What are the connotations of the word "Lehashmido"?
Rashi: "Lehashmido" means that his children would die 1 - as opposed to 'Lehargo', which would have meant that he would die.
What is the word "Gam be'Ad Aharon" coming to include?
Rashi: It includes Aharon's children, on whose behalf Moshe also Davened and two of whom his Tefilah saved.
Bearing in mind that Aharon's intentions were purely le'Shem Shamayim - he sinned in deed but not in thought - why was Hashem so angry with him?
R. Bachye #1: Due to the principle ?Hakadosh-Baruch-Hu is particular with Tzadikim even to a hairsbreadth'. 1 2 Moreover, in spite of Aharon's good intentions, they led to a Chilul Hashem, since they led to Yisrael sinning. 3 4
Bava Kama 50a: As the Pasuk writes in Tehilim 50:3 "u'Sevivav Nis'arah Me'od". See R. Chavel's footnotes.
See R. Bachye who proves that Aharon was completely absolved of guilt.
As Moshe said to him - in Sh'mos 32:21 - "ki Heveisa alav Chata'ah Gedolah".
It is not clear why the fact that Aharon caused a Chillul Hashem is not an answerin and of itself.
Why did Moshe's Tefilah not also save Nadav and Avihu?
Pesikta Rabasi, 47: Because (sometimes) Tefilah achieves half of one's request. 1
This is - as the Midrash Rabah explains -'Tefilah As'sah Mechtzah'.
Why did Moshe juxtapose his Tefilah on behalf of Aharon to the burning of the Eigel ha'Zahav?
