ותצא אש מלפני ד' ותאכל אותם וימותו לפני ד'
We cannot downplay the tragedy of Nadav and Avihu’s untimely passing on what would have been the most auspicious day of their lives. The commentators attribute a number of spiritual failings to them, which ultimately led to their offering an eish zarah, strange fire, a fire which Hashem had not commanded. We are a nation built on obedience to Hashem. We follow His Will when He expresses it, and, when He does not, we wait. We do not act on our own, independently of the word of Hashem. Among the infractions of which hashem held them culpable was, Shelo natlu…