Aaron Taken in Honor and the Fire-Pan That Stopped the Plague

Another interpretation (of Proverbs 3:35): "The wise shall inherit glory" — this is Abraham; "but fools carry away shame" — this is the kings whom he smote. "The wise shall inherit glory" — this is Isaac; "but fools carry away shame" — these are the men of Gerar. "The wise shall inherit glory" — this is Jacob; "but fools carry away shame" — this is Esau and his chiefs. "The wise shall inherit glory" — this is Joshua; "but fools carry away shame" — these are the thirty-one kings whom he smote. "The wise shall inherit glory" — this is David; "but fools carry away shame" — this is Goliath. "The wise shall inherit glory" — this is Eli; "but fools carry away shame" — these are his sons, as it is said, "Now the sons of Eli were base men" (1 Samuel 2:12). "The wise shall inherit glory" — these are the sons of Aaron, as it is said, "Take Aaron and his sons" (Leviticus 8:2). Why is "take" said here? The Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses: I am obligated by a taking; arise, you, and magnify him through taking. And when did He take Aaron? At the hour when the wrath went forth against the enemies of Israel. Moses said to him, "Take the fire-pan and put fire upon it" (Numbers 17:11). Aaron said to him: My lord Moses, do you seek to kill me? My sons, because they offered before the Holy One, blessed be He, the fire of laymen, were burned, [as it is said, "And they offered before the LORD strange fire... and fire went out from before the LORD and consumed them" (Leviticus 10:1-2),] and you say, "Take the fire-pan"? My sons brought in strange fire and were burned, and shall I bring holy fire outside and I too be burned? Moses said to him: Go and act quickly, for while you delay they are dying; rather, "go quickly to the congregation and make atonement for them" (Numbers 17:11). When Aaron heard this, he said: If I die for Israel, am I not worthy? Immediately, "And Aaron took, as Moses spoke" (Numbers 17:12). Therefore the Holy One, blessed be He, said to Moses, "Take Aaron" — receive him through taking. Just as Aaron is destined to save My children through taking, so too you, magnify him through taking. Therefore it is said, "Take Aaron."