1)

What is the definition of "Atzilei B'nei Yisrael"? To whom does it refer?

1.

Rashi, Ramban, Targum Onkelos and Targum Yonasan: It means 'great men of B'nei Yisrael', 1 with reference to Nadav and Avihu and the seventy elders of Yisrael (mentioned in the previous Pasuk). 2


1

According to Targum Yonasan, it refers to Nadav and Avihu 'the beauiful boys' exclusively.

2

Ramban: And they are referred to as "Atzilei B'nei Yisrael" because the spirit of Hashem (Atzilus) rested upon them - as in Yeshayah, 41:9). See also Beha'aloscha Bamidbar, 11:25

2)

What does the Torah mean when it writes that "Hashem did not stretch out His Hand"? Why ought He to have done so?

1.

Rashi: It means that He did not stretch out His hand to punish them for gazing at the Shechinah even as they indulged in physical pursuits - whilst they were eating and drinking. 1

2.

Ramban (Pasuk 13, citing Midrash Tanchuma) and Rashbam: He should have stretched out His hand to punish the Zekeinim (except for Yehoshua) for seeing visions of Elokim that they were not worthy of seeing, 2

3.

Seforno: What the Torah means is that, Hashem did not stretch out His Hand to place them in a trance in order that they should prophesy. 3

4.

Hadar Zekenim: Initially they were extremely afraid of being harmed. 4 But when they saw that they remained unharmed, they received the Shechinah and ate and drank amidst Simchah, which rendered them Chayav Misah.

5.

Da'as Zekenim: It means that Hashem did not stretch out His hand to cover their faces, 5 like he did for Moshe in the cleft of the rock 6 which explains why 'they saw Elokim'.

6.

Targum Yonasan: He did not punish Nadav and Avihu, who gazed at the Shechinah, and whose punishment was postponed until the eighth day of the Milu'im, when they died.


1

Riva: This is haughtiness, like one who prides himself that he may see the king every day. Or, it is familiarity with the Shechinah - the lack of awe-strickenness at what they sawad seen.

2

Rashbam: Like the Torah writes in Bamidbar 4:20 "ve'Lo Yavo'u Lir'os ke'Vala es ha'Kodesh, va'Meisu", and like we find by the men of Beis-SheMeish, who peeped inside the Aron and died. See Shmuel 1, 6:19. Indeed, Moshe was careful not to look at the Shechinah, when he saw the Burning Bush.

3

As He did with Yechezkel, 8:1, and with Shaul (Shmuel 1, 19:24), when they were on that level.

4

Like we find in Shoftim, 13:22, by the parents of Shimshon "Namus Ki Elohim Ra'inu" and they only saw only an angel!

5

Oznayim la'Torah: Because Hashem wanted them to see the sapphire brick in order to tell Yisrael what they had seen. Refer to 24:10:4.1:2. See also Oznayim la'Torah.

6

As the Torah writes in Ki Sisa, 33:22 "Vesakosi Kapi Alecha".

3)

Why did Hashem not punish them?

1.

Rashi #1: He did not want to disturb the Simchah of Matan Torah. 1

2.

Ramban: Because they obeyed the command not to break their ranks to ascend to Hashem 2 . They looked, but remained in their places.

3.

Rashbam: Due to the covenant into which they had entered, Hashem graciously overlooked their sin and appeared to them. 3

4.

Seforno: To allow them to fully absorb what they had seen.


1

He did punish them later however - Nadav and Avihu died on the day the Mishkan was inaugurated (which was Hashem's Simchah and not Yisrael's) See Shemini Vayikra, 10:2, and the elders, in Beha'aloschs Bamidbar, 11:1, at Tav'eirah, when Yisrael grumbled about the incessant travelling (Rashi).

3

See Rashbam.

4)

What did they eat and drink?

1.

Rashi #1: The Simchah over the acceptance of their Korbanos was as if they ate and drank. 1

2.

Rashi #2 (in B'rachos 17a): They were satiated from the radiance of the Shechinah, as if they had eaten and drunk. 2

3.

Ramban: They ate the Shelamim that were brought - in Pasuk 5, beside the Mizbe'ach at the foot of the mountain, 3 and drank (wine) to celebrate the receiving of the Torah. 4

4.

Seforno: They made a party to celebrate the level that they had attained.

5.

Rashbam: They sacrificed the Olos and ate the (Basar of the) Shelamim..


1

Refer to 24:11:151:1-2.

2

Refer to 24:11:151:1-2.

3

Ramban and Moshav Zekenim (citing the Rosh): Just as Shelamim in the era of the Beis-Hamikdash were eaten in Yerushalayim (Zevachim, 55b) and in the era of Shiloh, wherever one could see Shiloh (Ramban).

4

As the Torah writes in connection with the writing the entire Torah on the stones on Har Eival (See KI Savo, Devarim 27:7, and as Shlomoh did when he Hashem bestowed upon him Chochmah (See Melachim 1, 3:15) (See Ramban).

QUESTIONS ON RASHI

5)

Rashi writes that their Simchah was as if they ate and drank. How can one compare such a spiritual beholding of the Shechinah to eating and drinking?!

1.

P'nei Yehoshua (B'rachos 17a): The sustenance of one's 248 limbs and 365 sinews is mainly through eating and drinking. So too, their 248 limbs and 365 sinews were purified through Kabalas ha'Torah 1 and its 613 Mitzvos.

2.

R. Chaim Tzvi Fogel: One who eats and drinks, it becomes part of his body. Also here, the Simchah became an intrinsic part of them.


1

The P'nei Yehoshua is explaining Rashi there. However, Rashi here comments that the Simchah was due to the acceptance of their Korbanos! (PF)

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