Mishpatim

The passuk states ואל אצילי בני ישראל לא שלח ידו ויחזו את האלוקים ויאכלו וישתו. Rashi explains that אצילי are great people, referring to Nadav, Avihu, and the seventy elders, which Hashem did not send out His hand to punish. This infers that they were indeed fitting to be punished for doing something wrong. Rashi explains that they were gazing at Hashem while eating and drinking, lightheadedly, without having the proper awareness of Hashem. Hashem did not want to bring mourning which would disturb Matan Torah, so Hashem held back from punishing them, until later on.

Onkelos translates the passuk as, “And there was no injury to the leaders of Bei Yisrael, and they saw the Honor of Hashem, and they rejoiced with their korbanos that were accepted with favor as though they were eating and drinking.” Onkelos understands the words ויאכלו וישתו as a mashal; they reached a high level of perceiving Hashem as though they ate and drank. Since they did not actually eat or drink, what do the words “לא שלח ידו, He did not injure them” refer to? What injury were the leaders spared from?

The Ramban explains that Hashem told Moshe, “And the Kohanim and the nation should not leave their places where they stood to ascend to Hashem lest there will be a breach with them.” There were dark clouds blocking the nation from having a complete vision, and they only saw Hashem’s great fire. The elders however, were not blocked, and were able to see and perceive Hashem with a higher level. Here the Torah states that they were careful and kept to their boundaries. These leaders were great people and were deserving to see the Honor of Hashem, they did not breach their positions to come closer, and therefore there was no injury.

The Ramban explains that they ate the korban shelamim at the bottom of the mountain before returning to their dwelling places, while still before Hashem. This resembled eating the korban shelamim in Yerushalayim within its walls. Since it was kadosh, it had specific boundaries where it could be eaten. They ate korbanos and made a celebration in order to rejoice in receiving the Torah. We also find this concept when Hashem commanded Bnei Yisrael on the day that they would pass through the Yarden to stand up stones and write on them all the words of the Torah. At the same time Hashem commanded Bnei Yisrael to rejoice, as it states, וזבחת שלמים ואכלת שם ושמחת, and you shall slaughter shelamim and you shall eat there and rejoice. So too Bnei Yisrael rejoiced with receiving the Torah by making a celebration.

May we constantly remember and rejoice with the receiving of the Torah!