“Command Aaron and his sons, saying: This is the law of the burnt offering: It is the burnt offering on the pyre on the altar all night until the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be kept burning in it” (Leviticus 6:2). “Command Aaron and his sons, saying: This is the law of the burnt offering.” This is what the verse said: “Hatred arouses strife…” (Proverbs 10:12). The hatred that Israel caused between them and their Father in Heaven,1Through Israel’s sins, they caused God to hate them. that is what aroused severe judgments against them, as Rabbi Shmuel bar Naḥman said: For almost nine hundred years, the hatred between Israel and their Father in Heaven was dormant, from the day that Israel emerged from Egypt, until the year that it was aroused against them in the days of Ezekiel.
That is what is written: “I said to them: Each man [shall cast out] the detestable objects [of his eyes, and do not defile yourselves with the idols of Egypt]” (Ezekiel 20:7). But they did not do so, but rather, “they defied Me and were unwilling [to heed Me; no man cast out the detestable objects of their eyes, and they did not forsake the idols of Egypt]” (Ezekiel 20:8). But I acted with them for the sake of My great name so that it would not be profaned, as it is stated: “But I acted for the sake of My name [that it not be profaned before the nations]” (Ezekiel 20:9).
“Love covers all transgressions” (Proverbs 10:12), as the Omnipresent loves Israel, as it is stated: “I loved you, said the Lord” (Malachi 1:2). Another matter, “hatred arouses strife” – the hatred that Aaron placed between Israel and their Father in Heaven,2The Golden Calf. that is what aroused severe judgments against them. Rabbi Asi said: It teaches that Aaron would take their offering3The offering the people would bring to the Golden Calf.
However, some commentaries suggest that the text should state ‘hammer’ instead of ‘offering,’ such that the midrash states that he would take a hammer and flatten the calf and tell them it had no substance (Etz Yosef). and flatten [the calf] before them, and say to them: ‘Know that it has no substance.’ That is what Moses said to Aaron: “What did this people do to you [that you brought great sin upon them?]” (Exodus 32:21).
He said to him:4Moses said to Aaron. ‘It would have been preferable that they be judged as unwitting and not be judged as intentional.’ That is what the Holy One blessed be He said to Moses: “Whoever has sinned against Me, I will eradicate him from My book” (Exodus 32:33). That is what is written: “The Lord was very angry with Aaron, to destroy him…” (Deuteronomy 9:20). Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin in the name of Rabbi Levi: The expression of destruction here is nothing other than elimination of sons and daughters, just as it says: “I destroyed his fruit from above and his roots from below” (Amos 2:9).
“Love covers all transgressions” (Proverbs 10:12), this is the prayer that Moses prayed on his behalf. What did Moses pray on his behalf? Rabbi Mana of Sheab and Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin in the name of Rabbi Levi: From the beginning of the book until here, it is written: “Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall arrange” (Leviticus 1:8); “Aaron’s sons, the priests, shall sprinkle” (Leviticus 1:11); “Aaron’s sons shall place” (Leviticus 1:7).
Moses said before the Holy One blessed be He: ‘The cistern is hated but its waters are beloved. You accorded honor to the trees because of their produce, as we learned there: All wood is fit for the arrangement5The arrangement of wood on the altar. except from the olive tree and from the vine,6Mishna Tamid 2:3. but to Aaron you do not accord honor due to his sons?’ The Holy One blessed be He said to him: ‘As you live, for your sake I will draw him near. Moreover, I will render him primary and his sons ancillary: “Command Aaron and his sons, saying.”’