(15)May the words of my mouthand the prayer of my heart be acceptable to You,O ETERNAL One, my rock and my redeemer.

(24) Fire came forth from before GOD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat parts on the altar. And all the people saw, and shouted, and fell on their faces. (1) Now Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu each took his fire pan, put fire in it, and laid incense on it; and they offered before GOD alien fire—which had not been enjoined upon them. (2) And fire came forth from GOD and consumed them; thus they died by GOD’s will. (3) Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what GOD meant by saying:
Through those near to Me I show Myself holy, And gain glory before all the people.” And Aaron was silent. (4) Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said to them, “Come forward and carry your kinsmen away from the front of the sanctuary to a place outside the camp.” (5) They came forward and carried them out of the camp by their tunics, as Moses had ordered. (6) And Moses said to Aaron and to his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not bare your heads and do not rend your clothes, lest you die and anger strike the whole community. But your kin, all the house of Israel, shall bewail the burning that GOD has wrought. (7) And so do not go outside the entrance of the Tent of Meeting, lest you die, for GOD’s anointing oil is upon you.” And they did as Moses had bidden. (8) And GOD spoke to Aaron, saying: (9) Drink no wine or other intoxicant, you or your sons, when you enter the Tent of Meeting, that you may not die. This is a law for all time throughout the ages, (10) for you must distinguish between the sacred and the profane, and between the impure and the pure; (11) and you must teach the Israelites all the laws that GOD has imparted to them through Moses. (12) Moses spoke to Aaron and to his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar: Take the grain offering that is left over from GOD’s offerings by fire and eat it unleavened beside the altar, for it is most holy.

(3) [WHICH HE HAD NOT COMMANDED THEM.] They acted on their own and were not commanded to burn incense and certainly not to employ a strange fire.

(1)“Wine or intoxicating drink you shall not drink, you and your sons with you, upon your entry into the Tent of Meeting, and you will not die; an eternal statute for your generations” (Leviticus 10:9).
“Wine or intoxicating drink you shall not drink.” That is what is written: “Do not look upon wine in its redness [ki yitadam]” (Proverbs 23:31). What is ki yitadam? Because [ki] he will desire [yitaveh] the blood [dam] of a menstruant and the blood of a zava. “As to one who directs his eye to the cup [bakos]” (Proverbs 23:31), bakis is written, it is a euphemism, as it is written: “There will be one purse [kis] for us all” (Proverbs 1:14). “All paths are upright” (Proverbs 23:31); ultimately, his wife says to him: ‘I saw like a red rose,’ and he will not separate [from her]. Rabbi Asi said: If he is a Torah scholar, ultimately, he will rule that the pure is impure and that the impure is pure.
Another matter, “do not look upon wine in its redness” (Proverbs 23:31) – it literally causes one to turn red. “As to one who directs his eye to the cup [kos]” – he directs his eye to the cup while the storekeeper direct his eye to the purse [kis]. “All paths are upright [meisharim],” ultimately he will render his house a plain [meishera]. [He thinks:] What can be accomplished with this bronze vessel can be accomplished with an earthenware vessel. He will sell it and drink wine with the proceeds of its sale. Rabbi Yitzḥak bar Redifa said in the name of Rabbi Ami: Ultimately, he will sell all his household utensils and drink wine with the proceeds.
Rabbi Aḥa said: There was an incident involving one who would sell his household utensils and drink wine with the proceeds. His children said: ‘This father of ours will not leave us anything.’ They gave him to drink, intoxicated him, took him out and placed him in a certain cemetery. Wine merchants were passing by the cemetery gates and they heard the sound of government troops in the city. They unloaded their cargo inside the cemetery and went to see the tumult in the city. He awoke from his slumber and saw a wineskin. He placed it above his head, untied it, and placed it in his mouth. After three days, his children said: ‘Will we not go and see what our father is doing?’ They went and they found him with that wineskin placed in his mouth. They said: ‘Even here, your Creator has not forsaken you. Since He gave it to you, we do not know what we can do to you.’ His children instituted an arrangement between them that each of them would give him to drink for one day.
“You will be like one lying in the midst of the sea, or like one lying at the top of a mast” (Proverbs 23:34) – like a ship that is reeling in the midst of the sea, falling and rising, falling and rising. “Or like one lying at the top of a mast” – like a rooster that is perched upon a rope and sways to and fro, to and fro, like a captain that is perched atop the masthead swaying to and fro, . “They struck me but I was not hurt” (Proverbs 23:35) – they strike him but he does not feel it. “They beat me, but I did not know” (Proverbs 23:35) – they exploit him but he is unaware. He drinks five log of beer, and they say to him: You drank ten log. If you say: When he awakens from his slumber he will forget it, the verse states: “When I will awaken, I will continue to seek more” (Proverbs 23:35).
“To whom, woe? To whom, alas? To whom, strife? To whom, talk?” (Proverbs 23:29). Rav Huna said: It is to one who does not toil in matters of Torah. “To whom, strife [midyanim]?” – to whom, litigation [dinin]? “To whom, talk” – to whom, prattle? “To whom, wounds without cause?” (Proverbs 23:29) – to whom, unprovoked injuries? [All these are:] “To those who linger over wine” (Proverbs 23:30). There was an incident involving a certain person who was accustomed to drink twelve log of wine each and every day. One day, he drank eleven log. He lay down but could not sleep. He got up in the darkness and went to the storekeeper. He said to him: ‘Sell me one log.’ He said to him: ‘I will not open for you, as it is dark and I am concerned due to the night watchmen.’ He lifted his eyes and saw a hole in the door. He said to him: ‘Give me through this hole. You will pour inside and I will drink outside.’ He did so for him and he fell asleep before the door. The watchmen passed him, they thought he was a thief, and they struck him and wounded him. They read in his regard: “To whom, wounds without cause” – to whom, unprovoked injuries?
“To whom, redness of the eyes?” (Proverbs 23:29) – to whom, eyes as red as the sun? All these are “to those who linger over wine.” This is one who enters the tavern first and exits last. It is “to those who come to assess the blend” (Proverbs 23:30). To one who, when he hears that someone has good wine, follows him. What is ultimately written in his regard? “Ultimately, it bites like a serpent [and secretes [yifrosh] like a basilisk]” (Proverbs 23:32). Just as the basilisk separates between death and life, so too, wine separated between Adam and Eve, as Rabbi Yehuda bar Ilai said: That [fruit of the] tree from which Adam the first man ate was grapes. “Their grapes are grapes of poison [their clusters are bitter]” (Deuteronomy 32:32); these introduced bitterness to the world.
Another matter, “and secretes [yifrosh] like a basilisk.” Just as the basilisk separates [mafrish] between death and life, so too, wine separated [hifrish] between Noah and his descendants regarding slavery. That is what is written: “He drank of the wine, and was drunk; and he was uncovered” (Genesis 9:21). As a result of this he said: “Cursed is Canaan [a slave of slaves shall he be to his brothers]” (Genesis 9:25). Another matter, “and secretes [yifrosh] like a basilisk.” So too, wine separated [hifrish] between Lot and his daughters for mamzerut. That is what is written: “They gave their father wine to drink” (Genesis 19:33). As a result, “Lot’s two daughters were impregnated by their father” (Genesis 19:36).
Another matter, “and secretes [yifrosh] like a basilisk.” Just as the basilisk separates [mafrish] between death and life, so too, wine separated [hifrish] between Aaron and his sons for death, as Rabbi Shimon taught: Aaron’s sons died only because they entered the Tent of Meeting intoxicated with wine. Rabbi Pinḥas said in the name of Rabbi Levi: This is analogous to a king who had a loyal servant. He found him standing at the entrance to taverns. He beheaded him quietly, and appointed another servant in his stead. We do not know for what reason he killed the first. However, from what he commanded the second, saying: ‘Do not enter the area at the entrance to the taverns,’ we know that it was for that reason that he killed the first. So too, “fire emerged from before the Lord and consumed them” (Leviticus 10:2), but we do not know why they died. However, from what he commanded Aaron, saying to him: “Wine or intoxicating drink you shall not drink” (Leviticus 10:9), we know that they died only due to the wine. That is why the verse showed affection to Aaron and directed the divine speech to him alone, as it is stated: “[The Lord spoke to Aaron saying]: “Wine or intoxicating drink you shall not drink” (Leviticus 10:8–9).

(9)Oil and incense gladden the heart,And the sweetness of a friend is better than one’s own counsel.

(7) On it Aaron shall burn aromatic incense: he shall burn it every morning when he tends the lamps, (8) and Aaron shall burn it at twilight when he lights the lamps—a regular incense offering before GOD throughout the ages. (9) You shall not offer alien incense on it, or a burnt offering or a grain offering; neither shall you pour a libation on it.

(34) And GOD said to Moses: Take the herbs stacte, onycha, and galbanum—these herbs together with pure frankincense; let there be an equal part of each. (35) Make them into incense, a compound expertly blended, refined, pure, sacred. (36) Beat some of it into powder, and put some before the Pact in the Tent of Meeting, where I will meet with you; it shall be most holy to you. (37) But when you make this incense, you must not make any in the same proportions for yourselves; it shall be held by you sacred to GOD. (38) Anyone who makes any like it, to smell of it, shall be cut off from kin.

(34) And GOD said to Moses: Take the herbs stacte, onycha, and galbanum—these herbs together with pure frankincense; let there be an equal part of each. (35) Make them into incense, a compound expertly blended, refined, pure, sacred. (36) Beat some of it into powder, and put some before the Pact in the Tent of Meeting, where I will meet with you; it shall be most holy to you. (37) But when you make this incense, you must not make any in the same proportions for yourselves; it shall be held by you sacred to GOD. (38) Anyone who makes any like it, to smell of it, shall be cut off from kin.

(1) A psalm of David.
I call You, O ETERNAL One, hasten to me;give ear to my cry when I call You.(2)Take my prayer as an offering of incense,my upraised hands as an evening sacrifice.

Once the country girl's repeat escapade became known to the court, there was much uproar, and an enquiry began:Who is this ascending from the wilderness,Enveloped in pillars of smoke-like fragrance?Bedecked in fumes of incense —Myrrh and frankincense,All the powdery merchandise of the perfumer?

You took your embroidered cloths to cover them; and you set My oil and My incense before them.

And I will utter my judgments against them regarding all their wickedness, in that they have forsaken me, and have burned incense to other gods, and worshipped the works of their own hands.

and the houses of Yerushalayim, and the houses of the kings of Yehuda, shall be defiled as the place of the Tofet, with all the houses upon the roofs of which they have burned incense to all the host of heaven, and have poured out drink offerings to other gods.

(10)Hear the word of GOD,
You chieftains of Sodom;Give ear to our God’s instruction,You folk of Gomorrah!(11)“What need have I of all your sacrifices?”Says GOD.
“I am sated with burnt offerings of rams,And suet of fatlings,And blood of bulls;And I have no delightIn lambs and he-goats.(12)That you come to appear before Me—Who asked that of you?Trample My courts (13)no more;Bringing oblations is futile,Incense is offensive to Me.New moon and sabbath,Proclaiming of solemnities,Assemblies with iniquityI cannot abide.(14)Your new moons and fixed seasonsFill Me with loathing;They are become a burden to Me,I cannot endure them.(15)And when you lift up your hands,I will turn My eyes away from you;Though you pray at length,I will not listen.Your hands are stained with crime—(16)Wash yourselves clean;Put your evil doingsAway from My sight.Cease to do evil;(17)Learn to do good.Devote yourselves to justice;Aid the wronged.Uphold the rights of the orphan;Defend the cause of the widow.(18)“Come, let us reach an understanding,—says GOD.
Be your sins like crimson,They can turn snow-white;Be they red as dyed wool,They can become like fleece.”

And a fire went forth from GOD and consumed the two hundred and fifty men offering the incense.

(11) Then Moses said to Aaron, “Take the fire pan, and put on it fire from the altar. Add incense and take it quickly to the community and make expiation for them. For wrath has gone forth from GOD: the plague has begun!”

(16) When he was strong, he grew so arrogant he acted corruptly: he trespassed against his God by entering the Temple of GOD to offer incense on the incense altar. (17) The priest Azariah, with eighty other brave priests of GOD, followed him in (18) and, confronting King Uzziah, said to him, “It is not for you, Uzziah, to offer incense to GOD, but for the Aaronite priests, who have been consecrated, to offer incense. Get out of the Sanctuary, for you have trespassed; there will be no glory in it for you from the ETERNAL God.” (19) Uzziah, holding the censer and ready to burn incense, got angry; but as he got angry with the priests, leprosy broke out on his forehead in front of the priests in the House of GOD beside the incense altar. (20) When the chief priest Azariah and all the other priests looked at him, his forehead was leprous, so they rushed him out of there; he too made haste to get out, for GOD had struck him with a plague. (21) King Uzziah was a leper until the day of his death. He lived in isolated quarters as a leper, for he was cut off from the House of GOD—while Jotham his son was in charge of the king’s house and governed the people of the land.