These are the laws of quarantine, applying to: Women who have given birth, people with rashes or skin lesions, microbial growths (usually translated as, leprosy), people with signs of venereal disease, and women during menstruation.

There are many who interpret, because participation in temple rituals was forbidden of them until given attention and declared clean by a priest, that those quarantined must have been suffering from a spiritual condition. However, these were simply laws meant to prevent or contain the spread of infectious disease.

Why were women quarantined while menstruating or after giving birth? Like some women in extremely remote areas of the modern world, women of very ancient times did not have such things as sanitary napkins, and instead of flowing all over the place, they stayed at home. Furthermore, without modern day conveniences such as soap and running water, spilt blood serves as a breeding ground for pathogens.

None of these laws were declared as “everlasting” commandments; they were relevant to the era they were written in, and to the society they were written to. In contemporary times, priests no longer serve as medical physicians to their congregations, thus today, we need neither seek, nor render offerings for, medical treatment from them. Yet, we should still be mindful of quarantine guidelines, and refrain from attending assemblies when we suffer from contagious illness.

Nonetheless, is there a spiritual lesson here? “And the priest shall make an atonement…” Indeed: Confirmation, that atonement is about healing.

Moses conveys instructions from YHWH to the priests and the people, concerning their atonement for the Golden Calf incident. Understanding “atonement” as an action that heals a wrongdoing… atonement is accomplished here by replacing the act of idolatry with the act of the community coming together, to share in preparing and partaking of a meal dedicated to YHWH.

We are not to worship by bowing down before an image as idolaters do, but rather, we worship the Most High by drawing ourselves into the presence of YHWH… “I will be consecrated in those who draw near me.” The offerings to be brought to the altar, are indeed meant not for the purpose of idolatry, but to be shared by the people. Wherefore, Moses said: “Why did you burn up the khet offering? You were supposed to eat it!” Elaborating further, the offerings are: kî (as) qō·ḏeš qā·ḏā·šîm (consecrated consecrations) hî wə·’ō·ṯāh (he and she: a Hebrew idiom that means, everyone, each and every single person) nā·ṯan (give) lā·ḵem (to/for them)* lā·śêt (to carry/lift) ‘et (eth’) ‘ă·wōn (iniquity/guilt) hā·‘ê·ḏāh (the congregation) lə·ḵap·pêr (for atonement) ‘ă·lê·hem (over them) lip̄·nê Yah·web (before YHWH’s presence). Sharing of this meal not only draws people together in the presence of God, it is part of the people’s healing process.

* This section of scripture is hacked to bits by established religion, and it is typically translated as: he [and she is omitted] gives to you [s/b, to them]; all which drastically changes the verse’s meaning, leading to wrongfully denote that the offering is only given to be eaten by the priests.

Instructions are given, for the animals brought to slaughter, regarding the method of butchering and cooking them … regarding safeguarding against food contamination and cross-contamination … regarding types of animals we are, and are not, to eat.

Instructions are also given to the priests, regarding their maintaining respectable appearances… regarding their safety (don’t go near the tent entrance, where the altar fire is, after you’ve been anointed with oil) … regarding the drinking of wine (don’t do it to the point of intoxication, when you are in the tabernacle). Follow the rules, for your own good… and don’t add your own rituals to it. Remember what happened to Aaron’s sons when they did stuff they weren’t told to do – they caught themselves on fire and died!

Leviticus 10:1-2: way·yiq·ḥū (thus took, they) ḇə·nê-’a·hă·rōn (sons of Aaron) nā·ḏāḇ wa·’ă·ḇî·hū (Nadab and Abihi) ’îš (each man) maḥ·tā·ṯōw (his fire-pan) way·yit·tə·nū (and placing) ḇā·hên ’êš (within fire) way·yā·śî·mū (and placed) ‘ā·le·hā qə·ṭō·reṯ (incense upon it) way·yaq·ri·ḇū (and offered it) lip̄·nê Yah·weh (before YHWH’s presence) ’êš zā·rāh (foreign fire) ’ă·šer (that which) lō ṣiw·wāh (not commanded) ’ō·ṯām (them); wat·tê·ṣê ’êš (and went up, fire) mil·lip̄·nê Yah·weh (from, before YHWH’s presence) wat·tō·ḵal ’ō·w·ṯām (and consumed them) way·yā·mu·ṯū (and they died) lip̄·nê Yah·weh (before YHWH’s presence).

Note Well: The fire did not come “from” YHWH, but rather, the fire that was “from, before YHWH’s presence” went up… the foreign fire that Aaron’s sons had placed there.

Further, the role of priests are established: To make a distinction between the profane and the sacred, and between the unclean and the clean… and to teach the children of Israel ha·ḥuq·qîm (the inscriptions) ’ă·šer (that-which) dib·her (spoke) Yah·web (YHWH) ’ă·lê·hem (to them) bə·yaḏ-mō·šeh (by-hand of Moses, i.e. written by Moses).

I am your Most High … wih·yî·ṯem (and + become + you will) qə·ḏō·šîm (consecrated + you will be) ki (as) qā·ḏō·wōš (consecrated + that) ’ā·nî (I am). Not because I am holy, but as-consecrated-that-I-am: “I am your Most High, and you are to be as consecrated as I am!”