perek yud pusuk aleph and bet- Nadav and Abihu sinned and were killed by hashem.
וַיִּקְח֣וּ בְנֵי־אַֽ֠הֲרֹ֠ן נָדָ֨ב וַֽאֲבִיה֜וּא אִ֣ישׁ מַחְתָּת֗וֹ וַיִּתְּנ֤וּ בָהֵן֙ אֵ֔שׁ וַיָּשִׂ֥ימוּ עָלֶ֖יהָ קְטֹ֑רֶת וַיַּקְרִ֜יבוּ לִפְנֵ֤י יְהֹוָה֙ אֵ֣שׁ זָרָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֧ר לֹ֦א צִוָּ֖ה אֹתָֽם:
And Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, each took his pan, put fire in them, and placed incense upon it, and they brought before the Lord foreign fire, which He had not commanded them.
וַתֵּ֥צֵא אֵ֛שׁ מִלִּפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה וַתֹּ֣אכַל אוֹתָ֑ם וַיָּמֻ֖תוּ לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:
And fire went forth from before the Lord and consumed them, and they died before the Lord.
what was their sin?
Rashi says that Rabbi Yishmaeal says that they were drunk when they went into the mikdash.
Q: What are other reasons to what their sin was? What did they do wrong?
The Ibn Ezra says that they thought it was an acceptable thing to do and that Hashem would accept it. I think that they shouldve realized that this isnt something that they shouldve done and asked before if they didnt know if it was ok, and thats ultimately why they were punished.
ReplyDelete-Meira Book
Chizkuni says that they took incense from the table and that is why the word זרה or "alien" is used because incense without fire cannot happen and they stole incense and brought it as an offering when they weren't supposed to.
ReplyDeleteAriella Rosencrantz
ReplyDeleteRabbi Levi explains they got such a harsh punishment because they were very self-absorbed and egotistical. Many women wanted and waited to marry them. The sons did not want to marry any of them as they thought they were too good for them. They thought they were so great and said '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 think this makes sense as the punishment as they served no good to be future leaders of Bnei Yisroel. I think if they made a mistake but held greatness in their future they would not be punished as harshly.
Source: https://www.aish.com/tp/i/moha/48923142.html
The seforno says that their sin was that they were not asked to bring it and in addition did not ask Moshe. The fact that they weren’t commanded and didn’t think to ask for Moshe’s opinion before they did anything, led to their punishment. I think that this makes sense because they brought something that was not asked for.
ReplyDeleteThe Abarbanel says his heart became like an inanimate (domem) rock, and he did not raise his voice in crying or eulogy, as would a father for [his] children; he also did not accept condolences from Moshe. Their lack of empathy and human decancy is why the were punished so harshly. I think this answer is a nice approach, because it shows the value of the simple mitzvah of being a kind person.
ReplyDeleteShadal says that their sin was due to Nadav and Avihu's disrespect and inappropriate haughtiness by being unable to accept their position as Aharon's assistants and thinking they were of equal level to their father. Instead of just helping him like their other brothers did, Nadav and Avihu brought an offering too because they thought too highly of themselves to just assist. I think this answer fits really well with the context and makes a lot of sense since it is based completely off pshat.
ReplyDeleteMiriam Hoffmann
ReplyDeleteIn Bamidmar 3:4, when the death of Nadav and Avihu is remembered and talked about, the Pasoke notes that they had no sons—so maybe they were killed for failing to perform the mitzvah of having children.
I very much disagree with this answer. This answer takes away the possibility of doing what your supposed to do. So they are supposed to have children and they currently don’t so this would mean that instead of giving them a sign or more time in order to do what was right they were just killed and that opportunity to do the right thing is now gone. It just doesn't make much sense.
https://thetorah.com/nadav-and-avihu-mysterious-transgression-or-deity/
According to Nechama Leibowitz, the sin of Nadav and Avihu was not the actual act of bringing the fire and incense, but the fact that they thought they could determine the proper manner to worship Hashem. They completely disregarded the fact that Hashem did not command them to bring this fire and incense.
ReplyDeleteI like this idea because it teaches a lesson of the importance of listening to Hashem, and not just worshiping Hashem however one might please. It reminds people to not come up with their own ideas of how to “ worship Hashem properly”
Source: yutorah.org
According to the Daat Zkenim, their sin was that the did not act appropriately and used a manmade fire into the מזבח. This is a problem because it’s belittling the fact that ה׳ made a fire for that it that never goes out! It’s a miracle, and they disrespected it by putting their own fire there. In addition, the Jews would always know that ה׳ would accept their offerings because it was His fire, but if it was a man made fire, then that would confuse everyone and make it less clear if ה׳ actually accepted their offerings.
ReplyDeleteHowever, some disagree with this answer and say it makes no sense because ה׳ fire would come down and accept the offerings, so how could it possibly be belittled? That doesn’t make sense.
According to a Gemara, they died because they made halachic decisions without first consulting the halachic leaders.
I think that ultimately this is a fine answer, and it makes logical sense. I also think that the first answer does not really make sense, because people will obviously be able to tell that ה׳ is accepting their offerings, so the reasoning does not hold up. I am glad it was rejected.
-Naomi Kutin
Nadav and Avihu l brought a firepan with fire and incense into thr Kodesh Hakadashim without knowing about the other. When they saw each other, they didn’t know what to do because its improper for two people to offer incense, and one of them would end up punished. As a result they threw all the incense into one pan to avoid getting punished. Despite this, they were still punished because the insence was still brought needlessy.
ReplyDeleteMidrash Leviticus Rabbah says it’s possible the two men were intoxicated while performing duties, or they let their hair down (moshe said this wasn’t allowed). It’s also noted after their death they had no sons, so the Midrash suggest they may have failed to complete the mitzvah of gathering children.
ReplyDeleteThis is a pretty simple interpretation but it could make sense. They definitely sinned.
Aish says that their sin was that they were unmarried. The fact that they had no children was their sin. I don’t think I like this opinion because it’s not nessisariky their fault.
ReplyDeleteMeira Baum
ReplyDeleteRashbam says that they brought a strange fire. Ie. They were never told to bring a fire and even if they meant well they werent allowed to make up their own service. I like this answer because it makes it really clear the blame was completely on them.
Torah.org says the story of Nadav and Avihu begins way back in time, at least it does for their souls. And, even though Kayin was the first murderer ever, and, as evil and selfish as he seems to have been, still, there was a “good side” to him, and that went to Nadav and Avihu. this is why they were killed, it wasn’t just for one reason.
ReplyDeleteAbby P