John Calvin Commentary Leviticus 10:16

"And Moses diligently sought the goat of the sin-offering, and, behold, it was burnt: and he was angry with Eleazar and with Ithamar, the sons of Aaron that were left, saying," — Leviticus 10:16 (ASV)

And Moses diligently sought the goat of the sin-offering. Moses had not omitted to tell them what was to be done with the goat, and the sacrifice which he himself had performed was a visible instruction to them. He had set before them what they should imitate, and this would have been enough even for children.

But, as I have said, in such serious matters Moses had spared no labor or care, while the sons of Aaron, as if they had neither heard nor seen anything of the sort, perverted their entire order, even though they had just before been reminded that they had been appointed to keep the charge of God.

Perhaps they were impelled to this error by the trouble arising from their grief. However, from this we gather that however exquisite the ability of masters and teachers may be, it may often be fruitless unless they have obedient students with retentive memories.

And from this we also learn that when God often inculcates the same thing, His labor is not superfluous. This is because we often do not truly understand what we think we understand, or what has been clearly shown to us soon afterwards escapes our minds.

Furthermore, from the anger of Moses, which is mentioned to his credit, we may infer that the transgression was no light one, although it was not so severely punished as the presumption of Nadab and Abihu.

The excuse that some make for them, or allege in extenuation of their crime—namely, that they thought they were deprived of the right previously accorded to them and therefore abstained out of modesty—is refuted by Aaron's own answer.

Therefore, it was grief alone that impelled them to this error. But the reason God was more merciful to them than to their brothers is known only to Himself.

Conjectures may indeed be advanced, but ultimately we must arrive at this: because God’s judgments are hidden, they are not on that account unjust. Instead, we must humbly adore their depth, which human minds cannot penetrate.

And Aaron said unto Moses, Behold, this day... Aaron replies that their failure to feast before God arose from pious fear, because they would have, in a way, defiled the sanctuary with their tears and melancholy.

It was as if he had said: "Indeed, part of the sin offering was reserved for our food, but we could not properly partake of it except in cheerfulness and with thanksgiving. The grief from my sudden bereavement did not allow for this."

However, this was not a just defense, for he ought instead to have striven against the feelings of the flesh, so that his domestic calamity would not prevent him from the service of God.

But, since in his perplexity his fear was deserving of pity, Moses forgave him. And it is said that Moses was appeased because he found less wrongdoing than he had supposed.