"Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, . . . for the anointing oil of the Lord is upon you." The great leader reminded his brother of the words of God, "I will be sanctified in them that come nigh Me, and before all the people I will be glorified." Aaron was silent. The death of his sons, cut down without warning, in so terrible a sin--a sin which he now saw to be the result of his own neglect of duty--wrung the father's heart with anguish, but he gave his feelings no expression. By no manifestation of grief must he seem to sympathize with sin. The congregation must not be led to murmur against God.

Moses sagde til Aron og hans sønner Eleazar og Itamar: "I må hverken lade Eders hår vokse frit eller sønderrive Eders klæder, ellers skal I dø; thi Herrens salveolie er på Eder!" Den store leder mindede sin broder om Guds ord: "Jeg viser min hellighed på dem, der står mig nær, og min herlighed for alt folkets øjne." Aron tav. Faderens hjerte knugedes af fortvivlelse over sønnernes død, idet de uden varsel blev revet bort midt under en så frygtelig synd, som han nu indså var en følge af hans egen pligtforsømmelse; men han gav ikke udtryk for sine følelser. Han måtte ikke ved at sørge give det udseende af, at han billigede synd. Folket måtte ikke få anledning til at knurre mod Gud.