Leviticus 10:1-7

1 And Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, took each of them his censer and put fire therein and put incense thereon and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he had never commanded them.

2 And there went out fire from the LORD and devoured them, and they died before the LORD.

3 Then Moses said unto Aaron, This is what the LORD spoke, saying, I will be sanctified in those that come near me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron was silent.

4 And Moses called Mishael and Elzaphan, the sons of Uzziel the uncle of Aaron, and said unto them, Come near, carry your brethren from before the sanctuary out of the camp.

5 So they went near and carried them in their coats out of the camp, as Moses had said.

6 Then Moses said unto Aaron and unto Eleazar and unto Ithamar, his sons, Do not uncover your heads, neither rend your clothes lest ye die and lest wrath come upon the whole congregation; but your brethren, the whole house of Israel, shall lament the burning which the LORD has done.

7 And ye shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of the testimony, lest ye die; for the anointing oil of the LORD is upon you. And they did according to the word of Moses.

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.