Commentary for Niddah 76:48

<big><strong>מתני׳</strong></big> כל אחד עשר יום בחזקת טהרה

in a case where it was relaxed in regard to the blood of labour before the child was born? He replied: It is enough that the case inferred<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Protracted labour after the birth of a previous child. ');">⁴¹</span> shall be treated in the same manner as the ones from which it is inferred. For in what respect was the law relaxed for a woman in the latter case?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Protracted labour before a birth. ');">⁴²</span> In that of the uncleanness of <i>zibah</i> only, while she is still subject to the uncleanness of the menstruant. They said to him, We would submit to you an objection in a different form: If in the case where the law was restricted in regard to blood discharged in the absence of pain before the child was born,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. supra p. 267, n. 5. ');">³⁹</span> it was nevertheless relaxed in regard to blood discharged at such a time<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'which is with it'. ');">⁴³</span> in protracted labour, is there not even more reason that, where 'the law was relaxed in regard to blood discharged in the absence of pain after the child was born,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A discharge during labour in the sixty-six days. ');">⁴⁴</span> the law should be relaxed in regard to blood discharged at such a time<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'which is with it'. ');">⁴³</span> during protracted labour? He replied: Even if you were to offer objections all day long it must be enough that the case inferred<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' A discharge during labour in the sixty-six days. ');">⁴⁴</span> shall be treated in the same manner as the one<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Protracted labour before a birth. ');">⁴²</span> from which it is inferred. For in what respect was the law relaxed for a woman in the latter case?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Protracted labour before a birth. ');">⁴²</span> In that of the uncleanness of <i>zibah</i> only, while she is still subject to the uncleanness of the menstruant. Raba observed, R. Eliezer could successfully have offered the Rabbis the following reply: Did you not explain Her blood<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. XV, 25. ');">⁴⁵</span> thus: 'Her blood' refers to blood that is normally discharged, but not to such as is due to childbirth?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Supra 36b, q.v. notes. ');">⁴⁶</span> Well, here also, it may be explained: And she shall be cleansed from the fountain of her blood,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. XII, 7. ');">⁴⁷</span> 'her blood' refers to blood that is normally discharged but not to such as is due to childbirth.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Only the former is clean, but not the latter. ');">⁴⁸</span> But might it not be suggested<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' According to R. Eliezer. ');">⁴⁹</span> [that if a discharge occurred] during the days of menstruation she is a menstruant, [while if it occurred] during the days of <i>zibah</i> she is clean? — Scripture said, She shall continue,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. XII, 4. ');">⁵⁰</span> which implies: One form of continuation throughout all these days.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' They are either all clean or all unclean. No distinction can, therefore, be made between the periods of zibah and menstruation. ');">⁵¹</span> <b><i>MISHNAH</i></b>. THROUGHOUT ALL THE ELEVEN DAYS<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That follow the seven days' period of menstruation. ');">⁵²</span> A WOMAN IS IN A PRESUMPTIVE STATE OF CLEANNESS.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' This is discussed in the Gemara infra. ');">⁵³</span>

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