Elisheba bat Amminadab and the Joy That Did Not Last

Midrash Tanchuma Buber, Shmini 3:8

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

You find no one, man or woman, who saw joys like Elisheba bat Amminadab [the wife of Aaron, as it is said, "And Aaron took Elisheba bat Amminadab" (Exodus 6:23)]. She saw her husband a High Priest serving in the high priesthood, and a prophet; and Moses, her husband's brother, a king and a prophet; and her sons deputies of the priesthood; and her brother Nahshon head over all the tribes of Israel. Yet she did not abide in her joy. Rather, her two sons went in to offer a sacrifice, "and fire came forth from before the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD" (Leviticus 10:2). Therefore it is said, "I said to the boastful, Do not boast" (Psalms 75:5 [75:4]).

Themes

PriesthoodJoyHeresyKingsProphecy

Biblical References

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