HE LAID NOT HIS HAND UPON THE NOBLES OF ISRAEL; AND THEY SAW GOD AND DID EAT AND DRINK. The nobles of Israel” refers to Nadab and Abihu: their punishment was postponed. R. Jose declared that these words were said in praise of them, for “they did eat and drink”: that is to say, they feasted their eyes on this splendour. Said R. Judah: ‘It was indeed a true partaking and a true nourishing, and a most veritable and perfect uniting with the supernal world. Oh, if they only had not later sinned!’

R. Eleazar said: ‘Israel also at that time¹ the giving of the Law. v. Rashi, ad loc. became qualified for a revelation, and the Shekinah was united with them, and the making of the Covenant and the giving of the Torah all took place at one and the same time;.and never again was such a sight vouchsafed to Israel. In the time which is to come the Holy One, blessed be He, will reveal Himself unto His children, so that they shall perceive His full glory eye to eye and face to face, as it is written: “For they shall see eye to eye when the Lord shall bring again Zion” (Isa. 3, 8); and it is also written: “And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together” (Ibid. 40, 5).’

footnotes: ¹ The Zohar evidently adopts the view that the events recorded in this chapter (Ex. XXIV) took place before