Why Moses Feared the Sanctifying of God's Glory at the Tabernacle

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Shmini 2:1

[(Ecclesiastes 8:5) AND WHOEVER KEEPS A COMMANDMENT SHALL KNOW NO EVIL THING, etc.] This is Moses, to whom the Holy One, blessed be He, had already said (Exodus 29:43): AND THERE I WILL MEET WITH THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AND IT SHALL BE SANCTIFIED BY MY GLORY — I am sanctified there by My glory. And Moses was ministering during the seven days of the consecration, and he was afraid to speak, lest the attribute of justice strike him, as it is said: AND IT SHALL BE SANCTIFIED BY MY GLORY. Yet he did not act, but said to Aaron: Observe the mourning for seven days, for thus the Holy One, blessed be He, said to me (Leviticus 8:35): FOR SO I HAVE BEEN COMMANDED. When they had observed the seven days of mourning, and the eighth day came, Nadab and Abihu entered to offer, and the attribute of justice struck them, and they were burned, as it is said (Leviticus 10:2): AND FIRE WENT OUT FROM BEFORE THE LORD AND CONSUMED THEM, AND THEY DIED BEFORE THE LORD. Moses came and said to Aaron (Leviticus 10:3): THIS IS WHAT THE LORD SPOKE, SAYING: THROUGH THOSE WHO ARE NEAR TO ME I WILL BE SANCTIFIED. And where did He speak? In the wilderness of Sinai (Exodus 29:43): AND THERE I WILL MEET WITH THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AND IT SHALL BE SANCTIFIED BY MY GLORY. Therefore it is said (Ecclesiastes 8:5): WHOEVER KEEPS A COMMANDMENT SHALL KNOW NO EVIL THING, etc.

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