וַתֵּ֥צֵא אֵ֛שׁ מִלִּפְנֵ֥י יְהוָ֖ה וַתֹּ֣אכַל אוֹתָ֑ם וַיָּמֻ֖תוּ לִפְנֵ֥י יְהוָֽה׃
And fire came forth from the LORD and consumed them; thus they died at the instance of the LORD. (Perek 10 Pasuk 2)
What does וַתֵּ֥צֵא אֵ֛שׁ mean? Why did Aaron's sons die?
Rashi answers this by quoting Rabbi Eleizer. Rabbi Eleizer said that Aaron's sons died because they made decisions on religious matters in the presence of Moses. Then Rashi continues by quoting Rabbi Ishmael who says that they died because they came in drunk. This is proven because after their death he said that those who survived should not enter when drunk.
What are other reasons that Aaron's sons died?
How do other mefarshim define these words?
What do other mefarshim think the reason that Aaron's sons died?
Is there anywhere else in the Torah that someone dies like this?
What are other reasons that Aaron's sons died?
ReplyDeleteHow do other mefarshim define these words?
What do other mefarshim think the reason that Aaron's sons died?
The Iben Ezra defines this to mean that they died before Hashem, thinking they were doing something acceptable, even though we obviously know now that it isn’t.\
I like this answer because it’s clear and to the point.
The Or HaChaim says that the reason Nadav and Avihu died was not because of something they did now but rather something they did in the past. It mentions that there were 2 nobles who didnt take in Hashem in Vayikra and were not punished at that moment so we could assume it was Nadav and Avihu and Hashem was punishing the now. this is intresting and a new idea ive never heard before. i like how it is different then what i have always heard.
ReplyDeleteWhy does Aaron's sons die? According to the chizkuni, the punishment fits the crime. The sons diminished Hashem’s glory and this is compared to the consummation of fire. Nadav and Avihu were warned twice not to gaze upon what they believe the true god is. However they ended up bad mouthing hashem and being killed by fire. I really like this answer because it is basic pshat and goes along with the pasukim.
ReplyDeleteHow do other mefarshim define?
ReplyDeleteChizkuni says that it first says that the fire came from heaven before it has details liek that it wa saturated by Aharons 2 sons. It was the way of the fire to first travel to the Holy places and then to go to the altar and receive korbanot. Here, the fire did not stop there. Instead it went father than there and went to the copper altar and ate up the 2 sons of Aharaon.
I liek this answer because it makes sense to the words and explains why they are used well. It shows why fire specifically is used because that’s how they see killed. However it is a bit confusing and not the best answer. It explains the background of the fire and how it compares to this one
According to rabbi sacks, (using the answers of some chachamim) his sons died for many reasons:
ReplyDeleteThey entered hashem a holy place, not wearing the right clothes, had extreme pride and huge egos, didn’t consult moshe and Aaron, they also sinned earlier at har Sinai because they are and drank in the presence of hashem, etc. I like this answer because it shows that although the punishment was harsh, they deserved to die because they committed so many bad acts.
According to an opinion in Vayikra Rabbah, Nadav and Avihu suffered a vicarious punishment- and were killed by the strange fire of Hashem because of Aarons role in Chet Haegel. I dont love this answer because its a little harsh that their father’s actions were affected on them and it doesn’t really explain the consequences of their actions, just Aarons
ReplyDeleteAriella Vogel:
ReplyDeleteSiftei chachamim agree with Rashi and they that they were killed because they entered the sanctuary while intoxicated. Siftei chchamim also quotes bar kappara who says in the name of rabbi yirmeyah that they died for 4 reasons. 1) they came too close 2) for the offering they brought without being told to. 3) fort he strange fire from the beis HaKiraim (house of ovens) and 4) because they did not ask advice from one another.
I like this answer because it is simple and straightforward.
According to Rashbam when it says these words, it means that the fire from shamim case down to bunt the Koran on the mizbeach and it had no other intention but when it says Aarons's sons it consumed them because they were in the way of getting the Korban and so they died. I somewhat like this interpretation because its veery dramatic but it also makes the fire seem like it has a mind which I thought was weird
ReplyDeleteIs there anywhere else in the Torah that someone dies like this?
ReplyDeleteIn מלאכים ב׳: perek א, Aliyahu sends fire from the heavens on 50 people and the fire consumes them. Aliyahu does this in order to prove that he is a man of God. The malbim says that this fire was a fire that burned from far away. This is similar to the death of the children of Aaron because it is also a fire that consumed people when they were bad.
I like this connection because of how similar the scenarios really are.
What were Aharon’s sons punished for?
ReplyDeleteIn mishmar yesterday, the speaker suggested that they were punished for trying to be too close to Hashem. Some mepharshim explain that they were drunk while giving the Karolyn and that’s why they were punished but he pointed out that they were great teachers of the nation and it’s hard to believe they were do anything so obviously wrong. He suggested that what the did wrong was that they tried, in their enthusiasm for Hashemto give a karbon or add to the fire without asking their teacher, Moshe first. (This is als suggested by other mepharshim.) In that case, he suggested, it is possible to be “too close to Hashem.” Not literally, because we can’t be but maybe in what we say is ok because of religion that’s Hashem doesn’t really mean for it to be. Meaning, if we do things that aren’t allowed in the name of religion, it still isn’t allowed.
I like this answer because it’s hard to imagine that they did anything so obviously wrong like being drunk while serving Hashem and this makes more sense.
Rabbi Levi answers, the reason the sins of Arons sons recieved the harsh punishment of death was due to the fact that they were unmarried and childless. Many women waited, hoping to marry them, however the sons believed they were far superior then any Woman. They would say, 'Our uncle is King, our other uncle is a head of a tribe, our father is High Priest, we are his two assistants. What woman is worthy of us?'" (Midrash Rabbah 20:10). I like this answer because it shows the importance of modesty, and teaches us not to be self absorbed. Also, It's hard to accept that Hashem killed them simply because of a mistake they made so I like this answer because it reveals a different picture of Nadav and Avihu, showing that they were punished not only for their mistake, but also because of their conceited manner, making them unfit to become future leaders.
ReplyDelete