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.

581. Rabbi Elazar said, Even the children of Yisrael at that time were all proper and the Shechinah was bound to them. This Covenant and the entire Torah took place at one time, MEANING THEY THEN HAD THE LIGHT FROM THE ENTIRE TORAH. Yisrael never did experience a time like that. In the future days, the Holy One, blessed be He, will reveal Himself to His children and all will see visually His glory, as the verse writes, "for they shall see eye to eye, Hashem returning to Zion" (Yeshayah 52:8), and, "and the glory of Hashem shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together..." (Yeshayah 40:5).