THE MYSTERIOUS FOUR CHAPTER INTERRUPTION

The laws of Tzaraat that affect the human body, or clothing, or houses, seem out of place where they are found in the Book of Vayikra (Leviticus).

Besides for the fact that the laws themselves are so arcane, they interrupt the flow of the narrative, an aberration highlighted by the introduction to next week’s portion, which begins with the statement “God spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron….” – deaths which took place five chapters earlier.

Why is the chronology interrupted for these laws?

In this shiur, Rabbi Dunner demonstrates the clear chronology starting with the narrative of the the Golden Calf, followed by the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle), followed by the descriptions of the sacrifices, followed by the inauguration of the altar and the Temple, followed by the sad death of Aaron’s two sons, Nadav and Avihu, taking us through this week’s double portion, and into next week’s portion, Acharei Mot.