Tafsiran Imamat 8:35: Tze'enah Ure'enah, Rashi, Ramban & Sforno

“You shall remain at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting day and night for seven days” [8:35]. That is to say, when he performs the service, he should be warned that he should not go out from the service. However, one should not understand that he should remain for the full seven days and nights. This is not possible; the person must eat. The Midrash says that the Holy One commanded to engage in mourning for seven days for the deaths of Nadav and Avihu. The Holy One commanded similarly concerning the Flood. He commanded mourning for the Flood that the whole world would be destroyed. Here one asks a question. Why does one engage in mourning before there is a deceased person? The explanation is that a person does not know when he will have to mourn. He must wait until there will be a deceased person. However, the Holy One knows well what will be and when there will be a deceased person. Therefore, the Holy One commanded in advance to engage in mourning for seven days before Nadav and Avihu died.¹²Bahya, Leviticus, 8:35.

It is said in this Torah portion that the Tabernacle was erected on the twentythird day of Adar. Moses did the service for a full seven days. On the eighth day the Shekhinah came and rested on the Tabernacle. This was on the first day of Nisan and they brought a sin offering to atone for the altar and to sanctify the altar with it. Afterwards, they brought a burnt offering to permit the priests [to serve]. Then they also brought peace offerings to praise the Holy One.

ולא תמותו [THEREFORE SHALL YE ABIDE AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE APPOINTED TENT DAY AND NIGHT. SEVEN DAYS] … THAT YE DIE NOT — Consequently if you will not do thus, you become liable to the death penalty.