Negative Mitzvah 68: Priests are forbidden to enter specific areas within the Temple
Leviticus 16:2 "That he (the priest) may not come at all times into the holy place"

There are certain rooms or places in our homes that we may not enter without permission.

Our father may call us into his study to teach us a lesson or tell us a story. However, he doesn't want us to go in there just any time to play.

In the Beit HaMikdash, there were areas where the Kohanim (priests) may only enter at certain times or on special occasions.

For example, the Kodesh HaKodoshim - the Holy of Holies - could only be entered by the High Priest, and then only on Yom Kippur.

Other places in the Beit HaMikdash have certain limitations and not every priest could enter every area at all times.

This Negative Mitzvah forbids the priests from entering some areas of the Beit HaMikdash except during times of service.

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Negative Mitzvah 165: A Priest is forbidden to leave the Sanctuary while he is in the middle of his service
Leviticus 10:7 "And you shall not go out from the door of the Tent of Meeting"

The priests were divided in shifts and groups which were assigned service in the Beit HaMikdash for a period of time each year.

When it was the priest's turn to serve in the Beit HaMikdash, and he began to participate in the service, he was forbidden to leave until it was completed.

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Positive Mitzvah 31: Dismissing the Impure
Numbers 5:2 "They shall send out of the camp... all those who are impure"

A person defined as impure by the Torah (see Positive Mitzvah 74) is not allowed to enter the Temple courtyard.

We are commanded to send them out immediately from that area, (see also Negative Mitzvot 77-78).

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Negative Mitzvah 77: An impure person may not enter the Sanctuary
Numbers 5:3 They shall not defile their camp"

A person who is impure is forbidden to enter the Temple courtyard.

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Negative Mitzvah 78: Certain types of impurity prevent a person from entering the camp of the Levites, which is the Temple Mount
Deuteronomy 23:11 "He may not enter this camp"

If a person is impure (because of any reason excepting that of contact with a dead body), he may NOT enter the enclosed area on the Temple Mount.

(There are also specific impurities that force the person to separate himself from the entire camp of Israel and not only the Temple Mount, for example, someone with Tzara'at. See, Positive Mitzvah 31.)

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People think that if they are not well, they must sacrifice all meaning in their life in order to take care of their physical situation. In fact, the opposite is true: You cannot separate the healing of the body from the healing of the soul. As you treat the body, you must also increase in nourishing the soul. Doctors know this very well, but they should make better use of the fact.

From: Bringing Heaven Down to Earth by Tzvi Freeman - tzvif@aol.com