Parshas Shemini (5776)

Why did Nadab and Abihu Die?

The Torah writes (Leviticus 10:1):

And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took each of them his censer, and put fire therein, and laid incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which He had not commanded them.

Rashi (ibid):

Rabbi Eleizer said: the sons of Aaron died only because they gave decisions on religious matters in the presence of their teacher, Moses (Sifra; Eruvin 63a)

and:

Rabbi Ishmael said: they died because they entered the Sanctuary intoxicated by wine.

Vayikra Rabbah (20:9):

Because they did not wear the proper garments for it says (Exodus 28): "and it should be on Aaron and his sons", and what were they missing? The robe (מעיל)

and:

And because they entered without washing their hands and feet, for it says (Exodus 30): "and they should wash their hands and feet, and not die", and it says: "when they come to the Tent of Meeting, they should wash with water"

and:

And because they did not have children

and:

Aba Hanin says: because they did not have wives for it says: "He should atone for himself and his household", household means "wife"

The Midrash adds (ibid 20:10):

Rabbi Levi said: they were arrogant, for many women sat unmarried because they wanted to marry them. What did they say? Our paternal uncle is king, our maternal uncle is a prince, our father is the High Priest, and we are two deputy High Priests, where would there be a woman that is fit for us!

Another reason (ibid, Talmud Sanhedrin 52a):

Moses and Aaron were walking, Nadab and Abihu were walking behind them, and all the Jews behind them. They said to each other: "When these two elders will die, then we will rule over everyone". G-d said back to them:  "Let's see who buries who"

Another reason (ibid):

"And to the nobles of the Children of Israel He did not lay His hand" (Exodus 24:10) ... for they looked at G-d like someone who looks at his friend while eating and drinking

Another reason (ibid 20:8):

For coming close, for they entered inside and inside [i.e. into the Holy of Holies]

and:

And for bringing, for they brought a sacrifice that was not commanded

and:

And for strange fire, for they brought it from a stove [i.e. not from the outer Altar]

and:

And because they did not seek advice

(see the Sifra that explains that they did not seek advice from Moses or from each other)
Another answer (cited by Kli Yakar ibid):

And some say for the sin of the Golden Calf that Aaron made caused this to happen to them

Another answer (Meshach Chochmah 19):

The simple explanation is that they brought incense on the outer Altar

Another answer (Rashbam ibid):

Even though on ordinary days the rule of “the sons of Aaron will place in these pans fire on the altar” (Leviticus 1:7) was in effect, this rule did not apply to the day of inauguration, and Moses had not wanted any man made fire to be introduced into the Tabernacle. This was because he expected heavenly fire to manifest itself so that the addition of man made fire would have completely ruined the impact of the miracle.

Another answer (Shadal 10:1):

They did not intend to bring the morning incense for if so there would be not need for two pans, only they brought incense not commanded by G-d and they sinned because of arrogance: It was not enough for them to help their father serve ... they also wanted to show that they were also priests like Aaron, and since Moses did not assign any specific service for them to do they chose a service for themselves and brought in front of G-d a foreign fire...

Another answer (Abarbanel ibid):

the two of them sacrificed together and that was a great sin for incense is a service done by one person only, and not two people together

and:

On the eighth day Moses served as the High Priest and only he was allowed to bring incense

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