Derasha 38 on Vayikra 10:02

TT #38 · Parshas Shemini · Aliyah 3 · Passuk 2

The Complete Passuk

וַתֵּ֥צֵא אֵ֛שׁ מִלִּפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָ֖ה וַתֹּ֣אכַל אוֹתָ֑ם וַיָּמֻ֖תוּ לִפְנֵ֥י יְהֹוָֽה:

Chabad.org — Vayikra Chapter 10 with Rashi

Source Citation

Eruvin 63a.

E-Daf.com — Eruvin 63a (Tsurras Hadaf)

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text
וַיָּמֻתוּ. תַּנְיָא, רַבִּי אֱלִיעֶזֶר אוֹמֵר, לֹא מֵתוּ בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן עַד שֶׁהוֹרוּ הֲלָכָה לִפְנֵי מֹשֶׁה רַבָּן, וּמַאי דָּרְשׁוּ? וְנָתְנוּ בְּנֵי אַהֲרֹן אֵשׁ עַל הַמִּזְבֵּחַ, אָמְרוּ, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵשׁ יוֹרֶדֶת מִן הַשָּׁמַיִם מִצְוָה לְהָבִיא מִן הַהֶדְיוֹט.

English: “And they died.” Rabbi Eliezer teaches that the sons of Aharon did not die until they issued a halachic ruling before Moshe; they reasoned that even though heavenly fire descends, there is a mitzvah to bring fire from the human realm.

Type of Learning

Halachic derivation — the Chazal derives the teaching from the wording or structure of the verse.

What Is Learned

Rabbi Eliezer teaches that Nadav and Avihu did not die until they issued a ruling in the presence of Moses; their teaching concerned bringing fire from the human realm even though heavenly fire descends.