The Nobles Who Feasted Their Eyes on the Divine Presence

"And upon the nobles of the children of Israel He did not lay His hand." Rabbi Pinchas said: from here we learn that they were deserving of having a hand laid upon them [deserving of punishment]. Rabbi Hoshaya said: did provisions of food go up with them to Sinai, that you say, "And they beheld God, and ate and drank"? Rather, it teaches that they fed their eyes upon the Divine Presence, like a man who gazes at his fellow from the midst of food and drink. Rabbi Jonathan says: it was actual eating, as it is written, "In the light of the king's countenance is life" (Proverbs 16:15). Rabbi Tanchum said: it teaches that they grew arrogant in their hearts, and stood upon their feet, and fed their eyes upon the Divine Presence. Rabbi Joshua of Sikhnin in the name of Rabbi Levi: Moses did not feed his eyes upon the Divine Presence, as it is written, "And Moses hid his face" (Exodus 3:6) (and so on), and therefore he derived benefit from the Divine Presence, as it is written, "And Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone." Nadab and Abihu fed their eyes upon the Divine Presence, "And they beheld God," yet they derived no benefit from the Divine Presence, "And Nadab and Abihu died" (and so on).