“It was at the time of her giving birth, and, behold, there were twins in her womb” (Genesis 38:27). “It was at the time of her giving birth” – here they were incomplete, but elsewhere they were complete.56Regarding Rebecca’s birth of Jacob and Esau it is written: “Her days to give birth were complete” (Genesis 25:24). “Behold there were twins [teomim] in her womb” – teomim is written complete, as here they were both righteous.
Elsewhere tomim (Genesis 25:24) is written, incomplete, as one was righteous and one was wicked.57Regarding the birth of Jacob and Esau, the word for twins is written without an alef, so that it is read tomim rather than teomim. This is because only Jacob was righteous. “It was as she was giving birth, one extended a hand; the midwife took and bound upon his hand a crimson thread, saying: This one emerged first” (Genesis 38:28).
“It was as she was giving birth, one extended a hand” – Rava bar Rav Ḥisda said: There are three who are believed immediately, and these are: The midwife, the caravan, and a woman who attests to the purity of another woman. Midwife – as it is written: “The midwife took and bound upon his hand a crimson thread, saying: This one emerged first.” Caravan – as Rabbi Simon brother of Rabbi Yehuda bar Zavdi said in the name of Rav: A child, as long as he is cast in the street, his father and mother can testify in his regard.
When he is gathered from the street, he requires two witnesses.58If a young child is abandoned in the street, and adults come and claim to be his parents who were passing by in a caravan and lost their child, they are believed. But if the child has already been taken in from the street, testimony is required to establish the relationship between the child and individuals who claim to be his parents.
See also Kiddushin 73b. And a woman who attests to the purity of another woman – as we learned: If three women were sleeping in one bed and there was blood under one of them, they are all impure. If one of them examined herself and found blood, she alone is impure. Rava said: Provided that it is within twenty-four hours.