577. Come and see, when Nadab and Abihu plus the seventy elders saw, the Torah writes, "And they saw the Elohim of Yisrael;" for the Shechinah appeared to them. Rabbi Yehuda and Rabbi Yosi said, "Et (Eng. 'the');" THE VERSE WRITES "THE ELOHIM" is written for a specific reason. "Et" TELLS US that it was from a distance. "Et" includes the inner part, MEANING THEY SAW WHAT WAS IN THE INTERNAL PART OF THE SHECHINAH.

580. "And upon the nobles of the children of Yisrael" (Shemot 24:11), referring to Nadab and Abihu, "he laid not His hand." He led them TO JUSTICE later, but they were not punished now. Rabbi Yosi said, this matter can be interpreted to their credit as the verse says, "And did eat and drink" MEANING they fed their eyes with this light. Rabbi Yehuda said, they ate actual food and fed OF THE LIGHT, and thus connected themselves above, MEANING THEY EXTENDED THE LIGHT FROM BELOW UPWARD; THERE WAS NO SIN IN THIS unless they turned astray later as explained.