Leviticus 10:1-3

The Death of Nadab and Abihu

1 Now ¹Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, ²each took his censer and put fire in it and laid incense on it and offered ³unauthorized^[a] fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them.

2 And fire ⁴came out from before the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD.

3 Then Moses said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD has said, 'Among ⁵those who are near me ⁶I will be sanctified, and before all the people I will be glorified.'"⁷And Aaron held his peace.

Leviticus 10:1-3 Meaning and Commentary

INTRODUCTION TO LEVITICUS 10

This chapter begins with the sin and punishment of two sons of Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Le 10:1-5 for whose death Aaron and his sons are commanded not to mourn, nor to depart from the tabernacle, Le 10:6,7 and an order is given, prohibiting the priests from drinking wine when they went into it, Le 10:8-11 the law of eating holy things, both those that were more, and those that were less holy, is enjoined, Le 10:12-15 and the flesh of the sin offering not being eaten, but burnt, Aaron's sons are blamed for it, for which he makes an apology to the satisfaction of Moses, Le 10:16-20.

Cross References

• 1. Leviticus 16:1; Exodus 6:23; Exodus 28:1; Numbers 3:4; Numbers 26:61; 1 Chronicles 24:2
• 2. [Numbers 16:18]
• 3. Exodus 30:9
• 4. Leviticus 9:24; Numbers 16:35; [2 Samuel 6:7]
• 5. Leviticus 21:17, 21
• 6. Ezekiel 28:22
• 7. [Psalms 39:9]

Footnotes

• [a]. Or strange