Niddah 34

אפילו מלא חרדל

even if it was full of mustard seed<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' So that only those seeds that are actually round the sides of the oven could possibly come into direct contact with the oven. ');">¹</span>

<big><strong>מתני׳</strong></big> משל משלו חכמים באשה

[all within it is unclean].<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. Hul. 24b. Which proves that, in the case of an earthenware oven, uncleanness is conveyed to objects within it, even though these had not come in direct contact with it. ');">²</span>

החדר והפרוזדור והעלייה

<b><i>MISHNAH</i></b>. THE SAGES SPOKE OF A WOMAN IN METAPHOR: [THERE IS IN HER] CHAMBER<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The uterus. ');">³</span>

דם החדר טמא דם העלייה טהור נמצא בפרוזדור ספקו טמא לפי שחזקתו מן המקור

AN ANTE-CHAMBER<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Vagina. ');">⁴</span>

<big><strong>גמ׳</strong></big> רמי בר שמואל ורב יצחק בריה דרב יהודה תנו נדה בי רב הונא

AND AN UPPER CHAMBER.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The urinary bladder (from the point of view of a woman lying on her back). ');">⁵</span>

אשכחינהו רבה בר רב הונא דיתבי וקאמרי

THE BLOOD OF THE CHAMBER<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Being menstrual. ');">⁶</span>

החדר מבפנים והפרוזדור מבחוץ ועלייה בנויה על שתיהן ולול פתוח בין עלייה לפרוזדור

IS UNCLEAN, THAT OF THE UPPER CHAMBER<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Being due to some internal wound. ');">⁷</span>

נמצא מן הלול ולפנים ספקו טמא מן הלול ולחוץ ספקו טהור

IS CLEAN. IF BLOOD IS FOUND IN THE ANTE-CHAMBER, AND THERE ARISES A DOUBT ABOUT ITS CHARACTER,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Sc. whether it originated in the uterus or urinary bladder. ');">⁸</span>

אתא ואמר ליה לאבוה

IT IS DEEMED UNCLEAN, BECAUSE IT IS PRESUMED TO HAVE COME FROM THE SOURCE.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The uterus. ');">³</span>

ספקו טמא אמרת לן מר

<b><i>GEMARA</i></b>. Rami b. Samuel and R. Isaac son of Rab Judah learnt the tractate of <i>Niddah</i> at R. Huna's. Rabba son of R. Huna once found them while they were sitting at their studies and saying: The chamber is within, the ante-chamber is without and the upper chamber is built above them,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. supra n. 7. ');">⁹</span>

והא אנן שחזקתו מן המקור תנן

and a duct communicates between the upper chamber and the ante-chamber.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' So that blood from the former may trickle down into the latter. ');">¹⁰</span>

א"ל אנא הכי קאמינא

If blood is found anywhere from the duct inwards, and there is any doubt about its character,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Sc. whether it originated in the uterus or urinary bladder. ');">⁸</span>

מן הלול ולפנים ודאי טמא מן הלול ולחוץ ספקו טמא

it is deemed unclean<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since it is obvious that it came from the chamber. Had it come from the upper chamber it could not in the natural course have made its way backwards to the spot where it was discovered. ');">¹¹</span>

אמר אביי

but if it is found anywhere from the duct outwards, and there is a doubt about its character,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Sc. whether it originated in the uterus or urinary bladder. ');">⁸</span>

מאי שנא מן הלול ולחוץ דספקו טמא דדלמא שחתה ומחדר אתא

it is deemed clean.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Because it is presumed to have originated from the upper chamber. ');">¹²</span>

מן הלול ולפנים נמי אימא אזדקרה ומעלייה אתא

He<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Rabbah b. R. Huna. ');">¹³</span>

אלא אמר אביי

thereupon proceeded to his father and said to him, 'You told them, Master,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' So MS.M. Cur. edd., 'you told us, Master'. ');">¹⁴</span>

אי בתר חששא אזלת אידי ואידי ספק הוא ואי בתר חזקה אזלת מן הלול ולפנים ודאי טמא מן הלול ולחוץ ודאי טהור

that "if there is any doubt about its character<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The expression of 'doubt' obviously implying that there was no proof whatsoever that the blood originated in the chamber. ');">¹⁵</span>

תני רבי חייא

it is deemed unclean", but have we not learnt: BECAUSE IT IS PRESUMED TO HAVE COME FROM THE SOURCE?'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Emphasis on PRESUMED. If it is presumed to originate from the source (sc. the chamber) the uncleanness could not be described as a matter of 'doubt' but as one of certainty. ');">¹⁶</span>

דם הנמצא בפרוזדור חייבין עליו על ביאת מקדש ושורפין עליו את התרומה

'I', the other replied, 'meant this: [Blood found anywhere] from the duct inwards is<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In agreement with our Mishnah. ');">¹⁷</span>

ורב קטינא אמר

undoubtedly unclean,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. supra p. 216, n. 13. ');">¹⁸</span>

אין חייבין עליו על ביאת מקדש ואין שורפין עליו את התרומה

[but if it was found anywhere] from the duct outwards, it is deemed to be doubtfully unclean'.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' It being impossible to decide whether it originated in the chamber or in the upper chamber. ');">¹⁹</span>

להך לישנא דאמר אביי אי בתר חששא אזלת מסייע ליה לרב קטינא ופליגא דרבי חייא להך לישנא דאמרת אי בתר חזקה אזלת מסייע ליה לרבי חייא

Said Abaye: Why is<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'what is the difference'. ');">²⁰</span> it [that if blood is found anywhere] from the duct outwards it is deemed to be doubtfully unclean?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Though, since on that spot it is most likely to have come from the upper chamber, one might well have expected it to be clean. ');">²¹</span> Obviously because it is possible that she bowed down and the blood flowed thither from the chamber. [But, then, why in the case where blood is found anywhere] from the duct inwards, is it not also assumed that she might have staggered backwards<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' And thus caused the blood to flow inwards. ');">²²</span> and the blood originated from the upper chamber?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since this is obviously a possibility the uncleanness should only be a matter of doubt and not, as R. Huna asserted, a certainty. ');">²³</span> Rather, said Abaye, if you follow possibilities<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Bending forward or staggering backwards. ');">²⁴</span> the uncleanness is doubtful in either case<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Whether the blood is found on the one or on the other side of the duct, since in either case two possibilities (cf. prev. n.) may be equally assumed. ');">²⁵</span> and if you follow presumption [blood found anywhere] from the duct inwards is undoubtedly unclean,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since it may well be presumed to have originated in the chamber. Had it originated in the upper chamber it would have made its way to the outer side of the duct only. Our Mishnah's ruling, IT IS DEEMED UNCLEAN etc. may thus refer to such a case. ');">²⁶</span> [but if it was found anywhere] from the duct outwards it is undoubtedly clean.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since in that place it is presumed to have come from the upper chamber, and the possibility of bending forward is disregarded. ');">²⁷</span> R. Hiyya taught: Blood found in the ante-chamber<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' It is explained infra on which side of the duct. ');">²⁸</span> renders [the woman] liable [for a sin-offering] if she enters the Sanctuary,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Because the blood is certainly unclean. ');">²⁹</span> and <i>terumah</i><span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That was touched by the woman. ');">³⁰</span> must be burnt on its account.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Because the blood is certainly unclean. ');">²⁹</span> R. Kattina, however, ruled: No sin-offering<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Though the entry is forbidden. ');">³¹</span> is incurred if she enters the Sanctuary,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since the character of her blood cannot be determined with any degree of certainty. ');">³²</span> and <i>terumah</i><span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' That was touched by the woman. ');">³⁰</span> is not burnt on its account.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since the character of her blood cannot be determined with any degree of certainty. ');">³²</span> According to the first alternative<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'that expression'. ');">³³</span> which Abaye mentioned, viz., 'If you follow possibilities',<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Sc. that the uncleanness is merely a matter of doubt. ');">³⁴</span> support is available for the ruling of R. Kattina<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Who also regards the uncleanness as doubtful. R. Kattina might thus refer to both cases, where the blood was found on the one, or on the other side of the duct. ');">³⁵</span> but<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since no certain uncleanness is recognized. ');">³⁶</span> a divergence of view is presented against R. Hiyya. According to the second alternative<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'that expression'. ');">³³</span> you mentioned, viz., 'If you follow presumption'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' In accordance with which a distinction is drawn between blood found from the duct inwards or outwards. ');">³⁷</span> support is provided for the ruling of R. Hiyya<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Whose ruling would thus refer to blood found from the duct inwards. ');">³⁸</span>