Leviticus 10:1-11

1 Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu put coals of fire in their incense burners and sprinkled incense over them. In this way, they disobeyed the LORD by burning before him the wrong kind of fire, different than he had commanded.
2 So fire blazed forth from the LORD ’s presence and burned them up, and they died there before the LORD .
3 Then Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD meant when he said, ‘I will display my holiness through those who come near me. I will display my glory before all the people.’” And Aaron was silent.
4 Then Moses called for Mishael and Elzaphan, Aaron’s cousins, the sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel. He said to them, “Come forward and carry away the bodies of your relatives from in front of the sanctuary to a place outside the camp.”
5 So they came forward and picked them up by their garments and carried them out of the camp, just as Moses had commanded.
6 Then Moses said to Aaron and his sons Eleazar and Ithamar, “Do not show grief by leaving your hair uncombed or by tearing your clothes. If you do, you will die, and the LORD ’s anger will strike the whole community of Israel. However, the rest of the Israelites, your relatives, may mourn because of the LORD ’s fiery destruction of Nadab and Abihu.
7 But you must not leave the entrance of the Tabernacle or you will die, for you have been anointed with the LORD ’s anointing oil.” So they did as Moses commanded.
8 Then the LORD said to Aaron,
9 “You and your descendants must never drink wine or any other alcoholic drink before going into the Tabernacle. If you do, you will die. This is a permanent law for you, and it must be observed from generation to generation.
10 You must distinguish between what is sacred and what is common, between what is ceremonially unclean and what is clean.
11 And you must teach the Israelites all the decrees that the LORD has given them through Moses.”

Footnotes 2

  • [a]. Or by uncovering your heads.
  • [b]. Hebrew Tent of Meeting; also in 10:9 .
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