Rashi says that this teaches us the praise of Aharon for not changing anything. Many Meforishim ask why Rashi needs to tell us this. Would anyone think that the great Aharon Hakohen would change and do something differently than what he had been commanded by Hashem?
My ancestor, Rav Mordchele of Nadvorna zy”a (Sefer Maamar Mordechai) explains that the highest level a tzadik can reach is when he is fully connected to the Upper Worlds but still retains a connection to this world, without losing any of his sanctity and holiness. Rashi is saying that Aharon was on this level. When he lit the Menorah, he was deeply connected to the upper realms and was on a higher plane of ruchnius. Still and all, he remained connected to this world and was able to perform the physical actions of lighting the neiros without any mistakes or changes.
The Oil Never Spilled:
Rav Tzvi Elimelech of Dinov zy”a (Sefer Igra D’Kallah) answers this question similarly by quoting the Sefer Hachasidim which relates that there once was a big tzadik who was exceedingly connected to Hashem. He hid his greatness and no one knew about the lofty level he attained.
This man worked as the shamash in the shul, and he would fill up the cups with oil to provide light in the bais knessess. When he did this job, he thought about his great love of Hashem, and he would become so immersed in his thoughts that he would spill the oil without even realizing it. The people around him had no idea what was wrong with him, and they thought he was crazy. The Chochom of the city, however, realized that he was full of dveikus, which is what caused him to spill the oil. He told the people that the shamash should take his place as Chochom, and he would serve as shamash!
We see from this that some tzadikim are so full of dveikus with Hashem that they lose touch with their physical senses and cannot control what they are doing. However, there is an even higher level than that, which is the level of tzadik who has sanctified his body to such an extent that he can be fully connected to Hashem and still retain control of his actions.
This was the greatness of Aharon Hakohen. He was fully immersed in the lofty kavanos of lighting the menorah, but he still kept control over his body and he poured the oil into the menorah without spilling a drop. Chazal praise him for this and say that despite his holy thoughts and great dveikus, he did not change anything and was able to do exactly as he was commanded. Thus, the pasuk testifies that he did the action of the mitzvah of the menorah with no changes, and also did it “as Hashem commanded”, meaning that he was fully connected to Hashem as he did this mitzvah.
Always Humble:
Sefer Sifsei Tzadikim quotes Rav Meir of Premishlan zy”a as explaining this Rashi by saying that even when a tzadik reaches lofty levels of Divine glory and is uplifted to great spiritual heights, he remains humble. He does not change and become haughty. Rather, he stays as modest and unassuming as he was before.
Accordingly, the pasuk is teaching us that although Aharon was honored with the crown of kehuna and with the privilege of lighting the Menorah, he did not change and he remained as humble as ever.
