Why Were Nadav and Avihu Killed/1/en
Why Were Nadav and Avihu Killed?
Introduction
Parashat Shemini opens with a description of the eighth day of the Tabernacle's consecration. As the service is completed and Hashem's glory descends, the climactic moment is marred by the tragic deaths of Nadav and Avihu:
(א) וַיִּקְחוּ בְנֵי אַהֲרֹן נָדָב וַאֲבִיהוּא אִישׁ מַחְתָּתוֹ וַיִּתְּנוּ בָהֵן אֵשׁ וַיָּשִׂימוּ עָלֶיהָ קְטֹרֶת וַיַּקְרִיבוּ לִפְנֵי י"י אֵשׁ זָרָה אֲשֶׁר לֹא צִוָּה אֹתָם. (ב) וַתֵּצֵא אֵשׁ מִלִּפְנֵי י"י וַתֹּאכַל אוֹתָם וַיָּמֻתוּ לִפְנֵי י"י. (ג) וַיֹּאמֶר מֹשֶׁה אֶל אַהֲרֹן הוּא אֲשֶׁר דִּבֶּר י"י לֵאמֹר בִּקְרֹבַי אֶקָּדֵשׁ וְעַל פְּנֵי כׇל הָעָם אֶכָּבֵד וַיִּדֹּם אַהֲרֹן.
(1) And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took each of them his censer, and put fire therein, and laid incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. (2) And there came forth fire from before the Lord, and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. (3) Then Moses said unto Aaron: 'This is it that the Lord spoke, saying: Through them that are nigh unto Me I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.' And Aaron held his peace.
