A1 Perhaps there is a safety angle to the purification/decontamination of the Levites? If this wasn't done, would this somehow lead to the collapse of the Israelites? #ParshaChat
Comments
Log in with your Bluesky account to leave a comment
A1: I also think this makes the most sense if we read it not as God punishing people for breaking rules, but as there literally being things that have to be done correctly in order to contain dangerous divine energy so it doesn't break out and hurt them. #ParshaChat
That makes God less vindictive or arbitrary, but also less in control of God's self. I wonder about why we would worship someone who poses such a danger to people who supposedly have a partnership with God. #ParshaChat
Pushing the thought a little further: yes, potentially dangerous--as you are to your own child, as a parent--but your child can count on you not to hurt it. Why can't we count on God that way? #ParshaChat
The argument @rutiregan.bsky.social is making is that these harms are a function of the divine nature, not volition. Getting too close to the divine nature is extremely dangerous, it's not a *choice* G-d makes, it's because the difference between divinity & mortal flesh.
#ParshaChat
I feel like there are ways in which children can count on parents not to hurt them, and ways in which they can't. Keeping children safe is *hard*, and it's very easy to make a mistake. #ParshaChat
Comments
#ParshaChat