Leviticus 10 Study Notes

10:10 The assignment for the priests was cultic—distinguishing between the holy and the ordinary—and pedagogical—instructing the congregation in cultic matters (Ezk 22:26). Distinguish (from Hb badal; “to separate, divide”) meant differentiating the distinctive from the commonplace, such as edible animals from prohibited animals (11:47; 20:25). The holy (Hb qodesh) versus the common (Hb chol) refers to anything or anyone that was dedicated to the Lord and his service as opposed to that which was for normal use. Clean (Hb tahor) and unclean (Hb tame’) refer to matters pertaining to the physical existence of the people, especially foods (chap. 11; Dt 14) and persons (Lv 12-15; Nm 5:2-4).

10:11 The term teach (Hb yarah) means “to instruct,” but it can also mean “to determine” (14:57). The instruction was intended to enable the people to discern the proper conduct in cultic matters and everyday activities. The Levites in general and the priests in particular were to direct the people in the ways commanded by the Lord (Dt 17:9-11; 33:10; Ezk 44:23-24). A statute (Hb choq) was a divine enactment that must be kept (Lv 19:37; 26:46).

10:12 For the portion of the grain offering belonging to the priests, see 2:10; 6:15-18; 7:9-10; 21:22.

10:13 The word portion (Hb choq), meaning that which was owed to him, is the same as “statutes” in v. 11. Moses emphasized that the command came from the Lord, not by his authority.

10:14-15 For the breast and thigh belonging to the priestly families, see 7:31-34; Nm 18:18-19; the priestly portion of the fellowship offerings could be eaten in their homes (Lv 22:10-13; Nm 18:11).

10:16-18 Moses complained that Aaron’s sons had failed to eat the consecration portions of the sin offering as prescribed by the Lord. By their failure to perform the proper ritual ceremony, the guilt of the community remained. The Hebrew phrase translated inquired carefully (darosh darash) reflects the urgency of Moses’s concern for proper observance. For instructions on the priestly consumption of the sin offering, see 6:26,29-30.

10:19 Aaron had to determine whether the desecration by Nadab and Abihu made the sin offering portions inappropriate for priestly consumption. Rather than run the risk of defiling the sanctuary further, Aaron chose to burn up the entire goat.

10:20 A wordplay on acceptable (Hb yatav), which describes the divine approval in v. 19, also describes Moses’s acceptance of the explanation; Moses accepted the determination of Aaron according to v. 10.