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Offerings supernaturally consumed

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Rabbi Ari Shvat

Iyyar 1, 5777
Question
Dear Rabbi, in the following three events something supernatural happened: Gen 15:17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. Gen 15:18 In the same day the LORD made a covenant with Abram, saying, Unto thy seed have I given this land, from the river of Egypt unto the great river, the river Euphrates: Lev 9:23 And Moses and Aaron went into the tabernacle of the congregation, and came out, and blessed the people: and the glory of the LORD appeared unto all the people. Lev 9:24 And there came a fire out from before the LORD, and consumed upon the altar the burnt offering and the fat: [which] when all the people saw, they shouted, and fell on their faces. 1Ki 8:10 And it came to pass, when the priests were come out of the holy [place], that the cloud filled the house of the LORD, 1Ki 8:11 So that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud: for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of the LORD. What are the connections? (The Covenant seems to play a role in all three) Was the burning lamp and the pillar of smoke related? Did the burning lamp also consumed the offering? Was the glory of Hashem the Shekinah? Thank you for your council, Shalom Gerhard
Answer
Both the fire and cloud/smoke represent the Shechina, or the glory of Hashem, see Ex. 13, 22 and 19, 18, and Ezek. 1, 4. Accordingly, when there is a covenant between Hashem and man, the glory is sometimes seen for His presence is meant to be felt there. Similarly, when the fire consumes the sacrifice, it’s a sign that the offering was accepted, but even when there’s no offering, like in Kings, it represents the Shechina. To which covenant are you referring to in Lev.?
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