ויקרא, פרק י׳, פסוק ט׳

In the immediate aftermath of the tragic deaths of Nadab and Abihu, Aaron and his surviving sons are left to grieve. It is a common custom to offer wine to mourners to comfort them in their sadness. However, God commands the priests to avoid wine entirely, despite their deep mourning [בכור שור, חזקוני, העמק דבר]. This timing also hints at a tragic underlying cause for the deaths of Nadab and Abihu. Some commentators suggest they entered the Tabernacle while intoxicated, and this drunkenness caused them to make a fatal error in judgment and offer an unauthorized fire [רמב״ן, רקנאטי, כלי יקר].

The primary approach among commentators is that the strict prohibition against wine applies specifically when it is consumed in a manner that causes true intoxication. This means drinking a significant amount of undiluted wine all at once. If the wine is mixed with even a little water or consumed slowly with pauses, the priest is exempt from punishment [רש״י, מזרחי, תורה תמימה]. Regarding other types of strong drinks, there is a difference of opinion. Some maintain that the mention of strong drink simply emphasizes the state of intoxication caused by the wine itself, meaning other alcoholic beverages are not included in this most severe restriction [רמב״ן, רש״י]. Conversely, others argue that all intoxicating beverages—whether made from wheat, dates, or honey—are strictly forbidden [אבן עזרא]. While drinking these other beverages is prohibited, the punishment for doing so may be lighter than the death penalty specifically reserved for wine [רמב״ם מובא בטור, תורה תמימה].

The command is directed specifically at priests who are actively fit for duty. It excludes disqualified priests, such as those who have been profaned or have physical blemishes, since they cannot perform the Temple service anyway [רבנו בחיי, צפנת פענח, מלבי״ם]. Furthermore, the warning targets the specific group of priests assigned to the active shift for that week. They must remain completely sober and ready to assist with the service at a moment's notice, without any impairment to their judgment [רבנו בחיי, נחל קדומים].

While the priests are warned not to enter the Tabernacle while intoxicated lest they face death, the commentators agree that the death penalty and the invalidation of the service only apply if the intoxicated priest actually performs the sacrificial duties. Merely entering the Tabernacle or approaching the altar while drunk is forbidden as a severe warning, but it does not carry the Torah's penalty of death [רמב״ן, מלבי״ם]. However, the restriction is absolute regarding the service itself; it applies to every type of Temple duty as an eternal rule. Even relatively minor tasks, such as pouring oil or waving an offering—actions for which a non-priest would not face the death penalty—are strictly forbidden to a drunk priest [רמב״ן, תורה תמימה].

Ultimately, the core purpose of this command is to preserve absolute clarity of mind. Intoxication introduces three deeply negative elements into a person's state: sleepiness and confusion that prevent proper functioning, an arrogance that blurs the vital boundary between the holy and the mundane, and a mental fog that ruins the ability to properly decide Jewish law [רבנו בחיי]. God demands that His servants and the teachers of His law operate with a mind that is straightforward, balanced, and perfectly clear. They must never act out of raw, passionate impulse or a distorted imagination brought on by drunkenness [רש״ר הירש].