Midras Bilangan 17:11: Bamidbar Rabbah, Midrash Tanchuma, Midrash Tanchuma Buber & Pesikta Rabbati

“But do this for them, and they will live, and will not die upon their approaching the Holy of Holies. Aaron and his sons shall come and assign them, each man to his service and to his burden” (Numbers 4:19).
“But do this [vezot] for them, and they will live, and will not die….” “But do this for them,” just as it wrote “this [zot]” regarding Aaron, “with this [bezot] Aaron shall come…” (Leviticus 16:3), here, too, zot is written. Just as He instituted a remedy for Aaron, so He did for them: “And they will live and will not die.”
The Holy One blessed be He said to them: ‘Institute a remedy for the sons of Kehat so that they will live and will not die upon their approaching the Ark, as were it not for them, Israel would not survive.’ Why? It is because these four families, Gershon, Kehat, Merari, and Aaron and his sons, surround the Tent of Meeting. If Israel were sullied with a matter, and punishment came to emerge from the Tent of Metting due to the Divine Presence, immediately, the sons of Kehat, who were encamped near the Tent of Meeting, would stand and curb it, so it would not emerge against them. From where is it derived? From the verse: “The Levites shall encamp around the [Tabernacle of the testimony, and there shall not be rage against the congregation of the children of Israel]” (Numbers 1:53).
Rabbi Pinḥas HaKohen bar Ḥama said: If you do not derive it from here, you have from elsewhere to derive it. When Koraḥ came to dispute Moses, the angel of death came to emerge against Israel and to damage them. Had it emerged, it would have killed all of Israel. Moses was encamped near the Tent of Meeting, as he was a member of the sons of Kehat. He sensed that it sought to emerge against Israel. Immediately, he said to Aaron: ‘“Take the fire pan, and place fire upon it from on the altar…and atone for them” (Numbers 17:11). Quickly, with alacrity, hurry, why are you standing and dallying? “Go quickly to the congregation”’ (Numbers 17:11). Aaron said to him: ‘What have you seen?’ He said to him: ‘I saw the angel of death who emerged to afflict the enemies of Israel:¹²A euphemism for Israel. “For the rage has emerged from before the Lord”’ (Numbers 17:11). You learn that the Levites would curb the punishments, among them the sons of Kehat, who were the bearers of the Ark. The Holy One blessed be He said to them: ‘They suffer with Israel all this suffering, and you do not institute a remedy for them?’

(Lev. 8:2) “Take Aaron and his sons.” It is written (in Prov. 3:35), “The wise shall inherit glory, but fools take up shame.” This verse functioned from the beginning of the world until now. “The wise shall inherit glory.” This refers to Noah and his children. “But fools take up shame.” This refers to the generation of the flood. “The wise shall inherit glory. This refers to Shem of whom it is stated (in Gen. 9:26), “Blessed be the Lord, the God of Shem.” “But fools take up shame.” This refers to Ham of whom it is stated (in Gen. 9:25), “And he said, ‘Cursed be Canaan (the son of Ham).’” “The wise shall inherit glory.” This refers to Abraham. “But fools take up shame.” This refers to the kings whom he smote (in Gen. 14:15). “The wise shall inherit glory.” This refers to Isaac. “But fools take up shame.” These are the people of Gerar. “The wise shall inherit glory.” This refers to Jacob. “But fools take up shame.” This refers to Esau. “The wise shall inherit glory.” This refers to Joshua. “But fools take up shame.” These are the thirty-one kings whom he smote (according to Josh. 12:24). “The wise shall inherit glory.” This refers to David. “But fools take up shame.” This refers to Goliath. “The wise shall inherit glory.” This refers to Eli. “But fools take up shame.” These are his sons, of whom it is stated (in I Sam. 2:12), “Now Eli's sons were scoundrels.” “The wise shall inherit glory.” These are the sons of Aaron of whom it is stated (in Lev. 8:2), “Take Aaron and his sons….” Why is “take” mentioned here? The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses, “I am indebted in taking. Hence you are to arise and magnify him through taking.” And when did Aaron take (such that God was indebted to him for it)? When (in Numb. 17:11) wrath had gone forth upon ‘those who hate Israel’ (a euphemism for Israel), Moses said to him, “Why are you standing [here]? (At the beginning of the verse), ‘Take the fire pan, and put fire [from the altar] on it.’” Aaron said to him, “My Lord Moses, do you wish to kill me? Because my sons offered profane²⁶Hedyotut, from the Gk.: idioteia, i.e., “uncouthness.” fire to the Holy One, blessed be He, they were [destroyed by fire], as stated (in Lev. 10:1-2), ‘[Now Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu each took his fire pan…;] and they offered alien fire before the Lord…. So fire came forth from before the Lord and consumed them.’ Now you are saying, ‘Take the fire pan!’ My sons brought in strange fire and were destroyed by fire. So should I bring forth holy fire outside? Would I not die or be destroyed by fire?” Moses said to him, “Go and act quickly; for as you are talking, they are dying. Rather (according to Numb. 17:11, cont.), ‘Take it quickly unto the congregation and make atonement for them.’” When Aaron heard that, he said, “If I die for Israel, I would not be adequate (for such a great honor).” Immediately (in Numb. 17:12) “Aaron took it as Moses had said.” Therefore, the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses (in Lev. 8:2) “’Take Aaron.’ Magnify him through taking. Just as Aaron [is going to] save My children by taking, so you are to magnify him through taking.” Ergo (in Lev. 8:2:) “Take Aaron.”

Another interpretation (of Prov. 3:35): THE WISE SHALL INHERIT GLORY. This refers to Abraham. BUT FOOLS TAKE UP SHAME. This refers to the kings whom he smote (in Gen. 14:15). THE WISE SHALL INHERIT GLORY. This refers to Isaac. BUT FOOLS TAKE UP SHAME. These are the people of Gerar. THE WISE SHALL INHERIT GLORY. This refers to Jacob. BUT FOOLS TAKE UP SHAME. This refers to Esau and his chiefs. THE WISE SHALL INHERIT GLORY. This refers to Joshua. BUT FOOLS TAKE UP SHAME. These are the thirty-one kings whom he smote (according to Josh. 12:24). THE WISE SHALL INHERIT GLORY. This refers to David. BUT FOOLS TAKE UP SHAME. This refers to Goliath. THE WISE SHALL INHERIT GLORY. This refers to Eli. BUT FOOLS TAKE UP SHAME. These are his sons, of whom it is stated (in I Sam. 2:12): NOW ELI'S SONS WERE SCOUNDRELS. THE WISE SHALL INHERIT GLORY. These are the sons of Aaron, of whom it is stated (in Lev. 8:2): TAKE AARON AND HIS SONS…. Why is TAKE mentioned here? The Holy One said to Moses: I am duty-bound to taking. You are to arise and magnify him through taking. And when did he take Aaron? When (in Numb. 17:11 [16:46]) WRATH HAS GONE FORTH upon those who hate Israel. Moses said to him (at the beginning of the verse): TAKE THE FIRE PAN, AND PUT FIRE < FROM THE ALTAR > ON IT. Aaron said to him: My Lord Moses, do you wish to kill me? Because my sons offered profane⁴¹Hedyotut, from the Gk.: idioteia, i.e., “uncouthness.” fire to the Holy One, they were destroyed by fire, [as stated (in Lev. 10:1–2): < NOW AARON'S SONS, NADAB AND ABIHU EACH TOOK HIS FIRE PAN…; > AND THEY OFFERED ALIEN FIRE BEFORE THE LORD…. SO FIRE CAME FORTH FROM BEFORE THE LORD AND CONSUMED THEM.] Now you are saying: TAKE THE FIRE PAN! My sons brought in strange fire and were destroyed by fire. So should I bring forth holy fire outside? Then I would die or be destroyed by fire. Moses said to him: Go and act quickly; for as you are talking, they are dying. Rather (according to Numb. 17:11 [16:46], cont.) TAKE IT QUICKLY UNTO THE CONGREGATION AND MAKE ATONEMENT FOR THEM. When Aaron heard that, he said: If I die for Israel, am I not adequate? Immediately (in Numb. 17:12 [16:47]) AARON TOOK IT AS MOSES HAD SAID. Therefore, the Holy One said to Moses (in Lev. 8:2:) TAKE AARON. He magnified him through taking. Just as Aaron is going to save his children by taking, so you are to magnify him through taking. Ergo (in Lev. 8:2:) TAKE AARON.