenger (ﷺ) was asked about the slave-girl, if she was a virgin and committed illegal sexual
intercourse. The Prophet (ﷺ) said, “If she committed illegal sexual intercourse, lash her, and if she did it a
second time, then lash her again, and if she repeated the third time, then sell her even for a hair rope.”
Ibn Shihab said, “I don’t know whether to sell her after the third or fourth offense.”