(1) Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu each took his fire pan, put fire in it, and laid incense on it; and they offered before God alien fire, which God had not enjoined upon them. (2) And fire came forth from God and consumed them; thus they died at the instance of God. (3) Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what God meant when God said: Through those near to Me I show Myself holy, And gain glory before all the people.” And Aaron was silent.
(22) Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them; and he stepped down after offering the sin offering, the burnt offering, and the offering of well-being. (23) Moses and Aaron then went inside the Tent of Meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the Presence of God appeared to all the people. (24) Fire came forth from before God and consumed the burnt offering and the fat parts on the altar. And all the people saw, and shouted, and fell on their faces.
For context, here is what happened right before the moment on which we will focus.
What does this tell us happened when something was put on the altar?
(1) This is what God has told me God has already told me that God will manifest God's holiness through those who are near God — even if they must suffer for it, as in the passage “You only have I known…” [Amos 3:2]. Thus the verse means, “When I manifest myself in holiness among them, then I shall be glorified; and I shall be glorified in the face of all the people, and they shall fear Me.”
So what is the reward offered here for being silent?
(8) And God spoke to Aaron, saying: (9) Drink no wine or other intoxicant, you or your sons, when you enter the Tent of Meeting, that you may not die. This is a law for all time throughout the ages,
Why do you think this comes so close on the heels of the death of the two sons?
Rashi, Ramban and Ibn Ezra all write about the fact that the Torah had to specify that one could not drink when involved in the work of the mishkan or other priestly tasks. Why was that so important for them to point out?
אָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן זֶה הַדִּבּוּר נֶאֱמַר לְמשֶׁה בְּסִינַי, וְלֹא נוֹדַע לוֹ עַד שֶׁבָּא מַעֲשֶׂה לְיָדוֹ. אָמַר משֶׁה לְאַהֲרֹן, אָחִי, בְּסִינַי נֶאֱמַר לִי שֶׁאֲנִי עָתִיד לְקַדֵּשׁ אֶת הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה, וּבְאָדָם גָּדוֹל אֲנִי מְקַדְּשׁוֹ, וְהָיִיתִי סָבוּר שֶׁמָּא אוֹ בִּי אוֹ בְּךָ הַבַּיִת הַזֶּה מִתְקַדֵּשׁ, וְעַכְשָׁיו שְׁנֵי בָנֶיךָ גְּדוֹלִים מִמֶּנִּי וּמִמְךָ. כֵּיוָן שֶׁשָּׁמַע אַהֲרֹן שֶׁבָּנָיו יִרְאֵי שָׁמַיִם הֵן, שָׁתַק וְקִבֵּל שָׂכָר עַל שְׁתִיקָתוֹ, וּמִנַּיִן שֶׁשָּׁתַק.
...Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachman said: This is what was spoken to Moses at Sinai, and he didn't understand it until this (the brothers' consumption) happened. Moses said to Aaron: My brother, it was told to me at Sinai that sometime in the future I would have to [over see] the sanctification this house, and it would have to be a person holier than I. I thought that it would be me or you to sanctify this house. Now, your two sons are greater than me and you. Therefore, Aaron heard that his sons were true fearers of God and was quiet so he could receive his reward.
What does this text tell us as the rational for why Aaron's sons died? Does it give a reason, or explain something else? If it is something else, what is it?
(א) הוא אשר דבר ה' לאמר היכן דיבר ונקדש בכבודי (שמות כט מג) אל תקרי בכבודי אלא במכובדי אמר לו משה לאהרן אהרן אחי יודע הייתי שיתקדש הבית במיודעיו של הקב"ה והייתי סבור או בי או בך עכשיו אני רואה שהם גדולים ממני וממך לשון רש"י ממדרש רבותינו (ויק"ר יב ב) ... וטעם וידום אהרן שהיה בוכה בקול ואז שתק או כטעם ואל תדום בת עינך (איכה ב יח)
(1) This is what the LORD meant when He said: Where had He spoken this? In the statement (Exodus 29:43), “And there I will be met by the children of Israel and it (the Tabernacle) shall be sanctified by My glory (בכבודי).” Read not here בִכְבוֹדִי, “by My Glory” but בִּמְכֻבָּדַי, “through My honoured ones” (Zevachim 115b).
So behold, really Moses said in this verse was: "This is what God meant when He said to Godself, through those near to Me I show Myself holy so that my holiness will not be ruined and I will gain glory before all the people so that they will behave respectfully in my Tabernacle. And the reason that Aaron was silent was that he was crying loudly and fell silent.
What does the first part of Ramban's statement add to the Leviticus Rabbah Text?
What does the second part tell us as a reason that Aaron was silent?
Feeling slowed down, with accompanying postural changes, may alternate with agitation, restlessness, and increased motor activity in the early stages of bereavement. Crying and general tearfulness also are common. During the period of despair, the bereaved may lack interest in the outside world and often give up activities they used to enjoy, such as eating, watching television, or socializing. (From: Bereavement: Reactions, Consequences and Care)
One main reaction to death is shock. How might that play into Aaron's reaction?
The part that comes next in this parsha are the dietary laws. What connection might you see between the dietary laws and the situation with Aaron and his sons?