Bearing in mind that the Chalavim were placed on top of the Olah, why did the Heavenly fire burn the Olah first?
Oznayim la'Torah: The Heavenly fire came down on to the Mizbe'ach underneath the Olah (miraculously) and burnt first the Olah and them the Chalavim. 1
Oznayim la'Torah: Just as it did later following the Binyan Beis-Hamikdash of Shlomoh.
What is the meaning of "Va'yaronu"?
Rashi and Targum Onkelos: It means 'and they praised (Hashem)'.
Targum Yonasan: It means 'and they thanked (Hashem)'. 1
Sifra: 'They opened their mouths and sang Shirah'. 2
For responding to their request or for pardoning their sin (of the Golden Calf) and resting his Shechinah among them (Rashi in Shir ha'Shirim - though he translates "Vayaronu" as 'and they praised', as he does here.
See Oznayim la'Torah who discusses whether they sang Shirah first and then prostrated themselves ? as implied by the Pasuk - or vice-versa.
What is the sequence of this Pasuk and the following two Pesukim?
Rashbam: After Moshe and Aharon entered the Ohel Mo'ed to pray, the fire descended and proceeded to burn the Ketores on the Mizbe'ach ha'Zahav. There it struck Nadav and Avihu, who had come to ignite the Ketores with their fire before burning the Ketores, following which it moved to the Mizbe'ach ha'Olah to burn the Olah and the Shelamim.
Why did they fall on their faces?
Moshav Zekenim: We learn what is not explicit from what is. 1 When] Eliyahu [defeated Nevi'ei ha'Ba'al], the Pasuk writes "va'Yiplu? va'Yomru Hashem Hu Elokim" (Melachim 18:39), and that is what they exclaimed here.
Targum Yonasan: They fell on their faces in prayer.
Moshav Zekenim asked why they fell, and did not answer. Perhaps he means, for the same reason they fell there. The Metzudas David explains there, they fell to bow down to Hashem. (PF)
