The Heavenly Fire That Crouched Like a Lion on the Altar

Midrash Aggadah, Leviticus 10:2

"And fire came forth from before the LORD." When they saw a new fire that descended from the heights of heaven and licked upon the altar, they fell on their faces, uttering song. Concerning that hour it says, "Rejoice in the LORD, O you righteous; praise is comely for the upright" (Psalms 33:1). And the fire that descended in the days of Moses was crouching like a lion upon the altar, and it did not cease until it descended in the days of Solomon, as it is said, "And all the children of Israel saw when the fire came down" (2 Chronicles 7:3).

Themes

Biblical References