The Death of Nadab and Abihu
Study note
Nadab and Abihu, Aaron's oldest sons, each took a fire pan, put fire and incense in it, and offered what the Bible calls 'strange fire' or unauthorized fire before the Lord. This was something God had not commanded them to do. Immediately, fire came from the Lord and killed them. The same divine fire that had just confirmed God's acceptance of worship in chapter 9 now brought judgment. Moses told Aaron that God had said, 'I will be treated as holy by those who come near me.' Aaron was silent in his grief. Moses told Aaron and his remaining sons not to mourn publicly, as their priestly duties continued.
1 Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu each took their fire pans. They put burning coals in them and sprinkled incense on top. Then they offered a kind of fire that the Lord had never told them to bring. They did this on their own. And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took either of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense thereon, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he commanded them not.
2 Instantly, fire blazed out from the Lord's presence and consumed them both. They died there in front of the Lord. And there went out fire from the LORD, and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.
3 Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the Lord was talking about when he said, 'Those who approach me must treat me as holy. I will be honored in the sight of all the people.'" Aaron had no words. He said nothing. Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is it that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace.
4 Moses called for Mishael and Elzaphan -- sons of Aaron's uncle Uzziel -- and told them, "Come carry the bodies of your relatives away from the front of the sacred area. Take them outside the camp." And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Come near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp.
5 They came and carried the bodies away, still dressed in their priestly robes, to a place outside the camp. They did exactly as Moses said. So they went near, and carried them in their coats out of the camp; as Moses had said.
6 Moses warned Aaron and his remaining sons Eleazar and Ithamar, "Do not let your hair hang loose or tear your clothes to show grief, or you will die. God's anger will come down on the whole people. The rest of Israel may grieve over this fire the Lord sent." And Moses said unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Uncover not your heads, neither rend your clothes; lest ye die, and lest wrath come upon all the people: but let your brethren, the whole house of Israel, bewail the burning which the LORD hath kindled.
7 "And do not leave the Tabernacle entrance, or you will die -- because the Lord's anointing oil is still on you." They obeyed Moses. And ye shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: for the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses.
Rules About Alcohol for Priests
Study note
Right after the death of Nadab and Abihu, God spoke directly to Aaron for the first time in Leviticus, telling him that priests must never drink wine or other alcohol before entering the Tabernacle. Many scholars believe this rule was given at this moment because Nadab and Abihu may have been drunk when they offered the strange fire. The priests needed clear minds to tell the difference between what was holy and what was common, and to teach the people God's laws.
8 The Lord then spoke directly to Aaron, saying, And the LORD spake unto Aaron, saying,
9 "When you or your sons enter the Tabernacle, do not drink any wine or other alcohol first, or you will die. This is a rule that lasts forever, for every future generation." Do not drink wine nor strong drink, thou, nor thy sons with thee, when ye go into the tabernacle of the congregation, lest ye die: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations:
10 "Your job is to know the difference. You must know what is sacred and what is common. You must know what is unclean and what is clean." And that ye may put difference between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean;
11 "You must also teach the Israelites all the regulations that the Lord has given them through Moses." And that ye may teach the children of Israel all the statutes which the LORD hath spoken unto them by the hand of Moses.
Instructions About Eating the Offerings
Study note
Moses reminded Aaron and his remaining sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, about their right and duty to eat their share of the offerings. The grain offering had to be eaten without yeast beside the altar. The breast of the wave offering and the thigh of the special gift could be eaten in any ceremonially clean place by the priest's family, including daughters.
12 Moses spoke to Aaron and to his two surviving sons, Eleazar and Ithamar. He said, "Take the leftover grain offering from the Lord's fire offerings. Eat it without yeast next to the altar, because it is most sacred." And Moses spake unto Aaron, and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons that were left, Take the meat offering that remaineth of the offerings of the LORD made by fire, and eat it without leaven beside the altar: for it is most holy:
13 "Eat it in a sacred area, since it is your assigned share -- yours and your sons' -- from the Lord's fire offerings. These are the instructions I was given." And ye shall eat it in the holy place, because it is thy due, and thy sons' due, of the sacrifices of the LORD made by fire: for so I am commanded.
14 "The breast that was waved and the thigh that was presented as a contribution may be eaten in any ritually clean place by you, your sons, and your daughters. These are your share from the Israelites' peace offerings." And the wave breast and heave shoulder shall ye eat in a clean place; thou, and thy sons, and thy daughters with thee: for they be thy due, and thy sons' due, which are given out of the sacrifices of peace offerings of the children of Israel.
15 "The offering thigh and the wave-offering breast must be brought with the fat portions of the fire offerings. They must be waved before the Lord. They belong to you and your children as a lasting share, just as the Lord said." The heave shoulder and the wave breast shall they bring with the offerings made by fire of the fat, to wave it for a wave offering before the LORD; and it shall be thine, and thy sons' with thee, by a statute for ever; as the LORD hath commanded.
Aaron's Response About the Sin Offering
Study note
Moses discovered that the goat of the sin offering had been burned up instead of being eaten by the priests as required. He was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar. But Aaron stepped in and explained that after such terrible things had happened to him that day, it would not have seemed right to eat the sin offering. Would God really have been pleased if he had? When Moses heard this, he accepted Aaron's reasoning. This shows that God understood Aaron's grief and allowed room for the emotions of his servants.
16 Later, Moses looked for the goat used for the sin offering. He found out it had already been burned up completely. He was upset with Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's living sons, and wanted to know why. And Moses diligently sought the goat of the sin offering, and, behold, it was burnt: and he was angry with Eleazar and Ithamar, the sons of Aaron which were left alive, saying,
17 "Why did you not eat the sin offering in the sacred area? It is most sacred! God gave it to you specifically so you could bear the community's guilt and restore their relationship with the Lord." Wherefore have ye not eaten the sin offering in the holy place, seeing it is most holy, and God hath given it you to bear the iniquity of the congregation, to make atonement for them before the LORD?
18 "None of its blood was brought inside the sanctuary. So you should have eaten the meat in the sacred area. I told you to do this." Behold, the blood of it was not brought in within the holy place: ye should indeed have eaten it in the holy place, as I commanded.
19 Aaron said to Moses, "Listen. Today my sons gave their sin gift and burnt gift before the Lord. But then awful things happened to me today. Would the Lord have been pleased if I had eaten the sin gift?" And Aaron said unto Moses, Behold, this day have they offered their sin offering and their burnt offering before the LORD; and such things have befallen me: and if I had eaten the sin offering to day, should it have been accepted in the sight of the LORD?
20 When Moses heard Aaron's reasoning, he accepted it. And when Moses heard that, he was content.