Leviticus 10:1-7

Nadab and Abihu

1 Now Nadab and Abihu, two of Aaron's sons, each took an incense pan. They put fire and incense on them and offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, which he had not commanded them.

2 Then fire flew out from before the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

3 Moses said to Aaron, "When the LORD said, ‘I will show that I am holy among those near me, and before all the people I will manifest my glorious presence,' this is what he meant!" But Aaron was silent.

4 Then Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan the sons of Uzziel, Aaron's uncle, and told them, "Go carry your relatives out from the front of the sanctuary to a place outside the camp."

5 So they went forward and carried Nadab and Abihu out by their tunics to a place outside the camp, just as Moses had ordered.

6 Moses then said to Aaron and his sons, Eleazar and Ithamar, "Don't dishevel your hair and don't rip your clothes into pieces, or you will die and bring anger upon the whole community. Your family—all of Israel's house—will mourn the burning the LORD has done.

7 But you must not leave the meeting tent, or you will die because the LORD's anointing oil is on you." So they did what Moses ordered.

Leviticus 10:1-7 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.