Leviticus 16:1

1 The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of Aaron’s two sons, who died after they entered the LORD ’s presence and burned the wrong kind of fire before him.

Leviticus 16:1 Meaning and Commentary

Leviticus 16:1

And the Lord spake unto Moses, after the death of the two sons
of Aaron
That is, either immediately after their death, and so this chapter would have stood in its natural order next to the tenth; or else after the above laws concerning uncleanness on various accounts were delivered out, designed to prevent the people entering into the tabernacle defiled, whereby they would have incurred the penalty of death; wherefore, as Aben Ezra observes, after the Lord had given cautions to the Israelites, that they might not die, he bid Moses to caution Aaron also, that he might not die as his sons died; these were Nadab and Abihu: when they offered before the Lord, and died;
offered strange fire, and died by flaming fire, as the Targum of Jonathan; or fire sent down from heaven, as Gersom, by lightning; see ( Leviticus 10:1 Leviticus 10:2 ) .

Leviticus 16:1 In-Context

1 The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of Aaron’s two sons, who died after they entered the LORD ’s presence and burned the wrong kind of fire before him.

2 The LORD said to Moses, “Warn your brother, Aaron, not to enter the Most Holy Place behind the inner curtain whenever he chooses; if he does, he will die. For the Ark’s cover—the place of atonement—is there, and I myself am present in the cloud above the atonement cover.

3 “When Aaron enters the sanctuary area, he must follow these instructions fully. He must bring a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.

4 He must put on his linen tunic and the linen undergarments worn next to his body. He must tie the linen sash around his waist and put the linen turban on his head. These are sacred garments, so he must bathe himself in water before he puts them on.

5 Aaron must take from the community of Israel two male goats for a sin offering and a ram for a burnt offering.