Niddah

GEMARA. In respect of what laws had this  to be stated? — Rab Judah replied: In order to lay down that no examination  is required.  But since it was stated in the final clause, IF SHE NEGLECTED TO EXAMINE HERSELF,  it follows, does it not, that at the outset an examination is required? — The final clause applies to the days of the menstruation period; and it is this that was meant: THROUGHOUT ALL THE ELEVEN DAYS A WOMAN IS IN A PRESUMPTIVE STATE OF CLEANNESS  and no examination is necessary, but during the days of her menstruation period  an examination  is required;  but IF SHE NEGLECTED TO EXAMINE HERSELF, IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER THE NEGLECT WAS UNWITTING, UNDER CONSTRAINT OR WILFUL, SHE IS CLEAN. R. Hisda replied: This  was only required to indicate that R. Meir's ruling that  a woman who has no regular period is forbidden marital intercourse,  applies only to the days of her menstruation period, but during the days of her zibah she enjoys  A PRESUMPTIVE STATE OF CLEANNESS. If so,  why did R. Meir rule: He must divorce her and never remarry her?  — Since it is possible to be tempted  to improper conduct during the days of the menstruation period. But since it was stated in the final clause. IF THE TIME OF HER REGULAR PERIOD HAS ARRIVED AND SHE FAILED TO EXAMINE HERSELF, may it not be concluded that we are here dealing with one who had a REGULAR PERIOD? — The Mishnah is defective and the proper reading is this: THROUGHOUT ALL THE ELEVEN DAYS A WOMAN IS IN A PRESUMPTIVE STATE OF CLEANNESS and is, therefore, permitted to her husband, but during the days of her menstruation period she is forbidden to him. This, however, applies only to a woman who has no regular period, but if she has a regular period she is permitted to him and only an examination is necessary. IF SHE NEGLECTED TO EXAMINE HERSELF, IRRESPECTIVE OF WHETHER THE NEGLECT WAS UNWITTING, UNDER CONSTRAINT OR WILFUL, SHE IS CLEAN. IF THE TIME OF HER REGULAR PERIOD HAS ARRIVED AND SHE FAILED TO EXAMINE HERSELF SHE IS DEFINITELY UNCLEAN. But, since the final clause is the view of R. Meir,  the first one is not that of R. Meir, is it? — All the Mishnah represents the view of R. Meir and this is the proper reading: If she was not in a hiding place and the time of her regular period has arrived and she did not examine herself she is unclean, for R. MEIR RULED: IF A WOMAN WAS IN A HIDING PLACE WHEN THE TIME OF HER REGULAR PERIOD ARRIVED AND SHE FAILED TO EXAMINE HERSELF SHE IS CLEAN, BECAUSE FEAR SUSPENDS THE FLOW OF THE BLOOD. Raba replied: This  is to tell that she  does not  cause twenty-four hours retrospective uncleanness. An objection was raised: A menstruant,  a zabah,  and a woman who awaits day against day  or who is in childbirth  cause twenty-four hours retrospective uncleanness! — This is indeed a refutation. R. Huna b. Hiyya  citing Samuel replied: This  is to tell that she cannot establish for herself a regular period during the days of her zibah. R. Joseph  remarked: I have not heard this traditional explanation.  Said Abaye  to him, You yourself have told it to us,  and it was in connection with the following that you told it to us: If she was accustomed to observe a flow of menstrual blood on the fifteenth day,  and this was changed  to the twentieth day,  marital intercourse is forbidden  on both dates.  If this was changed twice to the twentieth day,  marital intercourse is again forbidden on both dates. And in connection with this you have told us: Rab Judah citing Samuel explained. This  was learnt only [when she was accustomed to observe a flow] on the fifteenth day after her ritual immersion  which is the twenty-second day  after her observation of her discharge, since on such a day  she is already within the days of her menstruation period,  but the fifteenth day after her observation, on which she is still within the days of her zibah period,  cannot be established as a regular period. R. Papa stated: I recited this tradition before R. Judah of Diskarta [and asked:] Granted that she cannot establish thereby  a regular period,  must we take into consideration the possibility of such a regular period?  The latter remained silent and said nothing at all. Said R. Papa: Let us look into the matter ourselves. [It has been laid down that] if she was accustomed to observe a flow of menstrual blood on the fifteenth day and this was changed to the twentieth day, marital intercourse is forbidden on both days.