An Alien Fire
Let's look into one incident where I believe much was hidden or was not revealed. So, with your permission, let's begin.
In Parashat Shemini 10:1-3, it says: "Now Aaron's sons Nadav and Avihu each took his fire pan, put fire in it, and laid incense on it; and they offered before G-d alien fire—which had not been instructed upon them.
And fire came forth from G-d and consumed them; thus they died by G-d’s will.
Then Moses said to Aaron, 'This is what G-d meant by saying: Through those near to Me I show Myself holy,
And gain glory before all the people.' And Aaron was silent."
So, let's try to work with these passages, since I believe a lot is happening here that isn't being told.
First, let's establish some concept to go forward with. There's an accepted tradition that Moshe Rabbenu is the reincarnation of Hevel, as the Zohar says. But I also believe that Aharon HaCohen is a reincarnation of Kayin. I have seen it mentioned in the books; it could be the Zohar or some other holy book. But please allow me to back it up with more proof.
In Parashat Shemot 3:1-5, when Moshe was standing by the burning bush, we are told that Hashem was trying to send Moshe to Egypt to take the Nation out of Egypt. But Moshe was hesitant since his brother had been their leader for years. Moshe was afraid that Aharon wouldn't like this idea and wouldn't be willing to share his post with him. Says Hashem to Moshe, in Shemot 4:14, "And also, behold, he comes forth to meet you; when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart." And so it was.
Since the exact opposite happened in the incident of Kayin and Hevel. Kayin brought the sacrifice, but when Hevel brought his, Hashem accepted Hevel's, which made Kayin pretty upset, Bereshit 4:5, "but paid no heed to Cain and his offering. Cain was much distressed, and his face fell."
Another proof of reincarnation is that Kayin was the first to bring the sacrifice, and thus he returns as Aharon HaCohen to continue his work. And this, I believe, establishes Aharon HaCohen as Kayin's reincarnation.
Everyone says that Kayin has killed Hevel because Hashem has favored Hevel's korban, but for this essay, I would like to bring another reason for the first murder committed.
The bringing of the sacrifice was just something that tipped the scales.
Bereshit 4:8, "...when they were in the field, Kayin set upon his brother Hevel and killed him."
The Book of Zohar, Parashat Bereshit, tells us about the environment into which the boys were born. Kayin was born with a sister whom he has married, and Hevel was born with twin sisters whom he has married.
Kayin became a farmer, and Hevel became a shepherd. The brothers have divided the Earth and its abundance 50/50; each gets half of the Earth, real estate, and what lies deep beneath. If you think about it, this is Huge!..and way more than you will ever use or need. But not for Kayin. Kayin wanted it all for himself - Hevel's twin wives, his livestock, and the rest of his goods.
And thus the first murder was committed.
Continues the Book of Zohar: the wives of Hevel were scared and began praying to Hashem to save them from Kayin, who was coming for them. Hashem made them grow wings, and they flew to Hashem and lived under the G-d's Throne - Kiseh HaKavod. They demanded justice to avenge the blood of their husband. And this is something Hashem has promised them.
Honestly, all these years I've been wondering what happened to the two souls of Hevel's wives, and I believe I've found them.
In Parashat Shemini 10:1-3, "Aharon's sons Nadav and Avihu each took his fire pan, put fire in it, and laid incense on it; and they offered before G-d an alien fire, which had not been instructed upon them."
An alien fire, plenty is written on this topic, but I believe Nadav and Avihu were the reincarnations of the wives of Hevel, and those two souls have brought the bodies, or the two boys, into the Holy of Holies for an execution.
Their offering is called an alien fire, I believe G-d means an alien fire or the sexual desire that was burning in Kayin's heart every time he saw Hevel's wives. And that desire was directed towards the forbidden, the wives that did not belong to him. Nadav and Avihu, driven by the souls of the Hevel's wives that were in them, brought in that fire and reminded Hashem of the alien desire that Kayin had centuries ago, and thus the two ladies have demanded justice.
And so it was.
The fire came out from the Holy of Holies, went into the nostrils of Nadav and Avihu, united with the souls of the wives of Hevel, and left the bodies unscathed, thus killing them both on the spot.
"Then Moses said to Aaron, 'This is what G-d meant by saying: Through those near to Me I show Myself holy, And gain glory before all the people.' And Aaron was silent."
- "Through those near to Me I show Myself holy" - the two souls that have been close to Hashem, under His Throne, all those centuries, that have demanded revenge, have been waiting to see it happen, and finally saw it delivered.
- "And gain glory before all the people." - Since we learned this understanding now in the 21st century, Hashem is being glorified, as a Trustworthy Deliverer.
- "And Aaron was silent." - At the time of the murder, Hevel was silent, because he was dead, and both of the ladies had lost their husband. Now Kayin, aka Aharon HaCohen, was silent, since both of his sons were no longer with him.
And just like Kayin killed Hevel and made those two ladies as widows, now they have come - those widows as Nadav and Avihu, and made Kayin also known as Aharon HaCohen, to lose two of his sons, while causing him the same pain as he had caused them centuries earlier.
But why on such a glorious day of the Inauguration of Mishkan, Hashem kills the two sons of Aharon HaCohen? Because when Kayin and Hevel brought their sacrifices, on that day Kayin killed Hevel. Now, centuries later, Hashem makes the nation bring their sacrifices, and on that day, He evens out the score.
And this is called Divine Justice - where G-d delivers it coldly and precisely.
Part 2:
Since we have established above that Aharon HaCohen is a reincarnation of Kayin, I would like to ask a question.
- Why, when we bring a sacrifice, are some parts of it given to a Cohen?
- Why, when we bring the bikkurim or the first-fruits and other types of offerings, does the Cohen receive a share of them as well?
- Why does Cohen rely on the nation to support him in his daily needs?
I believe the answer may be that the brothers have divided the Earth and its abundance 50/50; each gets half of the Earth, real estate, what roams it, and lies deep beneath. If you think about it, this is more than you will ever use or need. But not for Kayin. Kayin wanted it all for himself - Hevel's livestock, and much more - both of the portions, together with the ladies.
In Parashat Vayishlach 32:17, Yaakov sends gifts to Esav, and he sends them flock after flock: "And Yaakov gave each individual flock into the hands of his servants. And he said to his servants, 'Pass before me. And place a distance between the flock.'" Yaakov Avinu did this in order to satiate the eyes of Esav, and thus find favor in his eyes.
And the same goes with Kayin, since he had it all, but wasn't satisfied with it, Hashem has made his "descendants" - Aharon HaCohen and his descendants, be dependent on communal contributions - portions from sacrifices, thus slowly, each and every time, through measured holy portions, to atone for the sin of Kayin, and teach Cohanim to be happy with their lot.
Shmuel Katanov
