Why Elazar and Ithamar Did Not Mourn Their Brothers

Sifra, Mekhilta deMiluim II 26

Curated by Arthur·Translated by Maggid (Beta)·

26) From here we see that Cohanim do not make themselves tamei for the dead. For Elazar and Ithamar (the brothers of Nadav and Avihu) were Cohanim and they did not make themselves tamei for them. Who did make themselves tamei for them? The Levites (Mishael and Eltzafan).

Themes

PriesthoodTribesLeviMourningMusic

Biblical References

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Shir HaShirim RabbahLevi's PrayerA collection of rabbinic interpretations of the Song of Songs, Hugras was a Levite, part of the choir that served in the Temple. Now, the Levites were already kMidrash Tanchuma Buber, BamidbarDo Not Cut Off the Levites and the Twenty-Four Priestly Gifts"Do not cut off the tribe of the families of the Kohathites from among the Levites" (Numbers 4:18), why this anxious warning? Because Heaven itself watches overMidrash Tanchuma Buber, Beha'alotchaWhy God Tests the Righteous Before Choosing the LevitesWhy are the Levites taken to be God's own? Because, the Maggid teaches, the Holy One never raises a soul to greatness until He has first tried it and found it fMekhilta DeRabbi YishmaelThen I Shall Make for You a Place [Even NowThe Torah promises that God will provide "a place where he shall flee" for a person who kills accidentally (Exodus 21:13). This is the institution of the city oSifrei DevarimDo Not Forsake the Levite Who Lives in Your GatesThe verse in question, from (Deuteronomy 14:27), commands us: "And the Levite who is in your gate, you shall not forsake him." Sounds straightforward enough. BuSifrei DevarimThe First Tithe Belongs to the Levites as InheritanceThe core of this passage revolves around the first tithe, the ma'aser rishon. This was a portion of the harvest given to the Levites, the tribe dedicated to ser