וַיַּ֧עַל מַלְאַךְ־יְהוָ֛ה מִן־הַגִּלְגָּ֖ל אֶל־הַבֹּכִ֑ים (פ) וַיֹּאמֶר֩ אַעֲלֶ֨ה אֶתְכֶ֜ם מִמִּצְרַ֗יִם וָאָבִ֤יא אֶתְכֶם֙ אֶל־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֲשֶׁ֤ר נִשְׁבַּ֙עְתִּי֙ לַאֲבֹ֣תֵיכֶ֔ם וָאֹמַ֕ר לֹֽא־אָפֵ֧ר בְּרִיתִ֛י אִתְּכֶ֖ם לְעוֹלָֽם׃
און אַ מלאך פֿון גאָט איז אַרױפֿגעגאַנגען פֿון גִלגל קײן בוכים, און ער האָט געזאָגט: איך האָב אײַך אַרױפֿגעבראַכט פֿון מצרים, און האָב אײַך געבראַכט אין דעם לאַנד װאָס איך האָב צוגעשװאָרן אײַערע עלטערן; און איך האָב געזאָגט: איך װעל ניט פֿאַרשטערן מײַן בונד מיט אײַך אױףֿ אײביק;
Sefat Emet
It is found in the holy Zohar that the souls of Nadav and Avihu were transferred into Phinehas. For behold, it is written there (Leviticus 10:6), and your brothers, the entire House of Israel, are to weep over the burning, etc.. Yet we did not see explicitly that the House of Israel wept about the death of Nadav and Abihu. But it is possible that it hints to this story, as it is written, before the eyes of Moses, etc. the entire congregation of Israel, who were weeping (Numbers 25:6). As behold it is found that Nadav and Abihu said, "These two elders will still die and we will lead the community." So, without a doubt, they knew that they were prepared for the good of the Children of Israel after the leadership of our teacher Moses, peace be upon him, and Aaron. Yet behold now they would be lacking for the congregation. Hence [their souls] were not yet brought up heavenwards, since they needed to rectify this. So they were transferred into Phinehas, as this vengeance [of his] was specified for them. And based on this, Phinehas took their place as prophet to the Children of Israel after the death of our teacher Moses, peace be upon him. And it was about him that it was stated, And an angel of the Lord came up from Gilgal to Bokhim (Judges 2:1), as the sages, may their memory be blessed, have said.