Fire, holy and unholy.

The shock is immense.

For several weeks and many chapters, the longest prelude in the terror, we've read of the

preparations for the moment at which God would bring his presence to rest in the midst

of the people.

Five parciotrumat Tzabe Kitisa and Vayakele and Pekude, describe the instructions for building

the sanctuary, and two, Vajikran, Sav, detail the sacrificial offerings to be brought.

All is now ready for seven days the priests, Aaron and his sons are consecrated into office,

and now comes the eighth day when the service of the

Mishkan will begin. The entire people have played their part in constructing what would become

the visible home of the divine presence on earth. With a simple moving verse, the drama reaches

its climax. Moses and Aaron went into the tent of meeting, and when they came out they blessed the people.

God's glory was then revealed to all the people.

And just as we think, the narrative has reached closure.

A terrifying scene takes place.

Aaron's sons, Nadeva Navi, who took their senses, put fire into them,

and added incense, and they offered unauthorized fire before God, which he had not instructed

them to offer. Fire came forth from before God, and it consumed them so that they died before God.

Moses then said to Aaron, this is what God spoke of when

he said, among those who approach me, I will show myself holy in the sight of all the people.

I will be honored. Celebration turned to tragedy. The two eldest sons of Aaron die. The sages and commentators offer

many explanations. Nadav and of ye who died, they said, because they entered the Holy of Holies.

...