Le Lévitique 9:23 Commentaire : Tze'enah Ure'enah, Rashi, Or HaChaim & Rashbam

“Moses and Aaron then went inside the Tent of Meeting” [9:23]. Here one asks a question. For what reason did Aaron go in with him? The explanation is that Moses taught him how to bring the incense. On the eighth day he taught him how to offer the incense. Another explanation is that Aaron had brought the sacrifices and incense and the fire did not come down from heaven. Aaron said to Moses: all of this is because of me, because of my sins at the Golden Calf. You, Moses, caused me to be embarrassed. Moses went immediately into the Tent of Meeting and prayed. The Shekhinah appeared and Moses and Aaron went out and were saying, “May the favor of the Lord” [Psalms, 90:17], that the Holy One should cause the Shekhinah to rest on Israel. However, the whole seven days that Moses brought the sacrifices the Shekhinah did not appear. The Israelites were ashamed and said to Moses. We have exerted ourselves greatly so that the Shekhinah should appear to us, so that we should know that the sin of the Golden Calf has been forgiven for us. Moses responded: my brother Aaron is worthy that through him the Shekhinah will appear. With this you will know that the Holy One has chosen Aaron to be the high priest. Thus, the Shekhinah appeared and a fire came down from heaven and burned the sacrifices and burned them completely. The Israelites praised the Holy One and fell on their faces out of great fear.⁷Rashi, Leviticus, 9:23.

Bahya writes that the fire that came to burn the sacrifices remained and was not extinguished the whole time that the Temple stood, until the days of King Solomon, of blessed memory. We find twelve times fire came down from heaven on the earth. Six times the fire came for good to burn the sacrifices. Six times the fire came for evil and to punish the people. The first fire was now. It came to burn the sacrifices in the Tabernacle. The second fire came in the days of Gideon. He desired a sign from the Holy One. He slaughtered a kid and a fire came from a rock and burned the kid. The third fire came from heaven in the days of Manoah, when the angel came to his wife. Manoah took a kid and slaughtered it. A fire came on the altar and reached to heaven. The fourth fire came from heaven in the days of David. A pestilence came upon the people. David bought a threshing floor to bring sacrifices. He brought the sacrifices and a fire came down from heaven to receive his sacrifices. The fifth fire came down from heaven in the days of King Solomon. He finished building the Temple, and when he brought sacrifices a fire came down from heaven and burned the sacrifices. One asks a question. Why did fire come down in the days of Solomon? There was still fire on the altar from the days of Moses that was not extinguished, even to the days of Solomon. The explanation is that King Solomon brought many sacrifices on the copper altar that was from Moses. It could not accept all of Solomon’s sacrifices. Therefore, Solomon had to sanctify the courtyard in front of the Temple in order to bring all of his sacrifices. He made a dedication of the altar on that day. One was not supposed to take the fire of the altar outside the sanctuary and a strange fire was not supposed to be brought to any altar. Therefore, the Holy One had to send fire from heaven. The sixth fire came from heaven in the days of Elijah, who warred with the false prophets. Elijah asked God that He should send a great fire, since he had poured much water on the altar. Therefore, much fire had to come to also burn the water. These are the six fires that were for evil. The first was that Nadav and Avihu were burned. The second fire was when the Israelites were angry with Moses in the desert and a fire came and burned the important leaders. The third fire came when Korah argued with Moses and it burned two hundred and fifty men. The fourth fire came in the days of Job and burned all of his houses. The fifth and sixth fires were through Elijah. Two fires came in his days and burned his enemies.⁸Bahya, Leviticus, 9:24.

ויבא משה ואהרן AND MOSES AND AARON CAME, etc. — Wherefore did they now enter the Tabernacle? I have found the following in the “Mechilta d’Miluim,” in the Boraitha that is appended to our Torath Cohanim (Sifra): Wherefore did Moses enter with Aaron? To instruct him regarding the incense ceremony. Or it may be that he entered for some other reason?! See, I draw a conclusion: the descent from the altar and the entry into the tent of meeting both required to be accompanied by a benediction, as stated in vv. 22 and 23 (and consequently both were, in a measure, of similar character). Now what was the descent from the altar? It was of the nature (it look place in connection with) a sacrificial act! So, also, the entry into the tent took place in connection with a sacrificial act! Thus you may learn: Why did Moses enter with Aaron? To instruct him regarding the incense ceremony which was the only rite performed on that day within the tent! (Cf. Talmud Yerushalmi Taanit 4). Another explanation is: When Aaron perceived that all the sacrifices had been offered and all the rites performed, and yet the Shechinah had not descended for Israel, since the heavenly fire had not fallen to consume the sacrifice, he was uneasy in mind and said: I feel certain that the Holy One, blessed be He, is angry with me and that it is on my account that the Shechinah has not descended for Israel. He therefore said to Moses: “My brother Moses! Do you act thus with me: you know that I have entered into this matter at your bidding and yet I have been put to shame! Moses at once entered the tent with him and they offered prayer and the Shechinah descended for Israel (Sifra, Shemini, Mechilta d'Miluim 2 18).