משנה: אֵי זֶהוּ הָאָדוֹם כְּדַם הַמַּכָּה. הַשָּׁחוֹר כְּחֶרֶת. דִּיהֵא מִיכֵּן טָהוֹר. וּכְקֶרֶן כַּרְכּוֹם כַּבָּרוּר שֶׁבּוֹ. וּכְמֵימֵי אֲדָמָה מִבִּקְעַת בֵּית כֶּרֶם וּמֵצִיף מַיִם. וְכַמֶּזֶג שְׁנֵי חֲלָקִים מַיִם וְאֶחָד יַיִן מִן הַיַּיִן הַשָּׁרוֹנִי. MISHNAH: How is red? Like blood from a wound. Black, like inkstone101Ink is made by scraping of flakes and dissolving them in water.; lighter than that is pure. Like saffron stigma, like the uniformly colored part of it102Which is reddish, not yellow.. Like earth water, from the valley of Bet Kerem103Near Jerusalem, from where the stones for the Temple were quarried (Mishnah Middot 3:4). on which water was poured. And like mixed wine, two parts water for one part Sharon wine.
הלכה: אֵי זֶהוּ הָאָדוֹם כול׳. רִבִּי יַעֲקֹב בַּר אָחָא רִבִּי עוּלָּא דְקַיְסָרִין בְּשֵׁם רִבִּי חֲנִינָה רִבִּי בָּא בְשֵׁם רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן מְנַסְיָא. כְּדַם הַמַּכָּה שֶׁלָּקָת וְשִׁנָּת. אָמַר רִבִּי יַעֲקֹב בַּר סוֹסַיי קוֹמֵי רִבִּי יוֹסֵי. וּמַתְנִיתָא אָֽמְרָה כֵן. אָדוֹם כְּדַם הַמַּכָּה. רִבִּי יִצְחָק בַּר נַחְמָן וְרִבִּי אֶבְדַּומָא דְּמִן חֵיפָא הֲווֹן יָֽתְיבִין. אָתָא חַד בַּר נַשׁ. אָמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק בַּר נַחְמָן לְרִבִּי אֶבְדַּומָא. קָרוֹב הוּא זֶה לָבוֹא לְדַם נִידָּה. מַה וּפְלִיג. שֶׁאִילּוּ יְשַׁנֶּה הֲוָה כְדַם הַנִּידָּה. HALAKHAH: “How is red,” etc. Rebbi Jacob bar Aḥa, Rebbi Ulla from Caesarea in the name of Rebbi Ḥanina; Rebbi Abba in the name of Rebbi Simeon ben Menasia: Like blood of a wound which was hit a second time. Rebbi Jacob bar Sosai said before Rebbi Yose: The Mishnah implies this, “red like blood from a wound.104Blood coming from a pre-existing wound. In the Niddah.19b">Babli, 19b, many different characterizations are given and one of them is “blood from a wound on the small finger of an unmarried teenager which had healed and opened a second time.” Such a string of conditions is characteristic for the Babli which wants to make sure that these criteria are never used in praxi.” Rebbi Isaac bar Naḥman and Rebbi Eudaimon from Haifa were sitting together when a man passed by them105It seems that he had an open wound.. Rebbi Isaac bar Naḥman said to Rebbi Eudaimon from Haifa: That one is close to produce blood of a menstruating woman. Does he disagree? If he would be hit a second time, it would be like menstrual blood.
וְהַשָּׁחוֹר כְּחֶרֶת. כֵּיצַד הוּא עוֹשֶׂה. רִבִּי בָּא בְּשֵׁם רַב יְהוּדָה. נוֹטֵל אֶת הַחֶרֶת וְנוֹתֵן עַל גַּבֵּי עוֹר לָבָן. רִבִּי יוֹסֵי בֵּירִבִּי בּוּן אָמַר. עַל גַּבֵּי עוֹר צָבוּעַ. רִבִּי זְעִירָא בְשֵׁם רַבָּנִן. שָׁחוֹר כְּעוֹרֵב שָׁחוֹר כְּעֵנַב שָׁחוֹר כְּזֶפֶת טָהוֹר. חֲבֵרַייָא בְשֵׁם רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן. שָׁחוֹר כִּדְיוֹ טָהוֹר. רִבִּי אִמִּי בְשֵׁם רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן. כְּפִּלְיוֹן שֶׁלָּרֹאשׁ הַבָּא מִמְדִינַת הַיָּם טָמֵא. רִבִּי זְעִירָא בְּעָא קוֹמֵי רִבִּי אִמִּי. כָּל־הַלֵּין מִילַּייָא לְעוּבְדָא. אָמַר לֵיהּ. אִין. רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ אָמַר. כּוּלְּהֹן דִּיהֵא מִיכֵּן טָהוֹר. עָמוֹק מִיכֵּן טָמֵא. רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָמַר. כּוּלְּהֹן דִּיהֵא מִיכֵּן טָהוֹר. עָמוֹק מִיכֵּן טָהוֹר חוּץ מִשָּׁחוֹר. מַתְנִיתָא מְסַייְעָה לְרִבִּי יוֹחָנָן. דְּתַנִינָן. וְהַשָּׁחוֹר כְּחֶרֶת טָמֵא. דִּיהֵא מִיכֵּן טָהוֹר. הָא עָמוֹק מִיכֵּן טָמֵא. לֹא אָֽמְרִינָן אֶלָּא שָׁחוֹר. הָא כּוּלְּהוֹן אֲפִילוּ עֲמוּקִין מִיכֵּן טְהוֹרִין. קַרְתֵּיהּ דְּרַב יְהוּדָה כְּרִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ. וְרַב יְהוּדָה כְּרִבִּי יוֹחָנָן. תַּנֵּי בַּר קַפָּרָא וּמְסַייֵעַ לְרִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ וְלָא עָֽבְדִין עוֹבְדָא דִכְװָתֵיהּ. דְּרִבִּי חֲנִינָה מָזַג מֶזֶג לְבַר קַפָּרָא. אָמַר לֵיהּ. כְּזֶה מָהוּ. אָמַר לֵיהּ. טָמֵא. אַדְהִיתֵיהּ. אָמַר לֵיהּ. טָהוֹר. אָמַר לֵיהּ. יְהֵא שְׁלָמָא לְגַבְרָא דְטָעָה בְפוּמֵיהּ וְלֹא טָעֵי בְעֵיינוֹי. הֲווֹן בְּעֵיי מֵימַר. מָּאן דָּמַר. טָהוֹר. בִּמְצַחְצֵחַ. וּמָּאן דְּאָמַר. טָמֵא. בְּשֶׁאֵינוֹ מְצַחְצֵחַ. נִישְׁמְעִינָהּ מִן הָדָא. מַעֲשֶׂה בְאִשָּׁה אַחַת מִשֶׁלְּבֵית רִבִּי שֶׁהָֽיְתָה רוֹאָה דָמִים שְׁחוֹרִין. אָתָא עוֹבְדָא קוֹמֵי רִבִּי יעֲקֹב בַּר זַבְדִּי וְקוֹמֵי רִבִּי יִצְחָק בַּר טֶבֶלַיי וּבִיקְשׁוּ לְטַמּוֹתָהּ. אָמַר לוֹן רִבִּי חֶלְבּוֹ. כֵּן אָמַר רַב חוּנָה בְשֵׁם רַב. שָׁחוֹר מַקְדִּיר טָהוֹר. מְצַחְצֵחַ טָמֵא. לֹא אָמַר אֶלָּא שָׁחוֹר. הָא כּוּלְּהוֹן אֲפִילוּ מְצַחְצְחִין טְהוֹרִין. “And black, like ink-stone.” How do you check that? Rebbi Abba in the name of Rav Jehudah: One takes the ink-stone and puts in on white leather106On a white background to make the black appear deeper. In the Niddah.20a">Babli, 20a, Samuel requires a white cloth.. Rebbi Yose ben Rebbi Abun said, on colored leather107To make the black appear more muted.. Rebbi Ze‘ira in the name of the rabbis: Black like a raven, black like a grape berry, black like asphalt are pure. The colleagues in the name of Rebbi Joḥanan: Black like liquid ink is pure108In the Niddah.20a">Babli, 20a, liquid ink and grape are classified as impure by Samuel, asphalt and raven as pure by R. Eleazar.. Rebbi Immi in the name of Rebbi Joḥanan: Like a felt hat imported from overseas is impure. Rebbi Ze‘ira asked before Rebbi Immi: Are all these facts to be acted upon? He answered him, yes. Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish said, all of them, if they are lighter than the standard they are pure, darker than the standard impure109Niddah 3:5" href="/Tosefta_Niddah.3.5">Tosephta 3:11. In the Niddah.20a">Babli, 20a, this is the position of Ulla and Bar Qappara (who is mentioned in the same sense later in this paragraph); the latter explicitly excludes the looks of mixed wine from this rule. The question is whether the list of shades given in the Mishnah is to be taken as limit of what is impure or is an exact description.. Rebbi Joḥanan said, all of them, if they are lighter than the standard they are pure, darker than the standard pure except for black110In the Niddah.20a">Babli, 20a, this is a definite minority opinion ascribed tentatively to Rebbi Immi (bar Abba). It is not mentioned in the Tosephta.. The Mishnah supports Rebbi Joḥanan, as we have stated: “And black like ink-stone is impure, lighter than that is pure.” Therefore, darker than that is impure, but only black was mentioned in that connection. Therefore, all others, even if they are darker than the standards, are pure. The town of Rav Jehudah followed Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish but Rav Jehudah himself followed Rebbi Joḥanan. Bar Qappara stated a support for Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish109Niddah 3:5" href="/Tosefta_Niddah.3.5">Tosephta 3:11. In the Niddah.20a">Babli, 20a, this is the position of Ulla and Bar Qappara (who is mentioned in the same sense later in this paragraph); the latter explicitly excludes the looks of mixed wine from this rule. The question is whether the list of shades given in the Mishnah is to be taken as limit of what is impure or is an exact description. but one does not follow him in practice, since Rebbi Ḥanina mixed wine for Bar Qappara and asked him, if it is like that, what is its status? He answered, impure. He lightened it, then he answered, pure. He said to him, peace shall be on him who erred with his mouth but not with his eyes111In the Niddah.20a">Babli, 20a, the same story is told with R. Ḥanina praising Bar Qappara who sticks to his teachings since he had exempted mixed wine from his general rule. In the Yerushalmi he is praised for following in practice what two generations later would be the teachings of R. Joḥanan while formulating support for what would be the position of R. Simeon ben Laqish.. They wanted to say that he who says pure, refers to when it was polished112If it forms a shiny crust.. But he who says impure , if it is not polished. Let us hear from the following: It happened that a woman from the Patriarchate had a discharge of black blood. The case came before Rebbi Jacob bar Zabdi and Rebbi Isaac bar Ṭabelai; they wanted to declare her impure. Rebbi Ḥelbo told them: So says Rav Huna in the name of Rav: Black which penetrates113The blood colors any textile but the stain never reflects light. is pure, that which polishes is impure. He said that only about black. Therefore, all others are pure even if they polish114And do not exactly represent any of the colors described in the Mishnah..
וּכְקֶרֶן כַּרְכּוֹם כַּבָּרוּר שֶׁבּוֹ. כְּלַח וְלֹא כְיָבֵשׁ. כָּעֶלְיוֹן וְלֹא כַתַּחְתּוֹן. בְּרוֹאֶה אֵת הַצֵּל וְלֹא בְרוֹאֶה אֶת הַחַמָּה. רִבִּי אַבָּהוּ אַיְיתִי קוֹמֵי רִבִּי לָֽעְזָר בְּאִילֵּין קוֹזְקַזְתְּהוֹן. אָמַר לֵיהּ. כְּבָר דָּהוּא מַרְאָיו. רִבִּי יַעֲקֹב בַּר זַבְדִּי אַיְיתִי קוֹמֵי רִבִּי אַבָּהוּ דַּם שָׂעִיר בָּאָדוֹם. וְדַם דָּגִים בְּשָׁחוֹר. אָמַר לֵיהּ. כְּבָר דָּהוּא מַרְאָיו. “Like saffron stigma, like the uniformly colored part of it.” Moist, not dried115Agreed to in the Niddah.20a">Babli, 20a, and in Niddah 3:5" href="/Tosefta_Niddah.3.5">Tosephta 3:11.. From the upper part, not the lower116Put in doubt in the Niddah.20a">Babli, 20a; confirmed in Niddah 3:5" href="/Tosefta_Niddah.3.5">Tosephta 3:11.. From the part in the shadow, not exposed to the sun. Rebbi Abbahu brought before Rebbi Eleazar117He brought him blood to examine, probably in a glass vessel. in cupper’s vessels. He said to him, its looks already are dimmed. Rebbi Jacob bar Zavdi brought before Rebbi Abbahu goat’s blood as [example of] red, fish blood as [example of] black. He said to him, its looks already are dimmed118The color of blood can be judged only when it is fresh.
וּכְמֵימֵי אֲדָמָה מִבִּקְעַת בֵּית כֶּרֶם מֵיצַף מַיִם. רִבִּי חֲנִינָה וְרִבִּי יוֹנָתָן תְּרֵיהוֹן אָֽמְרִין. מֵיצַף מַיִם עַל גַבֵּי מַטְלֵית. “Like earth water, from the valley of Bet Kerem on which water was poured.” Rebbi Ḥanina and Rebbi Jonathan both say one pours the water on a piece of cloth119One checks the color remaining on the cloth. In the Niddah.20a">Babli, 20a, R. Ḥanina is reported having used dry ochre; cf. Niddah 2:7:6" href="/Jerusalem_Talmud_Niddah.2.7.6">Note 130..
וְכַמֶּזֶג. אָבָּא בַּר חָנָה בְשֵׁם רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן. כּוֹס מָזוּג נִרְאֶה מִבַּחוּץ. הֲווֹן בָּעֵיי מֵימַר. כְּגוֹן אִילֵּין כַּסָּייָא טִיבֶרַייאָה. אָמַר רִבִּי אֶבְדַּומָא דְּצִיפּוֹרִין קוֹמֵי רִבִּי מָנָא. כְּגוֹן הָדָא פִייַלִיתָא שֶׁאֵינָהּ עוֹשָׂה צֵל לְכָתְלֶיהָ. שְׁמוּאֵל אָמַר. כָּל־מִי שֶׁאֵינוֹ יוֹדֵעַ לִרְאוֹת דָּמִים טְהוֹרִין לֹא יִרְאֶה דָמִים טְמֵאִין. רַב אָמַר. עַד שֶׁיְּהֵא בָקִי בָהֶן וּבִשְׁמוֹתֵיהֶן. מִילְתֵיהּ דְּרִבִּי יוֹחָנָן אָֽמְרָה כֵן. כָּל־דָּמִים טְהוֹרִין אֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ וְכָל־דָמִים טְמֵאִים אֲנִי יוֹדֵעַ. אִם טָהוֹר שֶׁבָּאָדוֹם הוּא. הוּא טָמֵא שֶׁכְּמֵימֵי אֲדָמָה. מָאן דְּלָא יְדַע הָא לָא יְדַע חֲמֵי. וְעוֹד מִן הָדָא דְתַנֵּי. יְצַלְלוּ וְלֹא יַעֲכֻרוּ. רִבִּי חֲנִינָה עָכַר. אָֽמְרוּן קוֹמֵי רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן. רִבִּי חֲנִינָה עֲכַר וְאַתְּ לָא עֲכַר. אֲמַר לוֹן. רִבִּי חֲנִינָה שָׁתֵי עוֹתִיק. רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן לֹא שָׁתֵי עוֹתִיק. רִבִּי חֲנִינָה שָׁתֵי עוֹתִיק דְּעוֹתִק. אָמַר רִבִּי הוֹשַׁעְיָה. מִן בְּגִין דְּרִבִּי חֲנִינָה עֵינֵיהּ שְׂבִיעָה בְּעוֹבְדֵייהּ אֲפִילוּ עָכוֹר לֹא פְסָלֵיהּ. רִבִּי שַׁמַּי בְּשֵׁם רִבִּי אָחָא. רִבִּי חֲנִינָה מְשָׁעֵר בְּגוּשׁ שֶׁלָּאֲדָמָה. רִבִּי אָבוּן רִבִּי שַׁמַּי בְּשֵׁם רִבִּי אָחָא. מִן בְּגִין דַּאֲנָן יָֽדְעִין דְּרִבִּי חֲנִינָה כָשֵׁר בְּגִין כֵּן אֲנָן סָֽמְכִין עֲלוֹי. רִבִּי חֲנִינָה הֲוָה שָׁרֵי בְצִיפּוֹרִין וַהֲווֹן אֲתַאי קוֹמוֹי עוֹבְדִין וּמַפִּק מִן תַּרְתִּין זִימְנִין. וַהֲווֹן רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן וְרִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן לָקִישׁ שַׁרְייָן תַּמָּן וְלָא הֲוָה מְצָרַף לוֹן עִימֵּיהּ. אָֽמְרִין. חֲכִים הוּא הַהוּא סַבָּא דְּפַרְזְלוֹי חֲרִיפִין. חַד זְמָן צְרָפוֹן עִימֵּיהּ. אָֽמְרִין. מַה חָמָא רִבִּי מַשְׁגַּח עָלֵינָן יוֹמָא דֵין. אָמַר לוֹן. יֵיתֵי עָלַי אִם לֹא כָל־מַעֲשֶׂה וּמַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁהָיִיתִי מוֹצִיא אִם לֹא שָׁמַעְתִי אוֹתוֹ מֵרִבִּי לַהֲלָכָה כִּשְׂעָרוֹת רֹאשִׁי. וּלְמַעֲשֶׂה שְׁלֹשָׁה פְעָמִים. וְהֵן עוֹבְדָא לֹא אָתָא קוֹמֵי רִבִּי אֶלָּא תְּרֵין זִימְנִין. מִן בְּגִין כֵּן צְרִיפַתְכוֹן עִמִּי. “And like mixed wine.” Abba bar Ḥana120It seems rather that this should be R. Abba bar bar Ḥana, known as student of R. Joḥanan, and not his father Rav Abba bar Ḥana, nephew of R. Ḥiyya the Elder. in the name of Rebbi Joḥanan: As one sees a cup of mixed wine from the outside. They wanted to say, in a Tiberian cup. Rebbi Eudaimon from Sepphoris said before Rebbi Mana: As in a small phial121Diminutive of פִייַלֵי, Greek φιάλη, Latin phiala, “phial, saucer”. whose walls do not cast a shadow122In a colorless glass phial (Niddah 21a" href="/Rashi_on_Niddah.21a">Rashi 21a), cf. Niddah.21a">Babli 21a.. Samuel said, anybody who has no experience in seeing kinds of pure blood should not judge kinds of impure blood123He wants to restrict the authority to deliver an opinion on purity or impurity of blood to surgeons like himself.. Rav said, only if he is competent about them and their names124An academically trained medical expert.. The words of Rebbi Joḥanan say so: I know all kinds of pure blood and of impure blood. The pure is the most red; the impure is like earth water. “If he has no experience125A quote from Samuel’s statement.,” therefore, if he has experience he can judge it. In addition, from what we have stated126Referring to the “earth water”, paint made from ochre earth. In the Niddah 3:5" href="/Tosefta_Niddah.3.5">Tosephta (3:11) the opposite is stated: One checks the color only if the water is turbid (i. e., if the entire fluid has a uniform color), not if it is clear (if the ochre has separated and settled on the bottom.): clear but not turbid. Rebbi Ḥanina used it turbid127Confirmed in the Niddah.20a">Babli, 20a.. They said before Rebbi Joḥanan: Rebbi Ḥanina uses it turbid, but you said, not turbid. He said to them, Rebbi Ḥanina drinks old [wine], Rebbi Joḥanan does not drink old [wine], Rebbi Ḥanina drinks oldest [wine]128R. Ḥanina, of the generation of R. Joḥanan’s teachers, had old traditions. In the Niddah.20b">Babli, 20b, R. Joḥanan complains that he never had training in judging kinds of blood because R. Ḥanina (a medical man) was so competent that he handled all cases by himself. This agrees with the story told here.. Rebbi Hoshaiah said: Since Rebbi Hoshaiah’s eye is full of happenings129He has seen so many cases that he can use shortcuts to quickly come to a decision., even turbid is not disqualified for him. Rebbi Shammai in the name of Rebbi Aḥa: Rebbi Ḥanina estimated with a lump of earth130He did not have to dissolve it in water; confirmed by the Niddah.20a">Babli, 20a.. Rebbi Abun, Rebbi Shammai in the name of Rebbi Aḥa: Since we know that Rebbi Ḥanina is competent, do we follow his precedents131People with less competence have to follow the rules painstakingly.? Rebbi Ḥanina was living in Sepphoris, they brought cases before him and he decided on the basis of three precedents. Rebbi Joḥanan and Rebbi Simeon ben Laqish were there but he did not invite them to sit with him132There were young rabbis there but the Chief Rabbi kept them out of the decision process. R. Joḥanan himself said that he moved to Tiberias since he would never have amounted to much in Sepphoris because of R. Ḥanina’s dominance.. They said, the old man is a Sage since his irons are sharp133His iron knife is sharp; i. e., he has no difficulty to decide. The Hebrew word for “judicial decision” is פְּסָק “what is cut off”, a translation of Latin decisio, from caedo “to cut”.! Once he invited them to sit with him. They said, for what reason do you take notice of us this time? He said, so should come over me134An oath inviting disaster if he was lying. if I had not heard every single case from Rebbi in theory as many times as there are hairs on my head, and in a practical way three times; but the present case did come before Rebbi only twice. Therefore, I adjoined you with me.
רִבִּי יִצְחָק בַּר נַחְמָן יְלִיף מִן רִבִּי לָֽעְזָר דָּמִים טְהוֹרִין. הָא דָּמִים טְמֵאִין לֹא. וְלֹא כֵן אָמַר רִבִּי יִצְחָק בַּר נַחְמָן לְרִבִּי אֶבְדַּימָא דְּחֵיפָא. קָרוֹב הוּא זֶה לָבוֹא לְדַם הַנִּידָּה. אֶלָּא מָאן דִּילִיף הָדֵין מִנָּהּ יְלִיף הָדֵין. יִצְחָק בַּר יוֹנָתָן וְרַב הוּנָא הֲווֹן יְתִיבִין. אֲתַת חָדָא אִיתָא וּשְׁאַלְתּוֹן. אָמַר לָהּ יִצְחָק בַּר יוֹנָתָן. חֲמִיתֵי עָטִיר מִנֵּיהּ. אָמַר לֵיהּ רַב הוּנָא. כֵּן אָמַר רַב. מִן דְּאָתֵי קוֹמִּיךְ הוֹרֵי. אָמַר רִבִּי יַעֲקֹב בַּר אָחָא בְשֵׁם רִבִּי שִׁמְעוֹן בַּר אַבָּא. כַּמָּה קוּפִּין דְּעוֹבְדִין הֲוָה אָתֵי קוֹמֵי רִבִּי חֲנִינָה וּמַה דַהֲוָה אָתֵי קוֹמוֹי הֲוָה אָמַר. Rebbi Isaac bar Naḥman learned from Rebbi Eleazar the kinds of pure blood. Does this mean, not the impure kinds? But did not Rebbi Isaac bar Naḥman say to Rebbi Eudaimon from Haifa135Earlier, Note 105.: That one is close to produce blood of a menstruating woman136This shows that he was an expert in the matter of impure blood.? But one who learns one kind, learns at the same time the other kind. Isaac bar Jonathan and Rav Huna were sitting together when a woman came and asked them137Showed them a blood stain.. Isaac bar Jonathan said to her, did you see it more smoky than that138Whether the stain originally was darker.? Rav Huna said to him, so says Rav: Instruct according to what comes before you139One has to decide according to the evidence produced. In the Niddah.20b">Babli, 20b, the formulation is: The judge has only what his eyes are seeing.! Rebbi Jacob bar Aḥa said in the name of Rebbi Simeon bar Abba: A number of chests full of problems came before Rebbi Ḥanina and about what came before him, he did pronounce140The “problems” were stained garments. He never investigated whether the stains had changed color in the meantime..
מָהוּ לִרְאוֹת כְּתָמִין בַּלַּיְלָה. רִבִּי רָאָה בַלַּיְלָה וְטִימֵּא. אָמַר. שׁוּבְקְתֵיהּ לְצַפְרָא. רָאָה בַיּוֹם וְטִיהֵר. אָמַר. גְדוֹלִים הֵן דִּבְרֵי חֲכָמִים שֶׁאָֽמְרוּ. אֵין רוֹאִין כְּתָמִין בַּלַּיְלָה. אָמַר. שׁוּבְקְתֵיהּ לְרַמְשָׁא. רָאָה בַלַּיְלָה וְטִיהֵר. אָמַר. וְלֹא אֲנִי הוּא שֶׁטָּעִיתִי הוּא הוּא שֶׁדִּיהֶא. May one review stains at night? 141The same story in a different version is in the Niddah.20b">Babli, 20b. Rebbi reviewed at night and declared impure. He said, let it stay until morning. He reviewed at daylight and declared pure. He said, great are the words of the Sages who said, one does not review stains at night142Quoted also in the Megillah.14a">Babli, Megillah 14a.. He said, let it stay until the evening. He reviewed at night and found pure. He said, I did not make a mistake143One reviews stains at the first possible moment, even at night.; that one faded!
רָאָת עַל הַכָּר מָהוּ שֶׁתְּהֵא נֶאֱמֶנֶת לוֹמַר. כַּזֶּה רָאִיתִי אוֹ כַזֶּה. רִבִּי בָּא בְשֵׁם רַב יְהוּדָה רִבִּי חֶלְבּוֹ רִבִּי חִייָה בְשֵׁם רִבִּי יוֹחָנָן. רָאָת עַל הַכָּר נֶאֱמֶנֶת לוֹמַר. כַּזֶּה רָאִיתִי אוֹ כַזֶּה. וְתַנֵּי כֵן. נֶאֱמֶנֶת. יָכוֹל כְּשֵׁם שֶׁהִיא מַרְאָה מַרְאֶה כְתָמָהּ כֵּן תְּהֵא מַרְאָה מַרְאוֹת נְגָעִים. תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר וְהוּבָא אֶל אַהֲרֹן הַכֹּהֵן אוֹ אֶל אֶחָד מִבָּנָיו הַכֹּהֲנִים. If she saw on the bedsheet, is she trustworthy if she says, it looked like such and such? Rebbi Abba in the name of Rav Jehudah; Rebbi Ḥelbo, Rebbi Ḥiyya in the name of Rebbi Joḥanan: if she saw on the bedsheet, she is trustworthy if she says, it looked like such and such. It was stated so: She is trustworthy144Such a baraita is also quoted I the Niddah.20b">Babli, 20b.. I could think that in the same way she shows the looks of her stain so she shows the looks of skin disease, the verse says145Leviticus.13.2">Lev. 13:2 Skin disease can be judged only by examining the patient personally, not by description.: “He shall be brought to Aaron the priest or to one of his descendants, the priests.”