Rabbi Berekhya began: “To punish also the righteous is not good” (Proverbs 17:26). The Holy One blessed be He said: ‘Even though I punished Aaron and took his two sons from him, it “is not good.”’ However, “to strike the noble for their uprightness” (Proverbs 17:26);26Sometimes it is necessary to strike the righteous in order to influence the masses toward uprightness. that is what is written: “After the death.”27God speaks after the death of Nadav and Avihu, Aaron’s sons, and tells Aaron not to enter the Holy of Holies at all times and without the proper sacrificial service.
The context of this command indicates that the death of his sons serves to motivate Aaron and other priests to observe these laws carefully and to maintain a perspective of awe toward the Temple. Rabbi Eliezer taught: Aaron’s sons died only because they issued halakhic rulings before Moses their teacher. There was an incident involving a certain disciple who issued a halakhic ruling before his teacher, Rabbi Eliezer.
He said to Ima Shalom:28Rabbi Eliezer said to his wife, Ima Shalom, regarding his disciple. ‘Woe to this one’s wife; he will not complete this week.’ His week did not end before he died. The Sages came to him and they said to him: ‘Are you a prophet?’ He said to them: ‘“I am neither a prophet nor the son of a prophet” (Amos 7:14), but this is a tradition I received; anyone who issues a halakhic ruling before his teacher is liable to be put to death.’