Commentaire de citation sur Le Lévitique 9:24

put fire in it this fire was not taken from the fire that had descended from God [9:24] — it was “unconsecrated fire”.

The seventh question: We see that the sanctification of the Sanctuary and Altar was effected by the descent of fire from Heaven upon the Altar, which consumed the offerings. The people saw and shouted and fell on their faces (cf. Leviticus 9:24). A similar passage appears in connection with Solomon's Temple: "When Solomon finished praying, fire descended from heaven and consumed the burnt offering and the sacrifices... All the Israelites witnessed the descent of the fire and the glory of the Lord on the House; they knelt with their faces to the ground and prostrated themselves, praising the Lord, 'For He is good, for His steadfast love is eternal.'" (2 Chronicles 7:1-3). So in the days of Elijah the sanctification of God was effected by fire: "...the god who responds with fire, that one is God." (1 Kings 18:24). Therefore, it is appropriate to ask, why was the divine sanctification effected by fire and not by water or something else?

And strange fire went out from before God and consumed them This is the same fire from and fire went out from before God and consumed on the altar (Vayikra 9:24 - the preceding verse) as it is said in Sifrei Zuta, and so explains the Rambam: that the fire didn't descend specifically to kill Nadav and Avihu. It was just that they weren't careful not to enter at that moment, and when the fire descended it killed them, and it was like an accident. But regardless, they sinned, since they should have paid attention to this since on that day they shouldn't have brought fire of their own accord, even though on other days this was one of their duties to bring it, as it is said above And the sons of Aharon the Priest put fire on the altar (Vayikra 1:7). And so said the Holy Blessed One: "In My close ones I will be made holy" (Vayikra 10:3) - for those who are accustomed to come near Them need to be careful and separated, so that they do not act out of custom, as it says in Yeshayahu 29:13, "[their fear of Me is like] the commandment of men learned by rote". And this is as it says in Sanhedrin 52a, "burning the soul but the body remains [intact]". Measure for measure, for Nadav and Avihu acted seemingly according to halacha, only they didn't pay attention to what the Holy Blessed One required of them at that moment. For this reason, they were burnt within (the seat of the intellect and reason), and their bodies remained externally whole.

Most handsome. For You overlooked my transgressions and caused Your Shechinah to rest in our midst. This is the praise⁶¹By Yisroel to God. of the descent of the fire, “and all the people saw and shouted for joy.”⁶²Vayikra 9:24.