מדרש אויף במדבר 3:4

Another interpretation (of Eccl. 7:1): A GOOD NAME IS BETTER THAN GOOD OIL. The Names of Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were <better> than the good oil with which Nadab and Abihu were anointed.⁴Exod. 29:41. Why? The children of Aaron went in to sacrifice and were burned;⁵Lev. 10:1–2; Numb. 3:4; 26:61. Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah were thrown into the midst of a fiery furnace and were saved.⁶Dan. 1:6–7; 3:8–26. Ergo (in Eccl. 7:1): A GOOD NAME.

[(Eccl. 8:5:) WHOEVER OBSERVES A COMMANDMENT SHALL NOT KNOW ANYTHING EVIL.] This is Moses, to whom the Holy One had already said (in Exod. 29:43): AND THERE I WILL MEET WITH THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AND THERE SHALL BE SANCTIFICATION³This translation leaves in doubt who or what is sanctified. A more traditional translation would read: IT (i.e., the door of the Tabernacle) SHALL BE SANCTIFIED. THROUGH MY GLORY. < In other words, > I (the Holy One) will be sanctified there THROUGH MY GLORY. Now Moses ministered during the seven days of priestly ordination but was afraid, saying: Perhaps divine judgment will strike him (i.e., Aaron). Thus it is stated (ibid.): AND THERE SHALL BE SANCTIFICATION THROUGH MY GLORY. Still he did not act but said to Aaron: Observe seven days of mourning, for so the Holy One has told me (in Lev. 8:35): FOR SO I HAVE BEEN COMMANDED. When they had observed the seven days of mourning and < when > the eighth day had come, Nadab and Abihu went in to make an offering (rt.: QRB). Divine judgment struck them, and they were destroyed by fire. It is so stated (in Lev. 10:2): SO FIRE CAME FORTH FROM BEFORE THE LORD AND CONSUMED THEM, SO THAT THEY DIED BEFORE THE LORD. Moses came and said to Aaron (in Lev. 10:3): THIS IS WHAT THE LORD SPOKE: THROUGH THOSE WHO ARE NEAR (rt.: QRB) TO ME I WILL BE SANCTIFIED. Where did he speak? In the Sinai desert. (Exod. 29:43): AND THERE I WILL MEET WITH THE CHILDREN OFISRAEL, AND THERE SHALL BE SANCTIFICATION THROUGH MY GLORY. Ergo (in Eccl. 8:5:) WHOEVER OBSERVES A COMMANDMENT SHALL NOT KNOW ANYTHING EVIL….

“Nadav and Avihu died before the Lord when they offered alien fire before the Lord in the wilderness of Sinai, and they had no children. Elazar and Itamar served as priests in the presence of Aaron, their father” (Numbers 3:4).
“Nadav and Avihu died before the Lord.” In several places, the death of Nadav and Avihu is written: It teaches that there was sadness before the Omnipresent in their regard, as Aaron’s sons were beloved. Likewise it says: “I will be sanctified through those who are near to Me” (Leviticus 10:3).
“When they offered alien fire,” Rabbi Akiva says: They died due to the offering, as it is stated: “When they offered alien fire.” Rabbi Yosei says: They died due to drawing near,⁴⁶They entered the Holy of Holies. as it is stated: “When they drew near before the Lord” (Leviticus 16:1). Rabbi Elazar says: It was also due to drawing near.
“An alien fire,” neither from the daily afternoon offering nor from the daily morning offering, but rather, lay fire,⁴⁷As opposed to a holy fire. as it is stated: “An alien fire.”
Bar Kappara says in the name of Rabbi Yirmeya bar Rabbi Elazar: Due to four factors Aaron’s sons died: Due to drawing near, due to the offering, due to alien fire…VaYikra Rabba, in Parashat Aḥarei Mot until “Many young donkeys have died and their hides have been spread over their mothers>.”⁴⁸VaYikra Rabba 20:8–10.