(unclear! many possible interpretations!)
(א) וַיְהִי֙ בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁמִינִ֔י קָרָ֣א מֹשֶׁ֔ה לְאַהֲרֹ֖ן וּלְבָנָ֑יו וּלְזִקְנֵ֖י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (ב) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֗ן קַח־לְ֠ךָ֠ עֵ֣גֶל בֶּן־בָּקָ֧ר לְחַטָּ֛את וְאַ֥יִל לְעֹלָ֖ה תְּמִימִ֑ם...
...(ח) וַיִּקְרַ֥ב אַהֲרֹ֖ן אֶל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֑חַ וַיִּשְׁחַ֛ט אֶת־עֵ֥גֶל הַחַטָּ֖את אֲשֶׁר־לֽוֹ׃..(כב) וַיִּשָּׂ֨א אַהֲרֹ֧ן אֶת־יָדָ֛ו אֶל־הָעָ֖ם וַֽיְבָרְכֵ֑ם וַיֵּ֗רֶד מֵעֲשֹׂ֧ת הַֽחַטָּ֛את וְהָעֹלָ֖ה וְהַשְּׁלָמִֽים׃ (כג) וַיָּבֹ֨א מֹשֶׁ֤ה וְאַהֲרֹן֙ אֶל־אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד וַיֵּ֣צְא֔וּ וַֽיְבָרְכ֖וּ אֶת־הָעָ֑ם וַיֵּרָ֥א כְבוֹד־ה' אֶל־כׇּל־הָעָֽם׃ (כד) וַתֵּ֤צֵא אֵשׁ֙ מִלִּפְנֵ֣י ה' וַתֹּ֙אכַל֙ עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ אֶת־הָעֹלָ֖ה וְאֶת־הַחֲלָבִ֑ים וַיַּ֤רְא כׇּל־הָעָם֙ וַיָּרֹ֔נּוּ וַֽיִּפְּל֖וּ עַל־פְּנֵיהֶֽם׃
(א) וַיִּקְח֣וּ בְנֵֽי־אַ֠הֲרֹ֠ן נָדָ֨ב וַאֲבִיה֜וּא אִ֣ישׁ מַחְתָּת֗וֹ וַיִּתְּנ֤וּ בָהֵן֙ אֵ֔שׁ וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ עָלֶ֖יהָ קְטֹ֑רֶת וַיַּקְרִ֜יבוּ לִפְנֵ֤י ה' אֵ֣שׁ זָרָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹ֦א צִוָּ֖ה אֹתָֽם׃ (ב) וַתֵּ֥צֵא אֵ֛שׁ מִלִּפְנֵ֥י ה' וַתֹּ֣אכַל אוֹתָ֑ם וַיָּמֻ֖תוּ לִפְנֵ֥י ה'׃ (ג) וַיֹּ֨אמֶר מֹשֶׁ֜ה אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֗ן הוּא֩ אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֨ר ה' ׀ לֵאמֹר֙ בִּקְרֹבַ֣י אֶקָּדֵ֔שׁ וְעַל־פְּנֵ֥י כׇל־הָעָ֖ם אֶכָּבֵ֑ד וַיִּדֹּ֖ם אַהֲרֹֽן׃
(ד) וַיִּקְרָ֣א מֹשֶׁ֗ה אֶל־מִֽישָׁאֵל֙ וְאֶ֣ל אֶלְצָפָ֔ן בְּנֵ֥י עֻזִּיאֵ֖ל דֹּ֣ד אַהֲרֹ֑ן וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֲלֵהֶ֗ם קִ֞֠רְב֞֠וּ שְׂא֤וּ אֶת־אֲחֵיכֶם֙ מֵאֵ֣ת פְּנֵי־הַקֹּ֔דֶשׁ אֶל־מִח֖וּץ לַֽמַּחֲנֶֽה׃ (ה) וַֽיִּקְרְב֗וּ וַיִּשָּׂאֻם֙ בְּכֻתֳּנֹתָ֔ם אֶל־מִח֖וּץ לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֑ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֖ר דִּבֶּ֥ר מֹשֶֽׁה׃
(1) On the eighth day Moses called Aaron and his sons, and the elders of Israel. (2) He said to Aaron: “Take a calf of the herd for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering...
...(8) Aaron came forward to the altar and slaughtered his calf of sin offering...(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 `ה appeared to all the people. (24) Fire came forth from before `ה and consumed the burnt offering and the fat parts on the altar. And all the people saw, and shouted, and fell on their faces.
(1) Now Aaron’s sons Nadav and Avihu each took his fire pan, put fire in it, and laid incense on it; and they offered before `ה alien fire, which had not been enjoined upon them. (2) And fire came forth from `ה and consumed them; thus they died at the instance of `ה.
(3)Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what `ה meant by saying: "Through those near to Me I show Myself holy, And gain glory before all the people." And Aaron was silent.
(4) Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, “Come forward and carry your kinsmen away from the front of the sanctuary to a place outside the camp.” (5) They came forward and carried them out of the camp by their tunics, as Moses had ordered.
Looking to explain Nadav and Avihu's deaths, the ancient rabbis brought other verses to provide possible context:
-were they drunk? (Lev 10:9 below)
-were they in the holy of holies without pants? (Ex 28:42-45 below)
-had they failed to wash? (Ex 30: 20-21 below)
(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,
(42) You shall also make for them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; they shall extend from the hips to the thighs. (43) They shall be worn by Aaron and his sons when they enter the Tent of Meeting or when they approach the altar to officiate in the sanctuary, so that they do not incur punishment and die. It shall be a law for all time for him and for his offspring to come.
(20) When they enter the Tent of Meeting they shall wash with water, that they may not die; or when they approach the altar to serve, to turn into smoke an offering by fire to ה', (21) they shall wash their hands and feet, that they may not die. It shall be a law for all time for them—for him and his offspring—throughout the ages.
-Leviticus contains technical instructions for the Priests
-G-d as an overwhelming force, analogous to nuclear energy
-Priests as skilled technicians who must carefully follow the manual
-Nadav and Avihu - unskilled and messing with a deadly force
-an image of a G-d who isn't relational, doesn't recognize individual humans
-G-d is not perceiving wrong and punishing;
-rather, G-d is simply reacting on an emotionless physical/chemical basis
Compare wording of Lev 9:24 and Lev 10:2 (below)
(כד) וַתֵּ֤צֵא אֵשׁ֙ מִלִּפְנֵ֣י ה' וַתֹּ֙אכַל֙ עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֔חַ אֶת־הָעֹלָ֖ה וְאֶת־הַחֲלָבִ֑ים וַיַּ֤רְא כׇּל־הָעָם֙ וַיָּרֹ֔נּוּ וַֽיִּפְּל֖וּ עַל־פְּנֵיהֶֽם׃
(24) Fire came forth from before `ה and consumed the burnt offering and the fat parts on the altar. And all the people saw, and shouted, and fell on their faces.
(ב) וַתֵּ֥צֵא אֵ֛שׁ מִלִּפְנֵ֥י ה' וַתֹּ֣אכַל אוֹתָ֑ם וַיָּמֻ֖תוּ לִפְנֵ֥י ה'׃
(2) And fire came forth from `ה and consumed them; thus they died before `ה.
-they were not authorized (Lev 10:1 below)
-they didn't consult - not with Moses, Aaron, not even with each other (Lev 10:1 below)
-they had the audacity to stare at G-d earlier on, their delayed punishment caught up with them (Ex 24:9-11 below) // (Rashi on Ex 24:10 below)
-Nadav and Avihu were punished for being ruthlessly eager for the demise of Moses and Aaron (Sifra, Shemini, Mechilta d'Miluim 2:21 below)
(א) וַיִּקְח֣וּ בְנֵֽי־אַ֠הֲרֹ֠ן נָדָ֨ב וַאֲבִיה֜וּא אִ֣ישׁ מַחְתָּת֗וֹ וַיִּתְּנ֤וּ בָהֵן֙ אֵ֔שׁ וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ עָלֶ֖יהָ קְטֹ֑רֶת וַיַּקְרִ֜יבוּ לִפְנֵ֤י ה' אֵ֣שׁ זָרָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹ֦א צִוָּ֖ה אֹתָֽם׃
(1) Now Aaron’s sons Nadav and Avihu each took his fire pan, put fire in it, and laid incense on it; and they offered before ה' alien fire, of which G-d had not commanded them.
They saw [a vision of] the God of Yisrael. They intentionally looked and intently gazed and thereby became liable to death. But God did not want to disturb the joy [of the receiving] of the Torah and therefore waited to punish Nadav and Avihu until the day that the Mishkan was dedicated. As for the elders [He waited] until: “The people were as complainers, etc. and a fire from God burnt among them and consumed בִּקְצֵה of the camp,” [בִּקְצֵה meaning] the leaders of the camp.
(כא) [כא] באותה שעה קפצה פרענות על נדב ואביהוא. ויש אומרים מסיני נטלו את שלהם; כיון שראו את משה ואת אהרן שהיו מהלכים תחלה, והם באים אחריהם, וכל ישראל אחריהם – אמר לו נדב לאביהו "עוד שני זקנים הללו מתים ואנו ננהוג את הקהל". אמר הקב"ה "מי קובר את מי? הם קוברים אתכם ויהיו הם מנהיגים את הקהל".
(21) 21) At that time destruction "sprang upon" Nadav and Avihu. Others say: It accrued to them from Sinai. They saw Moses and Aaron going first, themselves going after them, and all of Israel after them — whereupon Nadav said to Avihu: Soon these two old ones will die and we will lead the congregation — at which the Holy One Blessed be He said: We shall see who shall bury whom. They will bury you, and they will lead the congregation!
-Nadav and Avihu drew [too] close to G-d (Or ha Chaim // Rashi below)
-meanings of their names [Nadav = generous, volunteering] [Avihu = G-d is my father]
-their ascetic zeal was not compatible with mortal human life (Philo below)
-they rejoiced and were righteous (Sifra, Shemini, Mechilta d'Miluim 2:20 below)
(א) וידבר ה' וגו'. צריך לדעת מה נאמר לו בדיבור זה. ב' לאיזה ענין ישמיענו הכתוב היות דיבור זה אחרי מות, מה לי אחר מה לי קודם. ג' למה הוצרך למור בקרבתם וגו', אם להודיע שמתו בשביל שנתקרבו לפני ה', הלא כבר הודיע הדבר במקומו (לעיל י יא) ויקריבו אש זרה וגו', ושם הוא יותר מפורש הדבר ומה שכתוב כאן בקרבתם, שאין ידוע מה הוא העון שעשו בקריבה זו שעליה מתו. ד' אומרו וימותו מיותרת אחר שהתחיל לומר אחרי מות בקרבתם וגו'. ה' אומרו וימותו בתוספת וא''ו:
ונראה שכוונת הכתוב הוא שבא הקב''ה להזהיר את משה שלא יחשוב בדעתו כי לצד שהוא יותר קרוב למלכות שמים ובכל ביתו של המקום נאמן הוא ויכול ליכנם אל הקודש פנימה, והגם שיצו ה' על אהרן לא יתחייב הדבר שגם משה בכלל, כי גדול משה דכתיב (במדבר יב) אם יהיה נביאכם ה' וגו' לא כן עבדי משה, אשר על כן דבר ה' אל משה, והוא אומרו וידבר ה' אל משה פירוש אליו בא המצוה, ואמר לו סמוך למיתת ב' בני אהרן דיבור זה בקרבתם לפני ה' וימותו, פירוש הגם היותם בני אהרן ובתוספת מרובה היותם קרובים לפני ה' כמו שדרשו ז''ל (ויק''ר הי''ב) בפסוק בקרובי אקדש אף על פי כן לא חמל עליהם וימותו, הא למדת שלא יועיל היות האדם כל כך קרוב לה' כדי שיפרוץ גדר ליכנס לקודש פנימה:
עוד נראה לומר שנתכוון באומרו בקרבתם על זה הדרך בהיותם יותר קרובים לה' מכל, הא למדת שאין קרובים מהם, שאם היה משה קרוב מהם היה הדבר נעשה בו כמו שאמר לו ה' (לעיל ג') בקרובי אקדש...
It appears that main purpose of the text is that the Holy One of Blessing comes to warn Moshe that he should not think on the side that he is closer to the Heavenly Kingdom and that he is trustworthy in all the house of the Place, and that he can come to the Inner Sacredness, and also regarding Aharon it is clear that Moshe is in another league, since Moshe is great, as it is written "if a prophet of Ad-nai arises among you [I make Myself known to him in a vision, I speak with him in a dream ... not so My servant Moshe, he is trusted throughout My household.] (Shemot/Num. 12:6-7) and so it says 'G-d spoke to Moshe', meaning, through him came this mitzvah, and close to the death of the two sons of Aharon 'as they approached G-d and died' - meaning, they were not only sons of Aharon, but also added that they were close to G-d, as the sages explain regarding the verse 'among the ones close to Me I will show Myself holy' - and even despite those (two characteristics) He didn't have pity on them, 'and they died'. Behold, you've learned that there is no benefit for a person to be so close to G-d that the boundary will be broken and they enter the Inner Sacredness.
(3) Another aspect of the word בקרבתם may be that these people were closer to G'd than anyone. Had Moses been closer to G'd than Nadav and Avihu, G'd should have demonstrated the lesson of בקרובי אקדש by punishing Moses for some minor infraction he was guilty of. If G'd chose Nadav and Avihu instead to demonstrate this principle, they must have been the people closest to G'd at that time...
(1) 'וגו 'הוא אשר דבר ה THIS IS WHAT THE LORD SPOKE, etc. — 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). Moses here said to Aaron: “My brother, Aaron! I knew that this House was to be sanctified by those who are beloved of the Omnipresent G-d and I thought it would be either through me or through thee; now I see that these (thy sons who have died) are greater than me and than thee!” (Leviticus Rabbah 12 2).
But Moses will not allow the sacred reasonings about Nadav to be bewailed; [Lev 10:6] for they have not been carried off by a savage beast, but have been taken up by unextinguishable violence and imperishable light; because, having discarded all fear and hesitation, they had duly consecrated the fervent and fiery zeal, consuming the flesh, and very easily and vehemently excited towards piety, which is unconnected with creation, but is akin to G-d, not going up to the altar by the regular steps, for that was forbidden by law, but proceeding rapidly onwards with a favorable gale, and being conducted up even to the threshold of heaven, becoming dissolved into ethereal beams like a whole burnt-offering.
(כ) [כ] "ותצא אש מלפני ה'". כיון שראו אש חדשה שירדה משמי מרום ולחכה על המזבח את העולה ואת החלבים – פתחו פיהם ואמרו שירה. ועל אותה שעה הוא אומר (תהלים לג, א) "רננו צדיקים בה' לישרים נאוה תהלה".
(20) 20) (Vayikra 9:24): "And a fire came forth from before the L–rd": When they saw a new fire descending from on high and lapping up upon the altar the burnt-offering and the fats, they opened up their mouths in song. And of that moment it is written (Tehillim 33:1): "Sing joyfully, you righteous ones, in the L–rd. Praise (of the L–rd) becomes the just."